Colorín colorado: a case study based on the artistic experience of teaching colour in early childhood
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20868/ardin.2026.15.5660Keywords:
Colour education, Visual lilteracy, Visual literacy, Early chilhoodAbstract
The educational experience Colorín colorado took place between 2019 and 2025 with a young girl, encompassing her time in early childhood education (ages 0–3) and the second cycle of preschool education (ages 3–6). This initiative emerged as an alternative to traditional approaches to colour learning, which are often limited to repetitive, low-creativity activities. The main goal is to promote meaningful understanding of colour through artistic processes, using both analog techniques (gouache, watercolour, natural dyes) and digital tools (Photoshop, Krita), while avoiding mechanical colouring applications.
The methodology used is qualitative, based on a case study with an active and experiential approach. The child explores colour freely through artistic materials and natural pigments, building a personal archive in both physical and digital formats that documents her development. This methodology encourages an understanding of colour not only from a technical standpoint, but also from expressive and emotional perspectives.
The results show that implementing micro-projects focused on colour led to significant learning in the child. Her progress is evident in her ability to identify and name shades, use colour across physical and digital media, and associate colours with emotions and meanings. In contrast to the conventional preschool curriculum, this proposal demonstrates that it is possible to achieve a richer, deeper visual literacy from an early age.
In conclusion, the experience highlights the need to rethink educational practices related to colour learning, incorporating approaches that foster experimentation, creativity, and artistic and technological engagement, thus promoting a comprehensive learning experience starting in early childhood.
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