COLOR MIXING: SENSORY FUN FOR LITTLE LEARNERS
A huge part of parenthood is walking behind our kids, picking up their toys, and cleaning up their messes. However, sometimes, it’s also about helping them create messes. I know, it sounds crazy! But as kids grow, so does their curiosity, creativity, and desire to learn. What better way to introduce all three areas of growth than through coloring mixing?
By around six months old, babies can already distinguish colors. It’s also not uncommon for them to already begin showing a preference around then, too! By 12 months, they’re responding to brighter, more colorful environments. And by the time they’re 1, they’re clearly picking out their favorite colors during play. Needless to say, it’s never too early to practice color mixing with your littles!
So, in this post, I’ll guide you through an easy, exciting color mixing activity using just a few simple materials. I’ll also share the best colors for color mixing so you can help your baby make bright, captivating tones. Let’s get messy!
Color Mixing: Sensory Fun for Little Learners
I feel super passionately about incorporating colors into both sensory play and arts and crafts. My mindset is: the more, the better! It keeps little ones engaged, curious, and ready to dive right into all the hidden learning opportunities. Here’s the thing, though: It doesn’t take too much to entertain babies!
So, while they won’t be able to grasp color theory or understand what primary colors are, they’ll still have lots of fun. Plus, color mixing is full of developmental benefits! Think: Critical thinking, problem-solving, language development, motor development, and general foundational knowledge.
Once they’re a bit older, then you can start introducing exciting activities, like Activity Packs, the M&M Color Experiment, and a Color Absorbing 3D Cotton Rainbow. For now, let’s just enjoy simple activities and effortless joy!
Materials:
Crayola Washable Kids Paint
Large white paper roll
Painters tape
Baby Wipes
Instructions:
STEP 1: Place large strips of paper on the floor. Secure with tape
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STEP 2: Lay out your materials
STEP 3: Put a small amount of paint on one side of the white paper and another color of paint on the other side. Have the child rub one color on one hand and another on the other.
STEP 5: Tell the child to rub both hands together and look at the new color they've created.
Wipe away paint with baby wipes and repeat as long as the child is entertained. We made about 6 different colors and I walked her through each one.
Best Colors for Color Mixing
Messy, colorful, and little-to-no-rules—everything babies and toddlers love, right?! Now that you know how to do this easy activity, let’s explore a few exciting color options you can create.
So, I’m sure you’re already well aware of the easy combinations. Yellow and blue make a green color, blue and red make purple, so on and so forth. While Crayola only has standard color options, you could also try out my “Baby’s First Taste-Safe Paint” recipe to get a little extra creative! When doing so, you get to create the hue, tone, and depth you want each color to have. (Did I mention it was taste-safe?)
For example, you could make a “pastel yellow,” and a “baby pink.” Mix those two together and you get a pretty light peach tone! Or, blend a “sage green” and “powder blue” to create an eye-popping teal tone. Your options truly are endless.
For a little extra help, make sure to check out my “Color Wheel DIY” post. And, of course, I’ll share a simple guide below, too!
Here are a few to get you started. Enjoy!
For simple, creative fun, try out this DIY color mixing activity!
The baby and toddler stages are truly one of the sweetest seasons. Everything is new to them, and there’s something so special about watching them figure things out—one tiny step at a time. As I mentioned earlier, kids TRULY are natural learners! They want to squeeze, squish, blend, and feel. The sooner you can incorporate exciting activities allowing them to do these things, the quicker they’ll start building on all of those essential skills.
Every stage of your little one’s life brings about so many new opportunities and changes. At the same time, you also have to learn how to navigate these changes! Reduce parenting stress with our new book, Playful by Design. This resource is designed to help you plan your play-spaces, declutter, organize toys by type, and maintain your home—easily and efficiently. Best of all? You get a second to catch your breath!
Looking for more exciting ways to elevate playtime and sneak in developmental gains? Head to theMothercould Blog! In addition to sensory activities, you can also find kid-friendly recipes, my go-to cleaning hacks, and a handful of helpful parenting advice. Also, don’t forget to joinMothercould In Your Pocket! I offer fun, easy, and accessible play recipes, printable Activity Packs, 60+ printable recipes, and much, much more!
