Grab the counting bears and draw the tree. Christmas color matching has arrived! These little bears are my absolute favorite for most activities. (You most likely already know this). They are also the ideal supply for Christmas color matching! There is just so much to love!
I’ve used these sorting bears in the classroom as a teacher and now at home with my boys. These bears give us life.
Stick around to learn how to put these bears to good use, adjust the activity for different ages, the five-step set-up, and the other four supplies you’ll need for this Christmas color-matching activity!
RELATED: Christmas activities have arrived! Don’t miss this list.
How to Set Up Christmas Color Matching
Step 1. Tape down your white paper roll.
Sticking the white paper roll down with painter’s tape is my go-to. It helps the little ones focus on the activity rather than trying to keep the paper still!
Step 2. Draw a simple Christmas tree.
I like to keep it simple with a large triangle. Use a green pen for the tree and a brown marker to draw the trunk.
Step 3. Place the dot stickers on the Christmas tree.
Stick colored dots on the tree so your child can find the same color bear. If you don’t have sticker dots, you can draw circles and write the color using marker pens – this is a great way to challenge your preschooler (but more on that later!).
Step 4. Place counting bears to the left of your Christmas tree.
Put bears the same colors as the dots near the tree so your little one can match them up! I place them on the left side of the paper because it helps with left-right eye tracking, which kids need for writing later in life.
Step 5. Let them play!
In the morning, invite your preschooler to color-match the bears onto the holiday tree. You may also notice that when your preschooler finishes, they take the game into their own hands. Encourage this creativity!
RELATED: Matching is a great skill for preschoolers to master. I have a great variation using a gingerbread man!
Supplies You’ll Need:
- Markers – I use green and brown to draw the tree and to write the colors if my kids need more of a challenge.
- Counting bears – ah, the star of the show! Your little one needs these to match the correct color bear to the sticker.
- Painter’s tape – gotta stop that paper sliding around!
- Sticker dots – you’ll stick them on the tree for your child to match the bears, but you can use marker pens if you don’t have any in the house.
- White paper roll – this is what you’re going to draw your work-of-art Christmas tree on. – only kidding! I kept my tree very basic.
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RELATED: You’ll also love String the Lights and Holiday Sticker Cups.
How to Adapt the Activity for Different Ages
Are you looking to challenge your preschooler? I love these variations from my friend at A Day in First Grade.
Try these two ways for different developmental stages:
- Match Color Word: Write the color word with the colored marker inside each circle. This encourages reading but still gives your child a helping hand using the correct color.
- Color Matching for Reading: Write the color word in black for your preschooler to read and match. A trickier version of option one! Your preschooler must read the word to find the right color bear.
Check out this article on why holidays are important for kids.
RELATED: Press restart in 2023 with some help from our Startup Guide. – From cranky to creative kids in six simple steps.
Christmas Color Match for the Win!
Christmas activities for preschoolers don’t have to be complicated. Sometimes the most simple ideas are the most engaging! Color-matching activities are a great way to learn at home through play.
Craving a calmer morning?
Breakfast Invitations are simple learning games that begin the day with play.
Running out of Christmas ideas? I’ve got you covered:
- 40+ Christmas Activities
- Christmas Color Matching
- Christmas Invitation to Play at the Tree Farm
- Fingerprint Christmas Painting for Kids
- Holiday Toy List
- Jingle Bell Drop; a STEM Christmas Activity
Frequently Asked Questions
Counting bears are suggested for ages 3+. Like our toddler toy list, these supplies are open-ended and will be used for years. We also have a great collection of supplies for hands-on learning at home that will help keep things simple. The counting bears come in a variety of styles below. For my toddler, I pick out the most prominent bears to offer him to play with and put the more miniature bears away. Again, these bears are made for ages 3+.
A great time to play Christmas Bears is in the morning as you make breakfast. If you are new here, I like to call these activities Breakfast Invitations. A Breakfast Invitation is a simple way to welcome your child into play as you begin your day. You can read all about Breakfast Invitations on the F&Q page. Breakfast Invitations will plant the seed for play into your child to start the morning with intention.
Green and red are traditional favorites. I also like to include blue and white to lighten a winter scene.
Teach colors two or three at a time. My favorite way to teach colors is by beginning with primary colors. This primary-color toy hunt is a great activity to introduce colors.
Here are our favorite holiday books for kids.
Equipment
- none
Materials
- dot stickers
- markers
- counting bears
- painter's tape
- white paper roll
Instructions
- Draw a simple Christmas tree.
- Stick colored dots on the tree so your child can find the same color bear. If you don’t have sticker dots, you can draw circles and write the color using marker pens – this is a great way to challenge your preschooler (but more on that later!).
- Put bears the same colors as the dots near the tree so your little one can match them up! I place them on the left side of the paper because it helps with left-right eye tracking, which kids need for writing later in life.
- In the morning, invite your preschooler to begin color-matching the bears onto the holiday tree. You may also notice that when your preschooler finishes, they take the game into their own hands. Encourage this creativity!
