Have you been saving toilet paper rolls to create fun activities for your super active toddler?
This DIY toilet paper roll color sorting activity with popsicles could be the perfect match for your toddler’s sensitive period of color recognition.
This DIY activity will also save you money you might otherwise spend on expensive color-sorting toys.
During my toddler’s color-sensitive period, anything bright would instantly grab her attention. This “rainbow toilet paper roll and popsicle color sorting activity” was a fun and simple way to keep her engaged while helping her learn colors.
If your little one loves colors too, give it a try — it’s playful, hands-on, and great for building fine motor skills.
Ages: 18 months+
prep time: 15–20 minutes
Here is my toddler sorting the popsicles in the rainbow rolls using a pincer grip.
Encourages Sorting Skills
Toddlers love placing things in the “right” spot. Sorting by color, shape, or size helps them make sense of their world.
It teaches color recognition, comparisons, and grouping — all through play!
Builds Focus and Concentration
Matching and sorting colors helps toddlers stay engaged with a task, gradually improving their attention span and focus.
Encourages Problem-Solving
If a popsicle doesn’t fit, toddlers think, adjust, and try again — learning to solve problems through play!
Encourages Independent Play
Since this activity is simple and self-correcting, toddlers can explore it on their own. This builds confidence and fosters independence.
Promotes Hand-Eye Coordination
Figuring out where each popsicle goes takes sharp eyes and steady hands — a fun way to boost hand-eye coordination!
When Should You Introduce This Activity
Try this activity once your toddler starts matching similar items. That’s usually a sign they’ve entered the “sensitive period” for sorting.
I noticed my daughter began grouping shapes around 18 months. That’s when I thought, “Why not try colors too?” It clicked instantly!
At first, I wasn’t sure how to introduce colors. So, I started with a few simple DIY sorting games. Within just 2–3 months, she was not only sorting correctly but also naming the colors out loud.
By 21 months, she could name some of the brightest, familiar colors.
I arranged this activity for her when she was already familiar with prominent colors like red, blue, green, yellow, and pink. So, this color match-up was super simple for her— but she still had a blast!
New, colorful activities never fail to amaze toddlers, even if they’ve done something similar before.
P.S. Every child develops at their own pace. Some toddlers enjoy sorting earlier, others later — even past 24 months. That’s completely fine!
The best signal to start? Just watch their curiosity. It’ll guide you.
Supplies Needed
- Colored popsicle sticks
- An empty box
- White paper
- Glue stick
- Colored markers
- Paper cutter or scissors
How to prepare this sorting activity (step-by-step)
step 1
I cut the colored paper to match the 10 cm length of the toilet paper rolls.
step 2
Using glue, I wrapped each toilet paper roll in colored paper.
step 3
Then I glued the rolls onto the cardboard sheet, leaving some space between them. (Optional — but surprisingly, my toddler used that space for her own imaginative play!)
That’s it! With minimal effort, you can recreate this in any free corner at home
How to Introduce This Activity
I like the Montessori-style “presentation” approach. Here’s how I introduced it.
I placed the setup on her play shelf. Popsicles went into a woven basket beside it.
She noticed the colorful setup immediately. Her eyes sparkled with joy, and she asked, “What’s that?”
I gently showed her how to sort the popsicle sticks into the matching rolls.
Then, she started sorting on her own.
I let her explore for as long (or as short) as she wanted.
When she was done, I encouraged clean-up by singing:
“Let’s clean up altogether. Hurry up, hurry up, hurry, hurry up!”
We returned everything to the shelf.
(She doesn’t always help yet, but I keep trying — building the habit bit by bit.)
Challenging Part of This Activity
The concept of this activity is simple, especially for toddlers who’ve already started learning about colors.
However, the biggest issue is durability. