A four-year-old led inside a preschool room. The bright yellow reading nook almost instantly draws their attention, and the rainbow of creative supplies spread out in front of them sparks their curiosity. Shortly after, a transition is made, and they are seen moving from the building blocks to the dress-up station. To an observer, it may simply be thought of as typical behaviour. However, it can be understood that their brain are being stimulated by every colour and texture, their learning accelerated by every opportunity to move.
It is widely wished for by parents that their children are given the greatest possible start in life, a desire that is felt especially keenly as school is begun. They hope that the alphabet and numbers are learned. However, what if books and flashcards aren’t the only sources of learning magic—the things that actually mould their developing brains? What if it’s that burst of giggles during outdoor play, the way their fingers trace patterns in finger paint, or how they naturally gravitate toward certain colored spaces that’s doing the heavy lifting? We may be ignoring the very elements that foster the development of young brains.
Read More: Impact of Colours on Mental Health
The Not-So-Simple Science of Colour
We put bright colours on every toy and book for a reason, right? It’s because colour is way more than just decoration. It’s a powerful psychological tool that messes with our mood, our behaviour, and even how our brains work (Bluewood Kids, 2024). For a small child whose brain is wiring itself up at an out-of-control pace, the colours around them are like constant, silent instructions.
Wait, Can Colours Be Too Interesting?
Here’s where it gets funny. Our gut says “more colour = more engagement.” But the research sometimes says the opposite. One study found something counterintuitive: a super colourful play surface actually distracted kids. It led to more disrupted play compared to a simpler one (PMC, 2016). It’s like sensory overload. Their developing attention systems get overwhelmed by all the visual noise. This isn’t just about the playmat. It makes you rethink everything—the classroom walls, the learning tools, the posters. It all sends a signal. This stuff can literally alter a child’s mental development and how their personality forms by changing how they see the world (Psychology Writing, 2024).
Read More: Strategies for Creating Positive Learning Environments in the Classroom
Feelings and Four-Year-Olds
Kids aren’t logical; they’re emotional. This is because the limbic system (emotional brain) develops years before the prefrontal cortex (logical brain), making children naturally emotion-driven rather than logic-driven in their responses (Casey et al., 2008; Steinberg, 2013). Adolescent brain development is characterised by an imbalance between the limbic and reward systems, which mature earlier, and the not-yet-fully-mature prefrontal control system, and this pattern begins in early childhood.
Additionally, they develop strong emotional bonds with colours right away. While some reds can feel intense or even a little frightening, some blues can feel serene. This is used by astute educators. To reduce fear, provide a safe environment, and put children in the correct frame of mind for learning, they intentionally use colour. This is why you’ll walk into a Montessori school and see something different. It has made them renowned. Natural materials and subdued, earthy hues are often used to create a peaceful, clutter-free environment that aids in children’s concentration (ResearchGate, 2022). They’ve known this for ages.
Read More: How School Environment Shapes Mind
How Should Colour Be Used?
Being clever with colour is more important than avoiding it. It all comes down to finding equilibrium and understanding the purpose of a space. Consider the colour red. It’s associated with passion, power, energy, and danger because it’s the colour of fire and love. Because it stirs up such strong feelings, you gotta use it carefully in a room full of preschoolers (Art Co Bell). The pros use warm colours (yellows, oranges) in areas where you want kids to be social and creative. Then, they use cooler tones (blues, greens) in the reading nook or quiet corner for concentration. The room itself guides how the kids feel and behave.
Read More: How does the Green Colour Impact your Emotions and Behaviour?
Why Kids Absolutely Need to Move
Attempting to get a four-year-old to remain motionless for longer than five minutes is an impossible task. That is a feature, not a flaw. Movement isn’t a break from learning for them—it is learning. It’s the foundation for their cognitive, social, and emotional wiring.
Getting Smart by Getting Active
The link between physical activity and brainpower is rock-solid. Today, advances in neuroscience have generated substantial progress in connecting physical activity to brain structure and cognitive development. It is hypothesised that physical activity has a positive effect on cognitive functions, which is partly due to the physiological changes in the body (Zeng et al., 2017). Study after study shows that when kids move, their brains light up. Of five big studies on this, a whopping four of them (80%) found significant boosts in language, grades, attention, and memory (Wiley Online Library, 2017). The CDC lists a ton of benefits, including improved academic performance, brain health, and— crucially—better attention and memory (CDC, 2024). When they’re climbing that jungle gym, they’re not just strengthening muscles; they’re building their capacity to learn everything else.
