Learning Cololurs

[Mother Goose]

Just wondering when your child learnt the different colours? DD struggles with them - when she gets them right it is usually a fluke. I'm not so bothered but she clearly is as she "Ummmmmmmmm"s a lot when asked colours and tries to change the subject. She is 2 next month.

TIA

MG

[Amie]

I think it's very common for colours to be the 'last' thing kids learn ie. after numbers, people's names, animals etc. I think it has something to do with colours being so abstract and having so many varying shades (eg. dark blue is so similar to purple). I've known 3 year olds who are only just managing to get their colours right every time, not just a fluke like you say, and they have been quite clever, articulate kids. HTH xo

[BekZ]

My DD was very early to learn her colours but at first she always got them mixed up and most of the time she just guessed. I used to talk about colours constantly at every opportunity. My niece on the other hand is nearly 3 and still can't figure them out but I am not sure how often my SIL talks about colours.

Just keep talking bout them and she'll get it. Praise and clap when she gets a colour correct even if she guessed it.

[Nai]

According to the MHCN they should know 4 colours by the age of 3 so I wouldn't be concerned.

[AliBaby]

I wouldnt worry. She is still very young. If she goes to preschool she will pick up alot there. Try and say things to her like "Do you want the blue cup or red cup? etc so its informal way of her learning and jsut talk about colours in everyday situations.
Most children will know their colour by the time they reach school but if not it is still something that is covered in kindergarten.

[krysalyss]

My DS could match colours by about 12 months but I dont think he knows the names for them yet. For example he has a set of coloured balls that he matches to the same coloured holes and then hits with a hammer. He knows how to match the ball and hole together properly but if I say green ball he will only get it right about 60% at the moment. Your DD sounds really normal. I think my DS has an advanced level of understanding of what I say for his age. But he still says very little compared to other kids his age. It all seems to balance out.

[Butterfly Dawn]

Our master 3 in march is a bright child, but he stil has trouble naming colors, he can match etc and recognise but its just not important to him at the moment. We just keep doing alittle colour learning every day. Your child sounds just fine.

[Olive]

yep sophie struggles with colours!!

[ShootingStar]

DS has known his colours from about 2 yeh. I would just say the colour whenever there was something he had his eye one.. such as a greeen car. Cars are a good one as you can do it while driving. Toys even. Just a everyday thing. Then after a little while ask her what colour something is like her shoes. If she gets stumped just say, you have Pink Shoes. Then the next day ask the same question.

Best of luck.

[Mother Goose]

Thanks girls. I know she will get it eventually and that everything evens out - I only ask because SHE seems to be bothered by it. That and doing jigsaw puzzles (I must buy some more of them). Otherwise she is a cluey kid - far more than I'd like. We do try to intergrate colours into everyday life - when we build blocks I ask her to pass a particular colour block, or when we're painting we name the colours etc... anyway, thanks girls

[danniellabella]

My DD is 10 months old and I've started making a point of talking to her about colours. Like when she's holding a ball I say "you've got the BLUE ball" or her toy phone I say "there is you PINK phone"

[MantaRay]

MG, funny you should ask. I have been worried about DS2 who still doesn't know colours and he was 2 in Sept. I actually asked a carer at day care a couple of weeks ago, because DS1 knew his colours by 18 months. But she told me it's fine, many of the kids in the 21/2 - 3 1/2 room don't learn their colours until near the end (so at least 3), so now I feel better about it. We'll just keep working on it.

[Mother Goose]

Thanks MR - that is so comforting and reassuring to hear!

DD has added new colours to her list but still largely guesses colours. Funny, if you ask her to point to the "Yellow", "Red", "Blue", or "Purple " Wiggle, she can get it every time. And if you ask what colour the Big Red Car is (by pointing) she gets that right every time - but ask what colour her yellow toy is... and it is red Although everything so far today has been "black" *sigh* we will get there!

[Crystalwings]

I work in early childhood in the 2-3.5yr old room and I think your childs development of colours sounds fine. The range of skills that a 2yr old has vary so much that it is definatley within the 'normal' range. I usually tell parents to work on one colour at a time so that their child doesn't get confused. For example go on a red colour walk (pointing out everything red around the house) every day for a week or until this colour becomes concrete then move on to the next. Depending on your child's language development at the end of each walk you could ask them to label the colour but for a 2yr old I would just initially be saying "can you go and find me the red car etc" rather then "what's that colour " all the time as that can hurt their confidence. We would normally expect children to know all primary colours by around 3yrs. Hope this helps.