This rainbow chain can be used in a toddler activity to teach colors and color matching in a creative, hands-on approach to teaching toddlers colors. This is an activity that I’ve used over and over again with my own toddlers. Older siblings can make and build the plastic chain links to make a rainbow chain…and younger siblings can sort the colors of the chain links. This is a chain link activity that builds so many skills!
Today’s learning with manipulatives activity uses something that I LOVE. I had these plastic chain links in my therapy bag for years, and used them daily in school based and outpatient occupational therapy treatment. Now, I get to play with my kids using these plastic rainbow chain links. Today, we used them with my toddler to practice color sorting.
And, here’s a little preview for you: We went a little crazy with playing with these chain links. I’ve got a bunch of fun chain link ideas coming your way, soon!
Rainbow Chain
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Chain links are completely awesome for find motor skills in kids. Linking the chains together and pulling them apart requires intrinsic muscle strength, bilateral hand coordination, tripod grasp, and pronation/supination of an extended wrist.
These chain links are tools that can used to work on so many goal areas. From using two hands together, to a functional pencil grasp, to using spoons and forks with an appropriate write positioning, to holding a zipper with the right wrists angle…these little guys are great skill builders!
Linking the chains
together requires a bit of muscle oomph, so for preschoolers and school-aged kids, building chains are a great strengthening activity.
together requires a bit of muscle oomph, so for preschoolers and school-aged kids, building chains are a great strengthening activity. 
Rainbow Chain Link Activity
For this activity, we used our Learning Resources Link n Learn Links.
(This set comes in a big bucket of 500, so you’ve got plenty for multiple kids playing at the same time, or different age-appropriate activities happening with the chain links)
You’ll also need colored card stock in matching colors.
I cut squares of equal sizes and placed them out on the table. I figured this would be a great activity for older toddlers, but my 19 month old completely surprised my by correctly placing the colored links
on the matching paper squares. I had a few links in place to show her what to do and she was able to put them on the correct squares.
on the matching paper squares. I had a few links in place to show her what to do and she was able to put them on the correct squares.
I even put an incorrect colored link on a different colored square and she was able to fix the mistake. It was a proud mama moment!
Looking for more learning activities using rainbow manipulatives? Stop by our Learning With Manipulatives team to see what they’ve come up with:
AND, be sure to stop by Instagram and check out the #toolsforlearning hashtag to see them all. Tag your hands-on learning ideas using rainbow manipulatives, too! We would love to see them!
Graphing with Rainbow Bears from Still Playing School
Color and Size Sorting with Rainbow Counters from Line Upon Line Learning
Alphabet Formation Compare Bears from Adventures of Adam
Size and Color Sorting {Learning with Rainbow Bears} from Squiggles and Bubbles
Animal Counters Sensory Bin & Color Sort from Raising Little Superheroes
Color Graphing with Rainbow Bears from Schooltime Snippets
Rainbow Bears Sensory Bin from Something 2 Offer
Rainbow Bears Addition Cards from The Kindergarten Connection
Measuring with Rainbow Bears from Mom Inspired Life
More fine motor activities you will LOVE:
Rainbow Handwriting Kit– This resource pack includes handwriting sheets, write the room cards, color worksheets, visual motor activities, and so much more. The handwriting kit includes:
- Write the Room, Color Names: Lowercase Letters
- Write the Room, Color Names: Uppercase Letters
- Write the Room, Color Names: Cursive Writing
- Copy/Draw/Color/Cut Color Worksheets
- Colors Roll & Write Page
- Color Names Letter Size Puzzle Pages
- Flip and Fill A-Z Letter Pages
- Colors Pre-Writing Lines Pencil Control Mazes
- This handwriting kit now includes a bonus pack of pencil control worksheets, 1-10 fine motor clip cards, visual discrimination maze for directionality, handwriting sheets, and working memory/direction following sheet! Valued at $5, this bonus kit triples the goal areas you can work on in each therapy session or home program.
Colleen Beck, OTR/L has been an occupational therapist since 2000, working in school-based, hand therapy, outpatient peds, EI, and SNF. Colleen created The OT Toolbox to inspire therapists, teachers, and parents with easy and fun tools to help children thrive. Read her story about going from an OT making $3/hour (after paying for kids’ childcare) to a full-time OT resource creator for millions of readers. Want to collaborate? Send an email to contact@theottoolbox.com.