Read More: How Emotional Distractions Impact Sustained Attention and Memory
The Secret to Self-Control? Play
This may be the most significant. One of the most important aspects of growing up is learning self-regulation, or how to control your emotions, impulses, and attention. This skill is the most reliable indicator of academic and life success. Recent studies have shown a direct correlation between enhanced self-regulation in the classroom and active play and physical activity (Springer, 2023). Through the game of tag, kids learn to strike a balance between the excitement of almost getting caught and the frustration of being “out.” They follow the rules, collaborate, and take turns. These are exercises for becoming a functioning human, not merely games.
Developing Friendships in the Playground
Movement is naturally social. You can’t play a game by yourself. Physical activities, from cooperative games to just dancing around, force kids to interact. This is where they develop social skills, build relationships, and learn to read nonverbal cues (PMC, 2019). The kid who might struggle to sit still for a worksheet might be a brilliant leader on the obstacle course. Movement gives other kids a chance to shine and build the confidence that then feeds back into the “academic” classroom.
The Ripple Effect of Motor Skills
It all starts with the basics: running, jumping, and throwing. Mastering these fundamental motor skills does something incredible. Studies have shown a positive correlation between cognitive function and academic performance, as well as overall task performance in children. Moreover, this period of childhood is characterised by high behavioural plasticity and sensitivity (Frontiers, 2023). This study indicates that physical fitness and these basic skills make each other better, and both are absolutely crucial for positive development. The confidence from physically mastering your world translates into confidence to tackle a tough math problem. It’s all connected.
Read More: Ripple Effect Psychology: How Little Things Lead to Big Transformations
Putting It All Together in a Real Classroom
The best teachers don’t have a “colour time” and a “movement time.” They weave it all together into the entire day.
Designing a Room That Teaches
It starts with the room itself. The philosophy is simple: Movement isn’t a break from your classroom routine but should be part of it! It allows children to release energy as they practice existing skills and learn new ones (Virtual Lab School). So, they create colour-coded zones. A blue corner with comfy pillows for quiet reading. A yellow area with open space for building and energetic play. The environment itself tells the kids what to do and how to feel, and it lets them move between those states naturally.
Read More: Psychology-Driven Classroom Management Strategies
Every Kid is Different
This is super important. Some kids are super sensitive to bright lights and colours and need a calm corner to decompress. Others thrive in that stimulation. Same with movement—some need to run constantly, while others need guided, gentle activities. Research is even looking into how kids with autism or ADHD see colour differently, which will help us build even better, more inclusive rooms for everyone (NeuroLaunch, 2024).
Overall, physical activity has a positive acute effect on subsequent cognition in children and adolescents with ADHD, though effects may be domain-specific and influenced by the duration and modality of physical activity. This doesn’t work if the teacher is the only one on board. The success of this whole thing hinges on educators who get it, plus supportive parents who value physical activity at home, too (Little Planet Learning, 2024).
Read More: Understanding and Supporting Neurodiversity in the Classroom
The Real Science Behind the Fun
All that happy running, jumping, and exploring, those brilliant, lovely colours—it’s so much more than play. This is actually the process by which a child’s brain is being built. This is accomplished by establishing the basic circuitry required for critical thinking, managing intense, overwhelming emotions, and figuring out how to work together and build friendships.
The amazing thing is that all of that movement makes their heart beat more quickly, which sends a powerful, oxygen-rich blood flow straight to the brain from their active, tiny bodies. It’s the best possible fuel for growing minds. It’s similar to giving them a cognitive boost. Their learning, concentration, and memory regions—the very underpinnings of everything from reading to math—benefit from this as they develop new connections and become stronger.
Therefore, we are not denying children the opportunity to learn when we let them be children, as long as we provide them with room to roam around and intelligent, stimulating environments. That’s what we’re doing. We’re laying the most solid foundation for all future education. Because learning is enjoyable, meaningful, and resonates with people on a deep, organic level, we’re ensuring that it adheres.
References +
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Bluewood Kids. (2024). The impact of colour on child psychology and development. Bluewood Kids.
Casey, B. J., Getz, S., & Galvan, A. (2008). The adolescent brain. Developmental Review, 28(1), 62–77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dr.2007.08.003
Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2024, May 29). Benefits of physical activity. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/pa-health/index.htm
Frontiers. (2023). The relationship between motor competence and executive function in children: A systematic review. Frontiers in Psychology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1234555
Little Planet Learning. (2024). The role of the educator in holistic development. Little Planet Learning.
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Psychology Writing. (2024). How the environment shapes personality and mental development in children. Psychology Writing.
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Steinberg, L. (2013). The influence of neuroscience on US Supreme Court decisions about adolescents’ criminal culpability. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 14(7), 513–518. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn3509
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Zeng, N., Ayyub, M., Sun, H., Wen, X., Xiang, P., & Gao, Z. (2017). Effects of physical activity on motor skills and cognitive development in early childhood: A systematic review. BioMed Research International, 2017, 2760716. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/2760716
