MAP Sample Program

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Colors

"Touch color"

Destination: Your child will learn colors.

Preparations
Location: Sit across from your child at the table.
Materials: Felt color squares (about 3” x 3”).


Road Map

1. Place one colored square in front of your child. Say, “Touch color” (e.g., “Touch
red”).

2. Work on a target color (in our example, red) until your child can do it without help.
This should be a relatively quick step as your child previously learned “touch” and you
are not using distracters.

3. Put a different colored square (e.g., a blue square) on the table.

4. With both squares out, ask your child to “Touch red” (the target color) until the target
color is learned. Switch positions of the colored squares, still requesting only “red.” If
you are not sure how to do this, review your video on Teaching new concepts.

5. Use different distracters (e.g., a green square), again requesting only the target color
(red).

6. Once the initial color is learned, introduce a new color using the steps above.

7. As your child learns a few colors, you can place up to four colored squares on the table
at a time. Keep in mind, however, that it may take some time to get to this point.

Trip Tips

1. Early on, use very different colors when presenting two colors at a time. Red and blue
look very different from one another, whereas red and orange look similar and may be
confusing.

2. Keep in mind that developmentally, children first begin identifying colors at about 3
1/2 years of age. If your child is young and cannot achieve success, discontinue this
program and repeat it again in a few months.

Alternate Routes

1. Use a variety of objects (e.g., toy cars, crayons, plastic cups) that are identical except
for color. Put out two or more colors of the same object and ask for a specific color (e.g.,
“Get red car”). Then let your child play with the object.

2. We encourage you to use different materials to teach color. Be sure, however, to use
items that are identical in all respects other than color. For example, you can use
identical red and blue cars and then identical red and blue bears.

3. Use water guns and balloons. Have your child shoot the “red” balloon.

4. There are many color oriented puzzles you can do with your child.

5. Draw some shapes or other objects on a paper. Give your child a limited number of
crayons and have your child color your objects using any color he has already learned.
You can do the same activity with colored “blo-pens”. Using blo-pens will mean that you
are working on improving your child’s ability to use the muscles in his mouth, muscles
important in speech!

6. When you are working on a specific color in your program, dress your child in that
color. Talk about the color he is wearing.

7. Have your child help sort the laundry. Sort by color.

If you experience any difficulties with this page, please e-mail us

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Bethesda, Maryland 20817
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