Teach Color Identification

Teaching colors works the same way you taught bottle, toe, momma, dada — you simply use these words when talking to the child. You have perhaps said, “Let’s put your jacket on,” or “Bring me your jacket,” and just from your conversation the child learned that this item is a jacket. Now, to teach colors, simply start using the color of the item in your conversation. For example: “Let’s put your red jacket on,” or “Bring me your red jacket.” Use the child’s logic in conversations they already understand and in routines they already know.

To help you see their logic at work, do this:

Place two items in front of the child — two cups, two blocks, or two coats — in contrasting colors, like red and yellow. For this example, we’ll use the name “Leo.” Say something like, “Leo, can you bring me the red cup, please?”

When Leo brings the red cup, spend a moment chatting about it. You might say, “Thank you for the red cup. Do you like the red one? I like the red one too.” For those few seconds the child is engaged, and just like the child’s own logic taught him the item is a cup, it will teach him the cup is red.

Try it, and notice how naturally children will learn colors.

What if the child brings the wrong color?

Using the same scenario above, if the child brings the wrong color, it’s okay — he’s learning. You can simply say, “Thank you for the blue cup. Can you grab the red cup too?” When the child brings the red cup, chat with them the same way you would if they had brought the red cup the first time. There’s no need for correction — just chat about the red cup: “I really like this red cup. Do you like the red cup? I like the red cup too.”