How to Teach Shapes and Colors to Infants

A child's education begins at birth. The younger the child, the faster his learning development. As the child ages, his rate of absorption of information decreases. Among the first things babies learn are colors and shapes, and it's never too early to introduce them. Use posters, flashcards, educational toys, books and songs to introduce shapes and colors to babies ages 3 months to 1 year old.

Things You'll Need

  • Poster board
  • Felt
  • Scissors
  • Tape
  • Card stock
  • Markers
  • Glue
  • Blocks
  • Puzzle mats
  • Board books
  • Compact disk player
  • Songs about colors and shapes

Instructions

  1. Instructions

    • 1

      Introduce infants to basic shapes and colors. Create a poster that will serve as a visual aide. Cut out basic shapes from felt such as a circle, square, rectangle and triangle in primary colors red, blue and yellow. Glue the felt shapes to a large piece of poster board. Lay the poster board on the floor or hang it on the wall at the infant's eye-level. When teaching shapes, point to the shapes as you say their names. When teaching colors, point to the color and say the name of the color. Review the poster regularly.

    • 2

      Create infant flashcards with basic shapes and colors. Fold a piece of card stock in half to create each flashcard. On the outside of the card, write the name of the shape, and draw the shape inside the card. Tape a piece of colored card stock inside the flash card that corresponds to the color written on the front. Review the flashcards daily.

    • 3

      Provide educational toys to expose infants to shapes and colors. Buy blocks with different shapes and colors on them. Supply infants with soft cubes in vibrant colors and stacking toys such as a set of stacking rings. Let infants play on interlocking soft foam puzzle mats that have vibrant colors and a variety shapes. Mention the names of the shapes and colors as infants play with them.

    • 4

      Find books that help teach colors and shapes. Make sure the books are developmentally appropriate for infants. Some examples of books for infants that teach colors and shapes and colors are "My First Colors Board Book" by DK Publishing and "My Very First Book of Shapes" by Eric Carle.

    • 5

      Share songs and educational films with infants. Choose songs that repeat the names of colors and shapes in clever ways since infants learn best through repetition. Play the songs on a compact disk player and encourage children to sing along. Create your own songs by singing the names of colors and shapes to familiar tunes such as "Three Blind Mice" or "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star."

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