5 Fun Bilingual Color Sorting Activities for Kids (Printable)

Fun bilingual color sorting activities for kids

These color sorting and matching activities have always been fun with my kids because they love rainbows! We’ve done a few variations over the years, and happy to share the ideas with you along with printables in Chinese (and some in English/Korean)!

I promise these take almost no time and effort to prepare!

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Fun bilingual color sorting and matching activities for kids
Play scarves, hole punch, toy cars, painter’s tape, glitter glue

When is the best time to teach your child colors?

“Lessons” about colors are an ongoing, often subtle process from birth.  During the first few months of life, children first notice high contrast colors (black, white, red). Later during infancy, babies start to distinguish the other colors of the rainbow.

Even before your child can speak, your child is learning color names throughout the day. When you’re changing clothes or playing with toys, you can describe the color names as you point them out. Compare colors and point out when colors match, such as with food and flowers!

Gradually, children will recognize the pattern through observation, repetition, and frequent discussion.

In addition, you can also focus on one color at a time, such as, highlighting red objects for one week, then orange the following week, etc.

What age should my child do sorting activities?

Although all children develop at their own pace, they typically learn color sorting skills between age 1-5 years.  Even before children know color names, they can often group and match colors.

The activities in this post are perfect for kids ranging from toddler, preschoolers, and Kindergartners!

Implementing language into activities

My children have learned color names in 3 languages: English, the dominant language, plus Chinese and Korean, the minority languages.

Since we live in a small town and my children rarely meet people who speak other languages, we try to encourage the minority languages at home!

In addition, my children only get to see Chinese characters at home.  Therefore, I try to make Chinese fun and relevant by including Chinese words in these color matching activities!

Try this: How to Make the Switch from Dominant to Minority Language

Color names in Chinese, Pinyin, and English: Important vocabulary

Here are translations for color names in simplified Chinese, traditional Chinese, Hanyu Pinyin, and English!

  • 颜色 / 顏色 (Yánsè / colors)
  • 红, 橙, 黄, 绿, 蓝, 紫, 粉, 棕 / 紅,橙,黃,綠,藍,紫,粉,棕 (Hóng, chéng, huáng, lǜ, lán, zǐ, fěn, sōng / red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink, brown)
  • 原色 (Yuánsè / primary color)
  • 二次色 (Èr cì sè / secondary color)

5 Fun bilingual color sorting and matching activities for kids

Giant color sorting matching activity for kids - free Chinese character printables

Giant color sorting activity

This is such a fun way to for kids to get exercise while learning to match colors! If you want to use our printables, they get exposure to giant-sized Chinese characters!

The picture above is from a few days ago, while the photo below is from a few years ago! Kids grow up so quickly, and little babies will soon get their turn to play and learn!

GIANT COLOR SORTING - GET ACTIVE WHILE LEARNING COLORS

What you need

  1. Printable Chinese color names in large Kaiti font, download available in:
  2. 8.5″ x 11″ Colored paper
  3. Painter’s tape or wall putty
  4. Colorful objects and toys
  5. Optional: Laminator and laminator sheets
color matching with dot stickers - free Chinese printable

Dot sticker color sorting activity

  1. Printable Chinese color names in large Kaiti font, download available in:
  2. 8.5″ x 11″ Colored paper
  3. Painter’s tape or wall putty
  4. Dot stickers (Avery or Garage Sale Pup)
  5. Optional: Laminator and laminator sheets
Color matching with Chinese flashcards

Mini color sorting activity (English, Chinese, Korean)

If your are past the mouthing stage, try this small scale color matching! My kids love cute, miniature objects, and these English, Chinese, and Korean flashcards are fun to print out! (See next example.)

Learning how to say and read colors in Mandarin Chinese - Montessori 3-part cards free printabl

Montessori 3-part cards (English, Chinese, Korean)

Montessori colors 3-part cards are helpful for learning how to read color names! Kids who are not yet reading can practice matching colors. Download our Montessori colors 3-part cards here:

Color scavenger hunt - free printable for toddlers and preschoolers in Chinese, English, Korean

Color scavenger hunt

Printable scavenger hunts are great for kids all year round! No matter the weather, you can do color scavenger hunts indoors or outside. Download your preferred language here:

Have you tried any of these bilingual color sorting activities?

If you try this activity, please let us know in the comments below! What age(s) are your kid(s), and how did it go? We’d love to hear about your learning experience!

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