Practice Colors and Numbers with Clothespin Colors!

Looking for a fun color game that will also help your child's math skills? Look no further! In Clothespin Colors, your preschooler will get some practice with both colors and numbers in a fun matching game. As he drops colored clothespins into the matching cans, he'll work on color recognition, patterning, and counting! It's easy to make and even more fun to play.

What You Need:

• 3 one-pound coffee cans
• Red, yellow, and blue construction paper
• Scissors
• Tape
• 15 clothespins
• Red, yellow, and blue paint
• Paintbrush
• Stop watch

What to Do:

1. Cut one piece of red, yellow, and blue construction paper to fit around the coffee can. Use the markers to write the name of the color on the piece of paper of the same color.
2. Wrap a piece of construction paper around the coffee cans and tape it closed. Each can should be a different color.
3. Paint five clothespins red, five blue, and five yellow. Set them aside to dry.
4. Set up the cans on the floor, in a tight row in the middle of the room.
5. Mix up and scatter the clothespins around the cans.
6. Invite your child to put each colored clothespin in the matching coffee can. Use the stop watch to see how fast he can separate the colors! Encourage him to complete the task within a certain time limit, starting with 60 seconds and then lowering it to 30 seconds.
7. After the time is up call, "Stop!" Then invite your child to count how many clothespins are left on the floor.
8. Challenge your preschooler further by timing him as he divides the clothespins one color at a time. When the time's up, invite him to count how many clothespins of each color are left on the floor. Practice patterns by encouraging your child to place clothespins in the cans in a specific order. For example, he might place two red clothespins in the red can, then a blue one in the blue can, one in the yellow, and so on.
9. Eventually add in other colored cans and clothespins such as orange, purple, and green.