We are surrounded by an amazing and unique world. Full of colors and all sorts of shades. And so I want not only to teach the child to identify the primary colors, but also to show him the beauty of the color palette! Acquaintance with color helps to perceive objects and phenomena of the surrounding world more fully and more subtly, develops observation, thinking, and enriches speech. You can already develop color perception with the smallest peanuts.
How do children see color?
Traditionally, newborn babies were thought to be color blind. But modern research has shown that babies are able to perceive bright, saturated colors, especially yellow, orange, red, green and turquoise. For the first 1-2 months, babies prefer to look at black and white images. This is due to their greater contrast. Already at 2 months, the child is able to distinguish more delicate colors (blue, purple). Infants' color vision develops very quickly. By 4 months they can distinguish most colors, and by 6 months the ability to distinguish colors in children is almost the same as in adults.
Glenn Doman Method
This is confirmed by the technique of Glenn Doman. He offered to introduce children to colors from infancy, simply showing them cards with one or another color or shade and naming it. Mothers who tried the technique on their children were amazed: five-six-month-old babies could easily choose from a whole bunch exactly the card that they were asked for, whether it was the color of aqua, electric or somon. We are sure that not all adults imagine what these colors look like.
If the Doman method does not seem interesting to you, you can learn colors with the baby during the game.
Introduction to color
You need to start with the simplest: introduce the baby to the four colors - red, blue, yellow and green. At the first stage, you simply show the child objects and name the color. Ideally, if you have a whole set of items of the same color. So you can teach your baby the simplest sorting - put all objects that match in color into a cup of the same color.
New colors and shades
When the baby gets comfortable with the main colors of the rainbow, as well as with black and white, you can complicate the task. Move on to the study of colors that are not so common in everyday life. Pink, lilac, brown, gray, gold, silver - look at objects around and pictures in books, name the color and shade.
When the child is free to navigate at least 10-12 colors, it's time to go to the hardware store and purchase a palette of shades (such as on the counter where decorative paints are tinted). These simple cards will help your child learn the concepts of "darker" and "lighter". Cut the palette into fragments and fan out with your child. First from dark to light, then vice versa. Gradually, he will begin to capture the slightest color differences.
Every color has its own season
Spring and summer are the perfect time to explore all the shades of green, red and purple. Autumn is the time of yellow and orange, and winter is blue, white (yes, there are a lot of shades of white) and black.
Drawing!
And, of course, a great way to develop color perception is drawing. Prepare a large sheet of paper, open 6 jars of gouache with your child, take a brush and start mixing colors. What do you get when you mix red and yellow? What if you add white? And blue for them?
Is it possible to recognize all the colors and learn them by heart? Probably yes, but is it necessary? It is better to teach a child to feel the color and its beauty, look for unusual shades in ordinary things and just enjoy the beauty of the world around us 😉