Toddler Outdoor Color Hunt

A toddler outdoor color hunt was one of the first activities we played. Can you believe it? This easy idea was one of the first activities we have ever played on this little corner of the web. Look how little my oldest is. – pinch me. I cannot believe how my toddler has grown. – If you are new here, welcome! Here is a glimpse of how we spend our days with play. 

Since this post, we’ve played many more activities to learn color. Here are all our ways to play with color wrapped up in one fantastic list.

Table of Contents:

1. What is a color scavenger hunt?
2. How do you teach a child colors?
3. Outside is a giant sensory bin
4. Let’s set up our outdoor nature color hunt! 
5. FAQ

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What is a color scavenger hunt?

A color scavenger hunt is as simple as it sounds. The object is to find items and sort them into different color categories. 

Here, we needed some fresh air. We grabbed a box that we already owned, and I colored it in each section with crayons. This makes the perfect spring activity for kids.

If your child is just beginning to learn colors, start with this color-sorting activity. Introducing a few colors at a time is a terrific toddler activity. 

How do you teach a child colors?

Is your child learning colors? That’s fantastic! This outdoor color hunt helps early learners begin to pay closer attention to details in thier environment. 

As my child collected different items outside, I would mention what it is called and match them to the correct color. 

• You found brown bark! That came from this tree. 
• Look at these pink petals. Let’s match these petals to the flowers in our book to see what it’s called. 
• You found green grass. I see you put it in the green section of your bin. How does it feel? 

RELATED: No warm enough yet to head outside? Here is an entire list of scavenger hunts for kids.

Outside is a giant sensory bin

Hear the birds, touch the different textures, smell the flowers. Yep, all of this is sending messages to the brain that connect new ideas with prior knowledge. 

Like most collection activities, your preschooler may fill the box and then dump the box. Do not let this discourage you. Play-based learning does not need to have a specific ending point. If your preschooler dumps the box and is finished, you can revisit it later. 

Nature hunt extensions:

• Compare which object has more or less
• Count the objects and make a color graph
• Rip the plants in half to practice matching them back
• Make a map of where each plant came from
• Place paper over the plants and rub a crayon to imprint on paper
• Search the images online or in a book to discover the names of what you found
• Watercolor what your preschooler has found

Let’s set up our outdoor nature color hunt! 

1. Find a bin with different sections. No bin? Try making different color sections in a cardboard box. The idea is to have something other than paper, so it doesn’t blow away. 
2. Hand the color sorting container to your child and watch from the sidelines. You don’t have too much on your end. This is an example of child led-learning. 

The rest is history! (or should I say, how you spend your afternoon) When will you head outside for this nature color hunt for kids?

FAQ