Distinguishing between different colors is an innate ability. However, you have to learn to name those colors correctly, and not just so you can choose the right socks to wear in the morning! For young children, color plays a role in many areas of learning and is used to help them learn and remember much more than just color. Printable worksheets for preschoolers can help you teach your child all about color in a fun and effective way.
Here are some of the reasons your preschooler needs to learn about color.
Color recognition
The obvious reason is to teach your child the different colors so that he can recognize and name them. This is one of the many indicators used to determine if your child is ready for kindergarten.
Language development
Colors are often the first adjectives your child will learn and use. Color is used to describe and identify specific objects, helping your child learn to pronounce many different words.
Vocabulary expansion
By incorporating colors to describe various items, your child also expands his vocabulary. Discovering new items of a certain color helps them learn new words to name the items, such as a red apple, a red fire truck, a red shirt, etc.
Learn to read
Many early reading books use pictures to replace new or difficult words. If your child can recognize a red apple, he will be able to read a sentence with a picture of a red apple. Recognizing certain objects by their color and shape helps your child learn to read.
Future use of color
In addition to making sure your socks match, we use color in ways that we, as adults, are often not aware of. Obviously there are traffic lights that force us to know our colors, and traffic signs also differ by their color. Reading a map, even on a GPS, relies on color recognition to identify certain features. Color also influences the way we behave, our mood, and how we react to other people.
Creative expression
Color is a vital part of creative expression, and while it is important for your child to learn that the sky is blue and the grass is green, it is also important that he be allowed to experiment with color. Mixing paints and having free rein to color a picture in any way they want allows children to express themselves creatively, so don’t always insist that they use color accurately.
Start teaching your child about color as soon as possible. By the age of four, your child should recognize and be able to name about ten different colors. Reinforce what they learn by playing games with colors. The printable worksheets for preschoolers will give your child the opportunity to put his learning into practice in a variety of ways.