Kids typically start sorting colors in their play around 18-21 months of age. Although toddlers may be able to distinguish colors and categorize items earlier, the actual act of sorting objects by color often emerges around this time.
Understanding Color Sorting Development
While recognizing colors is a separate skill, the ability to sort by color involves understanding categories and applying that knowledge to manipulate objects.
Key Milestones in Color Sorting:
- Color Recognition: Children usually begin recognizing colors earlier, even before they can name them.
- Categorization: The concept of grouping like items together develops gradually.
- Fine Motor Skills: Sorting requires the hand-eye coordination and dexterity to pick up and place objects precisely.
Sorting Activities:
- Sorting Bowls: Use colored bowls and matching chips to help children learn to sort.
- Colored Toys: Provide toys of various colors for sorting games.
- Daily Objects: Practice sorting everyday items like crayons, blocks, or clothes.
Example:
Here's an example of how you might introduce sorting using colored bowls:
Step | Description |
---|---|
1 | Gather bowls of different colors (e.g., red, blue, yellow). |
2 | Collect matching chips or small objects. |
3 | Demonstrate how to place a red chip into the red bowl. |
4 | Encourage the child to sort the remaining chips. |
Why This Age?
The period of 18-21 months is significant because it aligns with the development of several key cognitive and motor skills. By this age, many toddlers have:
- Improved hand-eye coordination.
- An emerging understanding of categorization.
- Greater ability to follow simple instructions.
Therefore, while you might see a child experimenting with color recognition earlier, the consistent ability to sort by color typically solidifies within this age range. The reference stated, "though toddlers may be able to discriminate colors and categorize earlier, we don't typically see them sorting in their play until 18-21 months".