Clothespin Color Game

As you can probably tell, one of my goals for Bear is for her to be able to recognize her colors. I came up with this game that I made with her (she watched and helped me find the right color marker). The great thing is that this game also helps them practice fine motor skills. I call it the Clothespin Color Game.

First, you need
an empty yogurt container (the large kind, not individual)
markers (actually, I think Sharpies would work MUCH better)
wooden clothespins (I used 9 - I think)

I colored a square on the end of the clothespin that you pinch and a circle at the bottom end. I wrote the color in the middle (even though she can't read, I try to expose her to as much print as possible).The game is for me to ask for a color, for her to find it and pinch the clothespin open to place it on the rim of the yogurt container (which could totally be covered in paper or painted to make pretty, but I didn't bother). The square is there for the color, but also for me to be able to say, "Put your thumb on the square to pinch it open."To extend the game further, she then had to pinch the clothespins off the container. Then, to continue being able to talk about colors, I took the lid and cut a square big enough only for the clothespin. I taped the edges and then put the lid on the container. Bear now had to take the clothespin I asked for and put it through the hole.
Bear had fun and we played this again in the afternoon. However, her fingers do get tired of pinching and so in the afternoon she was mostly interested in putting the clothespins through the hole. She asked to do it "again" 3 times.

She is starting to tell me what certain colors are, so I think all my color tools are paying off. :)