.. progressing from simple colour identification to colour experimentation enables the child to explore and apply colour knowledge. (Color Center)
Other activities using the colour squares include creating mosaic designs, patterns and building structures. The child's small muscle and hand-eye coordination is improved by means of these exercises, which also helps to increase his attention span, develop and expand specific concepts and to generalize concepts. The development of visual and auditory memory is also promoted. Because the purpose of block play is to assist the child in developing basic problem solving skills and language stimulation, the child is encouraged to verbalise his actions during the exercise which gives the child a sense of accomplishment.
The National Center for Learning Disabilities affirms that "reading and math are two subjects where accurate perception and understanding of spatial relationships are very important... The importance of being able to perceive objects in relation to other objects is often seen in math problems. " (Visual and Auditory Processing Disorders)
The design of this educational toy is straightforward and the construction of the colour squares and the solid...
The size of the toy is about 15" x 2" x 1." Additional rainbow squares can be bought separately to enhance the creative possibilities of the educational process.
Image Sources: (http://www.kamitoys.com/rainbow.asp)
My personal opinion is that this toy succeeds in its objective which is to introduce a young child to the spectrum of colours by following a colour bar to recreate a rainbow. Since the colours used in this educational toy match the first circular diagram of colours that was developed by Sir Isaac Newton in 1666, young learners become familiar with the spectrum of colours and gain an awareness of numerous variations used in traditional science and art.
Bibliography
Color Center. Retrieved June 19, 2005. Web site: http://www.literacycenter.net/parents_teacher/color_center.htm
Visual and Auditory Processing Disorders. Retrieved June 19, 2005 form LD Online. Web site: http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/process_deficit/visual_auditory.html
Kamitoys. Retrieved June 19, 2005. Web site;
http://www.kamitoys.com/rainbow.asp
