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15 Preschool Color Rhymes: Learn Colors Through Song

Updated
Lend color to your teaching with these easy and fun rhymes

Preschoolers are like sponges — they absorb everything! That’s why it’s important to teach them many different things at this age, including colors.

One amazing way to teach kids about colors is by using music and songs. Songs are an excellent way for kids to memorize new information in a fun and accessible way.

From “all my favorite colors” to every shade in between, these preschool color rhymes are the perfect way to teach your toddler about the vibrancy of our colorful world. Sing along, dance, and make learning colors a fun, interactive experience they’ll remember!


Easy and Fun Color Songs for Preschoolers

Here are 15 songs about colors for preschoolers. You can start singing these as soon as you’ve had your child, and around the age of 18 months, they might start finally grasping colors.

I’ve included a description of each song, as well as a link to the YouTube video (if there is one), and the lyrics, so you can sing along. We’ve even added printable lyrics so you can take these with you on the go, even when you’re without internet.

1. Orange Garden Song

Orange Garden Song

A great way to teach colors is to associate them with an object. In this song, you can associate colors with fruits which, thankfully, most kids love.

This song is sung to the tune of The Wheels on the Bus, and you simply replace the color and fruit for each verse.

We couldn’t find a YouTube video for this song, but it’s super easy to learn!

Lyrics

The pumpkins in my garden are
Orange, orange, orange
Orange, orange, orange
Orange, orange, orange
The pumpkins in my garden are
Orange, orange, orange
Orange, orange, orange

The apples in my garden are
Red, red, red
Red, red, red
Red, red, red
The apples in my garden are
Red, red, red
Red, red, red

Continue with bananas, plums, blueberries, and more!

2. Kaleidoscope Song

Kaleidoscopes are a fun way for children to experience colors. Kids learn six colors in this song, which keeps it nice and simple.

If you have a kaleidoscope handy, then bring it out to play with during this song. Ask your child what colors they can see inside!

Lyrics

Red and orange for our
Ka – lei – do – scope!
Yellow and green for our…
Ka – lei – do – scope!
Blue and purple for our…
Ka – lei – do – scope!
Look at all the colors for our…
Ka – lei – do – scope!

We’ll find every color,
When we look around.
This is red!
This is orange!
Look at what we found!
Look at all the colors in our
Ka – lei – do – scope!

3. The Apple Is Red

Repetition, association, and a catchy tune are all proven ways to teach your child new things. In this song, we associate different colors with objects known to be that color. For example, apples are red, and trees are green!

Lyrics

Red red
The apple is red
Red red
The apple is red
Red red
The apple is red
The apple is red red red
Green green

The tree is green
Green green
The tree is green
Green green
The tree is green
The tree is green green green

(Repeat with a blue ball, a yellow lemon, orange juice, and a black hat)

4. Here We Go Round the Rainbow

There are many songs that teach colors using the rainbow, and they’re all awesome. I’ll include a few on this list, including this one that uses a well-known tune (shown in the video above). All you need to do is sing the lyrics below to the famous tune of Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush.

This is also a great opportunity to teach your child what order the colors appear in the rainbow. You’ll also get a chance to teach them different shades, including indigo and violet.

Lyrics

Here we go round the rainbow
The rainbow
The rainbow
Here we go round the rainbow
On a wet and rainy morning

This is the way we color it red
Color it red
Color it red
This is the way we color it red
On a wet and rainy morning

(Repeat verses with orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet)

5. Twinkle, Twinkle, Rainbow Star

Your child is probably already familiar with the soothing lullaby, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. This modified version is easy to grasp since they already know the tune of the song, making it a fun opportunity for them to learn new colors.

The lyrics have changed, but after a few verses, your preschooler will surely grasp the words. I recommend grabbing some objects of different colors or making your own stars with paper, crayons, or Play-Do.

Lyrics

Twinkle, Twinkle, Yellow Star
How I wonder where you are
Let’s go looking here and there
Let’s go looking everywhere
Twinkle, Twinkle, Yellow Star
How I wonder where you are

Twinkle, Twinkle, Blue Star
How I wonder where you are
Let’s go looking here and there
Let’s go looking everywhere
Twinkle, Twinkle, Blue Star
How I wonder where you are

(Repeat for all colors, including green, red, orange, purple, and pink)

6. If You Are Wearing Red

As soon as my son hears the start of If You’re Happy and You Know It, he’s ready to get groovy! But this twist to teach colors is also super fun. It changes the lyrics, going through different colors and telling you what to do if you are wearing that color.

