Family STEAM Challenge: Learning Colors with DUPLOs

This post is included in part of a week long series featuring STEAM learning activities the whole family can enjoy in collaboration with the popular Instagram account @steamkidschallenge. 

STEAM projects don't need to be big. Keep things simple and use DUPLOs to help teach your kids about colors. Here are three fun and easy activities you can do as a family.

Materials Needed:

• Creative QT Peel 'n Stick Baseplates compatible with DUPLO, green, 2-pack 10" x 20" ($29.99)
• DUPLOs

For these activities we used our DIY DUPLO Compatible Table as it provided the perfect place for the family to gather around and learn together. Either visit the post, or watch this quick video, to find out how you can easily build one for your kiddos too.

Instructions:

There's a huge variety of learning activities to do with DUPLOs and and building bricks. They are a great way to get kids hands on with their learning, whilst also developing their creativity and fine motor skills. Here are three easy ways to use DUPLOs to learn about colors as a family.

COLOR SORTING STRIPS

Simply gather a selection of DUPLOs in a container. Make a line of all the colors and ask your kids to sort the DUPLOs in the container to make color strips on the baseplates.

Older siblings will enjoy trying to teach their younger siblings about the colors, while parents can ask more challenging questions for the older siblings to answer. For example, how do you spell orange? Or which colors do you mix to make orange?

Having the full attention of a parent is such a powerful learning motivator. Younger participants may not have the knowledge to sort the colors, but that's not a problem. We are firm believers that including the whole family provides exposure which helps younger kids to learn. If nothing else, this little lady had a great fine motor skills workout!

Once all the DUPLOs have been sorted, you can challenge older participants to count the bricks in the color strips, and even the total number of bricks.

PRIMARY COLOR MIXING 

Simply put out two red, blue and yellow bricks, along with one purple, orange and green brick. Ask your child to pair up the primary color combinations and decide which secondary color they make.

Depending on the age of your child, there might be some trial and error. It's a good opportunity to introduce art vocabulary like primary and secondary colors, as well as learning about the concept of colors changing when you mix them.

It might be fun to extend the activity by then getting some paints out to make the same color combinations.

PATTERN PLAY

Copying patterns is the perfect way to get younger kids working hard on their color recognition. We've mentioned it lots, but we'll say it one more time, it's also great for developing fine motor control. Simply set up some DUPLO color patterns that your little one has to copy. If you are playing with two siblings, they can take it in turns to copy each other's patterns. Your child will also love challenging Mom or Dad to copy their patterns.

We hope you give these simple activities a try. Your kids will really enjoy learning with Mom or Dad, making it a great way to be intentional and Make Time Together as a family.

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Creative QT designs quality + innovative toys that declutter homes and inspire creative play. Founded by parents of five, Adam and Dana Sue Hinkle, Creative QT’s vision is to empower parents and encourage a culture of families that Make Time Together. All products are designed to enrich families’ lives through active, creative play and play based learning. Creative QT products are laboratory tested for compliance with CPSC requirements and are free of lead, cadmium and phthalates so you can play with confidence. So, go ahead … today is the day: be your kid’s hero.

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