Hey Hey! After posting my primary color plans yesterday, I thought you might like some tools to go along with them! As a general rule, I love simple open ended tools that will offer multiple opportunities for use over many years. And yes, I intentionally used the word tools over toys. Tools enhance learning through play while toys encourage imagination and creativity. Using the word tools over toys also gives respect to the learning environment you want to create in your home. This is a topic I want to dive into on another day!
Before we get started, I want to make it super clear that you do not need any of these tools to teach your child primary colors. By all means cover cups with some blue, red and yellow construction paper to use for color sorting. Go around your house to find primary color objects to use. Print off pictures from google. Use what you’ve got! Teaching your child at home should not be cost prohibitive! However, all these tools I’ve rounded up are less than $20 and will last for years.
Also, this list is not exhausted by any means. I’m giving you the best of the best (using Amazon affiliate links, btw) while sticking to a budget! With all that said, here we go!
These sorting beads are one of my favorite tools. I use these for sorting primary colors , making patterns and working the fine motor muscles by threading. This set will grow with your child. You’ll be constantly finding ways to use these beads!
Another tool that will last forever are these counting bears and cups. A staple in most early childhood classroom, you’ll use these for sorting colors, making patterns, and counting; all while working on one to one correspondence!
For older toddlers, I suggest these pattern cards. They are not necessary at all, but useful if you want to use your counting bears for a few extra years.
A few reasons I like this bowl set: The size allows for you to use household objects to sort and the tweezers give your child a chance to strengthen her fine motor skills!
I love love love this puzzle for the little toddlers. It’s a little pricy, but I think you could get a lot of use out of it. It’s great for color recognition, shape recognition, and fine motor skills.
Every home needs a set of color scarves! These can be used for everything. We’ve made roads, used them for sorting, practiced juggling, turned them into dresses and hair wraps, and played peek a boo! They facilitate endless open ended play.
This stacking tool offers a host of sorting, counting and color recognition skills.
A classic for a reason! There are so many benefits to stacking and hand eye coordination in the toddler years.
Last but not least (also the most expensive on the list, sorry!) is a stacking rainbow. Open ended play for days with this one!
The Teaching Nanny 