This is a fantastic game to play at preschool or daycare. Gather the kids in a circle, and get everyone singing along. If they are wearing the color mentioned, they must do the suggested prompt.

Top Tip

Don’t start wearing purple now because there’s not an obvious rhyme to go with it. It doesn’t fit well in this song, but if you think of something that rhymes, go for it!

Lyrics

If you are wearing red, shake your head
If you are wearing red, shake your head
If you are wearing red, then please shake your head
If you are wearing red, shake your head

If you are wearing blue, touch your shoe
If you are wearing blue, touch your shoe
If you are wearing blue, then please touch your shoe
If you are wearing blue, touch your shoe

(Repeat with if you are wearing green, bow to the queen; if you are wearing yellow, shake like jello; if you are wearing black, pat your back; if you are wearing brown, turn around.)

7. So Many Fishies

Before you get started, I recommend laying out some paper fish. You can also draw fish, make fish with Play-Do or use felt fish. When singing along, get the children to point out the fish mentioned.

You can also sing it by asking the child what color fish they see. This version makes a great song for daycare or preschool settings or if you have a few kids at home.

Lyrics

There are so many fishies in the deep blue sea
What color fishie do you see?
Can you find the blue fish?
Blue, blue, this one’s blue
This little fishie is blue

There are so many fishies in the deep blue sea
What color fishie does (insert child’s name) see?
I see the (insert color) fish!
(Color, color), this one’s (color)
This little fishie is (color)

(Repeat until you’ve found all the fish)

8. What’s Your Favorite Color?

We’re big fans of Super Simple Songs in our house! Personally, I love this channel because the singers are super talented, the videos aren’t overstimulating, and the material is educational. My son has learned a lot from watching them.

In this song, we walk through different colors, asking each child their favorite color. When you choose a color, why not get your child to run around the room finding things of that color?

This is also a fun game to play with multiple children, as they can each shout out their favorite colors.

Lyrics

My favorite color’s blue
How ‘bout you?
How ‘bout you?
My favorite color’s blue
How ‘bout you?
How ‘bout you?

Red.
My favorite color’s red
I like red.
I like red.
My favorite color’s red
I like red.
I like red.

Colors, colors, what’s your favorite color?
Colors, colors, what’s your favorite color?

(Repeat with other colors, saying, “I like [color]”)

9. I See Something Blue

This is a fun one for road trips or long walks. With this song, kids can choose a color and point out things they see in that color. You can go through all colors, from blue to brown.

With this repetition-style song in a tune that doesn’t make parents want to tear their hair out, kids will learn colors before you know it!

Lyrics

Blue, I see something blue
Blue, I see something blue
Blue, blue, blue, blue
I see something blue
Find something blue!

Yellow, I see something yellow
Yellow, I see something yellow
Yellow, yellow
I see something yellow
Find something yellow!

(Repeat with brown, pink, green, black, red, and more)

10. Color Finger, Where Are You?

While your child can simply watch this video, it’s more fun if parents make little paper covers for each of their fingers in the shade blue, yellow, purple, green, and red. Sing this song with your hand up for your child to see and get them to find the matching color.

This is a fun way for children to learn colors with their parents involved! When they’re a bit older, they can even wear the covers on their fingers.

Lyrics

Blue finger, blue finger
Where are you?
Here I am, here I am
How do you do?

Green finger, green finger
Where are you?
Here I am, here I am
How do you do?

Yellow finger, yellow finger
Where are you?
Here I am, here I am
How do you do?

Red finger, red finger
Where are you?
Here I am, here I am
How do you do?

Purple finger, purple finger
Where are you?
Here I am, here I am
How do you do?

(Repeat on the other hand with colors like pink, orange, white, black and brown)

11. Roll Call Color

Roll Call Color

This one has no video, but it’s easy to learn. It’s sung to the tune of Frère Jacques (Brother John), which most adults know, making it easy to teach kids.

I recommend laying out your child’s pens, paints, or crayons for this one. Before they get coloring, they must point to each color and put it into the song.

I’ll put the Roll Call Color lyrics below, but remember you can change the color names depending on what supplies you have before you!

Lyrics

Red and green, red and green
Pink and blue, pink and blue
Don’t forget orange, don’t forget orange
And yellow too, and yellow too.

