Explore Mixing Primary Colors with Young Kids

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I don't know about your toddlers and preschoolers, but my Pooky just LOVES to paint! Usually I just give her some washable paint and thick paper and let her go to town with it (while strapped in her high chair out of arm's reach of anything). But this time I decided to get a little more intentional about it and explore mixing primary colors.This post contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. kids explore mixing primary colors

 I came across the book Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh.

It is such a cute and simplified description of how the primary colors can be mixed to make secondary colors. I knew it was a quality book that would be great to use to explore mixing primary colors with young kids.

young kids explore mixing colors

To start off our exploration of mixing primary colors, I read the book to Pooky a couple of times.

Then I let her "read" through the book on her own a few times.

Next, I set up her work station starting with just a dollop each of red and yellow paint.

young kids explore mixing colors

Before giving her the paint, I showed her the pages in the book where the mouse who was covered in red paint splashed around in the puddle of yellow paint which mixed it together and turned it orange.

young kids explore mixing colors

Then I gave her the materials and asked her to mix the red and yellow together to make orange. I demonstrated a bit to show her what I meant by mixing the colors.

young kids explore mixing colors

She immediately caught on and was excited to see it make orange.

Mouse Paint8.jpgIt wasn't long before she filled her page with the color!

kids explore mixing colors

We repeated the process with the colors yellow and blue.

young kids explore mixing color

We talked about what was happening to the colors as she mixed them.

kids explore mixing colors

We referred back to the book each time we switched to different primary colors to see what new color they would make.

kids explore primary colors

 Pooky really seemed to enjoy this activity!

(I'm sure your little ones would too.)

kids explore primary colors

I don't know how much Pooky internalized, but she had fun with the process.

(And since we used washable paint, she cleaned up pretty easily.)

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Ever since doing this activity, Pooky is constantly curious about what new color can be made by mixing two other colors.

Another way we've been studying color is with our Rainbow activities including this Rainbow Ice Sensory Sink.

create a simple sensory sink with rainbow ice

For more inspiration for fun and educational kid activities, follow me on Pinterest.

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Bedtime Books for Toddlers and Young Children

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