This week, at Noise Makers, we’ve been learning all about colours.

We waved our rainbow ribbons, learnt the signs to lots of colours (keep an eye on the Noise Makers Instagram for a cheeky recap video), sang “I Can Sing a Rainbow” and “What’s Your Favourite Colour” and bounced coloured balls on our parachute.

Our world is made up colours and colours are a key way that we describe and categorise the world. Teaching children about colours is a great way to give them vocabulary for describing the world around them. Naming colours is second nature to most adults, but it is actually a cognitively complex task for a young child. This is partly due to the huge variety of hues that count as a particular colour.

You may have noticed that babies and toddlers love colour! It catches their eye and grabs their attention.  Having a strong knowledge of the different colours comes in useful in many situations. Learning these colours allows them to recognise that colours such as red can be a code for danger and the meaning behind traffic lights. Or knowing the difference between a red and a blue coloured tap.

Lots of research has been carried out on the effects of colour on the brain. Some experts claim that different colours enhance learning in different ways:

• Blue — a colour that encourages creativity, if overused however, it can bring the mood down in a room. A cool blue enhances relaxation levels in individuals.
• Yellow — a colour of happiness for children as it is associated with sunshine. This can lift the mood and excite a child due to its vibrant appearance.
• Orange — this is said to enhance critical thinking and memory.

So why not take your Noise Maker out for a walk this week and discover the colours on your doorstep? You could take a trip to your local park (and take advantage of the sunshine too!) or a wander around the shops (perhaps some retail therapy) and enjoy the colours that surround us.