🎨 Exploring Colour Through Play (some ideas…)

1. Painting Freely on Canvas

One of our first colour activities was also the simplest: a blank canvas, lots of paints and no instructions.

Roman was free to choose, mix and layer as he liked, no outcome expected. It wasn’t about technique or making something recognisable, but about noticing what happens when colours touch, blend or resist. We talked as he painted sometimes about what colours he was using, sometimes not at all.

2. Mixing Colours with Food Dye

Another early activity we loved was mixing food colouring in clear plastic cups – a quick and easy setup (!!) with such satisfying results.

We began with the basic primary colours – red, blue and yellow and Roman would mix freely, watching new colours appear like magic. Over time, we expanded into more nuanced shades: blue green, navy, grape purple. It became about more than just colour mixing and it became observation, memory and familiarity. Now, Roman can often tell which dye we’ve used just by looking at the colour in the water, without needing to read the label on the dye.

3. “I Spy” with Colours

One of the easiest ways we explore colour is through a simple game of “I Spy” but with a colour twist.

“I spy with my little eye… something blue.” That’s it. No pressure, no setup, just tuning in to what’s around us. Indoors, outdoors at the dinner table or on a walk, it turns everyday moments into mini opportunities for visual attention, vocabulary and colour awareness.

4. Introducing Colours Through Favourite Characters 🐇

One of the gentlest ways we explored colour was by linking it to the things Roman already loved.

Bunnies have always been his biggest love and when we found a Jellycat bunny in one of his favourite shades of green (Moss), there was no turning back. Since then, we’ve made frequent visits to the Jellycat store and his collection has grown – introducing him not only to new shades like Ivy Green and Teal, but also to more descriptive language.

A beautiful reminder that colour exploration doesn’t need to be structured – it can simply grow alongside the things a child already loves.

5. Colour Mixing with Playdough 🎨

Playdough is one of our favourite colour activities – it’s hands-on, calming and full of possibilities. We make all sorts of colourful creations, from swirling spaghetti to vibrant little ravioli, naming the colours as we go.

We’ve collected everything from confetti playdough to glittery versions, and it comes in so many beautiful shades – perfect for mixing, matching and imaginative play. A gentle, joyful way to build fine motor skills while exploring colour and texture

I hope this post has offered something useful, encouraging or simply reassuring – a little glimpse into how colour has unfolded in our home and how it might in yours too.

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