(Repeat with other colors, or the next child can sing their own verse)

12. I See a Red Car

This fun and easy song involves some arts and crafts beforehand unless your child has a bunch of toy cars. You can use those instead!

But if you want to make the cars yourself, draw them onto a piece of paper before cutting them out and gluing them onto a popsicle stick. Then you can sing this song, asking your child to point out the specific color of the car.

It’s also a great song to sing in the car when your child is getting grizzly in the backseat! This is an excellent chance to spot your child’s favorite colors.

Lyrics

I see a red car
I see a red car
Yes I do
How ‘bout you?
Do you see a red car?
Do you see a red car?
Yes I do

I see a blue car
I see a blue car
Yes I do
How ‘bout you?
Do you see a blue car?
Do you see a blue car?
Yes I do

(Repeat with other colors)

13. Pass the Color

Pass the Color

This game is like Pass the Parcel but with colors. Gather kids into a circle and pass around a crayon, pen, or pencil. Sing the song to the tune of Row, Row, Row Your Boat. When the song is done, whoever is holding the crayon must say the name of the color.

Lyrics

Pass, pass, pass the color
This is the game we play
When the little song is through
The color name we’ll say

14. Red Yellow Green Blue

This is a fun song to teach four colors. Focusing on a smaller number of colors at a time ensures it’s not too overwhelming for little ones, especially younger toddlers.

I recommend drawing an apple, the sun, a four-leaf clover, and the sky on a piece of paper before singing this song so you can point to the items as you sing.

Lyrics

Red, yellow, green, blue
Red, yellow, green, blue
Red
Yellow
Green
Blue

Red, yellow, green, blue
Red, yellow, green, blue
Red
Yellow
Green
Blue

Red is the color of an apple
Yellow is the color of the sun
Green is the color of a four-leaf clover
And blue is the color of the sky above

Red, yellow, green, blue
Red, yellow, green, blue
Red
Yellow
Green
Blue

Red, yellow, green, blue.
Red, yellow, green, blue
Red
Yellow
Green
Blue

15. Find the Yellow

Find the Yellow

Grab a box of crayons and get teaching! Sing this short verse one color at a time, asking your child to find the corresponding crayon. This is a fun way to get your crayons in and out of the box before and after arts and crafts time.

We sing this song to the tune of Do You Know the Muffin Man? which makes it easy for preschoolers to learn.

Lyrics

Can you find the yellow?
The yellow? The yellow?
Can you find the yellow?
The yellow crayon.

Can you find the white?
The white? The white?
Can you find the white?
The white crayon.

(Repeat with all the other colors)

Why You Should Teach Preschoolers Color Rhymes and Songs

When I became a parent, I knew that there was a significant emphasis on the importance of nursery rhymes and songs. I felt like a failure because I didn’t know many! But there are so many excellent resources to teach parents and children nursery rhymes and songs.

Here are five benefits of teaching preschoolers rhymes and songs:

  1. Set the foundations for speech: Nursery rhymes and songs introduce your child to all sounds of the alphabet. This sets the foundation for speaking, reading, and communication. Soon enough, often before a child’s first birthday, they will begin imitating the sound they hear.
  2. They help with cognitive development: Nursery rhymes are good for the brain! They teach kids how language works. Because they are repetitive, they also help build your child’s memory abilities.
  3. It’s a great way to bond: Singing rhymes and songs to your child is a great way to bond. Whether you’re the parent, caregiver, or teacher, this activity opens communication between adult and child. Plus, small children and babies are often soothed by soft singing voices, making it a great tool for calming down a child.
  4. Children understand concepts: Rhymes and songs are a fantastic way to teach concepts to your child, including colors. But it also teaches sizes, words, people, and events. Think about The Wheels on the Bus, for example. Your child sees it in a song, and when they see a bus in real life, they can understand how it works. They won’t be as nervous when they go over a bump since they know the people go up and down on a bus!
  5. Helps with the rhythm of language: Hearing rhymes and songs from a young age will help children with the rhythm of language later in life. When they learn to speak and read, they will be able to adopt an animated voice more easily since they’ve been exposed to it from a young age.

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About the Author

Beth McCallum

Beth McCallum is a Scottish freelance writer & book blogger with a degree in creative writing, journalism and English literature. She is a mum to a young boy, and believes that it truly takes a village. When she’s not parenting, writing about parenting, or working, she can be found reading, working on her novel, taking photos, playing board games or wandering through the countryside with her family.