Spot, stack, and talk about the color blue using familiar toys, real objects, and parallel talk strategies that support early speech and color recognition.
From blue pat bells to balls, birds, and blueberry-hued books, it’s a beautiful blue world for our little learner
About This Play Plan:
This play plan introduces your toddler to the color blue. Among the three primary colors, red is often introduced first due to its brightness and simplicity, but blue comes next for good reason. It’s another short, easy-to-pronounce word that toddlers under two can begin to recognize and repeat. Plus, blue is everywhere in their daily environment, making it a natural next step in color learning.
Please note that while toddlers begin to notice how there are different colors starting from 12 months, color recognition typically begins to develop between 18 months and 2.5 years of age. Also, every child progresses at their own pace. But even if your toddler isn’t ready to say or identify colors yet, repeated exposure to bright, easily noticeable hues like red helps build those early brain connections, setting the stage for learning colors naturally through play.
How to Use This Plan:
- Gather Your Materials: Check the list below for everything you’ll need.
- Follow the 5E Tabs: Each tab provides step-by-step guidance, creative ideas, and reflection prompts to make the experience more meaningful.
- Let Your Child Lead: Observe how your child interacts with the materials and adjust based on their interests and developmental stage.
Spark your child’s curiosity:
Start by reading toddler-friendly books that highlight the color blue.
Point to the blue items and say clearly, “Blue!” as you touch each one. Keep your voice upbeat and slow, allowing time for your toddler to look and take it in.
Encourage hands-on exploration:
Let your toddler interact with blue-themed objects like the blue bird from Lovevery’s quilted critters, the light and dark blue pentatonic pat bells from the Music Set, blue blocks, blue balls, and so on.
Say “blue” each time they touch or pick up something that’s blue. For example: “Blue bell!” Repetition is key at this stage.
Provide simple, age-appropriate explanations:
As they continue to play, label what they’re doing using short, clear phrases. “You’re holding the blue ball,” or “You picked the blue book.”
Speak slowly and clearly, repeating the word “blue” often to help them connect it with the color. Try to avoid quizzing them or ask them to say it; just model it naturally.
Expand on the activity:
Bring the learning into daily life. Point out blue objects during meals (like blueberries), at the park (like blue flowers or signs), or during dressing (a blue shirt or socks).
Use simple phrases like, “Your shirt is blue,” or “Look, a blue sky!” The more they hear it in context, the stronger the connection becomes.
Reflect on how your child responded to the play:
- Do they show more interest in blue objects?
- Are they starting to look when you say “blue”?
- Do they pick up or point to blue things more often?
- Are they beginning to repeat the word, or make a sound when you say it?
This stage is all about exposure and playful repetition. Keep it pressure-free and fun.
Materials List:
- A toddler-friendly book about colors (especially with a focus on blue), such as the Lovevery Colorful Foods
- Blue objects from your toy shelf (e.g., blue stacking cups, the blue bird from the Quilted Critter Pockets, the I Love You All the Time book, the light and dark blue pentatonic pat bells from Lovevery’s Music Set, the blue pegs from the Wooden Stacking Pegboard)
- Blue clothing, food, or other blue everyday items
- A small tray or basket to collect and group blue items together
Tips for the Grown-Ups:
Follow the Child’s Lead:
Observe how your child interacts with the playthings. Let them guide the session by following their interests. If they show a preference for exploring textures, sounds, or colors, embrace it. Be a silent observer, ready to expand their learning with gentle, supportive language.
Create a Calm, Inviting Space:
Set up a clutter-free area that encourages focused exploration. Use natural light and simple setups to inspire curiosity. If the weather permits, take the play outside for a richer sensory experience, connecting with the natural world.
Encourage Open-Ended Play:
Embrace imaginative twists and unexpected uses for the toys. If the activity takes a surprising turn, celebrate this as a sign of growing cognitive flexibility and problem-solving.
Our Own Play Experience
We had a blast with the red play plan the previous week, so shifting our focus to blue felt like a natural next step for our 15-month-old.
We kept a few red items in rotation to keep reinforcing the word “red” in everyday moments (“Look, it’s the red ball!”), while giving blue its own time to shine.
Thankfully, Lovevery has no shortage of blue-toned playthings (both light and dark), which made this theme easy and fun to carry out. From the blue balls in her play kits to the pegs, pat bells, and soft bird, there were plenty of opportunities to name the color and describe what she was doing.
Also, Lovevery recently added a new course pack to their app on how to teach your toddler to talk, taught by the Speech Sisters. One of the techniques they recommend is Parallel Talk, where you narrate what your toddler is doing as they do it. This play plan gave us lots of opportunities to practice that:
“It’s a blue bird.”
“You’re picking up the fuzzy blue ball…”
“Now you’re tossing the wooden blue ball.”
She hasn’t said “blue” yet (and that’s perfectly okay), but she did say “ball” again and again; her cheerful little “bah” each time is a sign that she’s tuned in and making connections.
This kind of play is easy to revisit as we continue rotating toys. It’s open-ended, pressure-free, and rich in repetition, making it one of those play plans we’ll keep returning to in the weeks ahead.
Please Note: I am a proud Lovevery subscriber and fan, and many of the play plans shared here feature Lovevery playthings. However, this site is not affiliated with or endorsed by Lovevery. All ideas and recommendations are my own, based on my experiences as a mom who values meaningful, play-based learning.
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