MSU Extension Child & Family Development

Infant and Toddler Activity Pages

Color Sorting and Matching

Materials

• Empty toilet paper rolls/paper towel rolls
• Non-toxic paint (orange, blue, red, yellow, purple, green)
• Construction paper (orange, blue, red, yellow, purple, green) (optional)
• Glue/tape (optional)
• Scissors (optional)
• Large googly eyes (2 for each tube)
• Colored containers to match the color of tubes you are using
• Large pom poms (orange, blue, red, yellow, purple, green) to match the color of tubes you are using.

Area of School Readiness

Approaches to Learning: Approaches to learning According to the Head Start Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center, approaches to learning refers to how children learn or the behaviors and skills that children need to have in order to be able to learn. These skills include both emotional and cognitive self-regulation, initiative and curiosity and creativity. 

Perceptual, Motor, and Physical Development: According to the Head Start Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center, perceptual, motor, and physical development includes motor development and health, safety and nutrition. This includes gross motor or large motor skills (like jumping, running, climbing) as well as fine motor or small muscle skills (like holding a fork or buttoning a coat). Health, safety, and nutrition includes skills for self-care (like brushing teeth), knowledge promoting healthy eating habits, and personal safety routines.

Cognition: According to the Head Start Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center cognition is your child’s ability to reason, use their memory, engage in problem solving and thinking skills that help children learn about and understand the world around them.  

Purpose of the Activity

Initiative and Curiosity: Your child will practice exploring and experiencing the game and show interest and curiosity while they play.

Gross Motor and Fine Motor Skills: Your child will practice using the muscles in their arms and hands to pick up pom poms and drop them down the tubes.

Exploration and Discovery: Your child will explore the pom poms and tubes while playing.

Instructions

1. Locate toilet paper or paper towel tubes (however many you want to use for the activity- max of 5).
2. Paint or color the tubes (colors of your choosing for the amount you want to use for the activity- red, blue, green, purple, orange, yellow).
3. Add 2 googly eyes to each tube (once the paint/marker is dry).
4. Optional: draw or paint a mouth on the caterpillar tube.
5. Attach tubes to kitchen cupboards, a wall or cardboard box (make sure they are within your child’s reach, but high enough up to allow room for the pom poms to fall through the tubes and into the colored containers).
6. Pick up a colored pom pom (of your choice) and put it down the corresponding (matching) tube so it falls into the correct container.
7. Create a fun game out of it to keep your child interested (pretend the caterpillars are hungry and need to eat).

 Note: This is a great activity to work on counting skills with your child.  Start by saying “I’m going to feed the red caterpillar 3 pieces of food” and count out”1,2,3” and then take turns and help your child count while they are dropping the pom poms through the tubes.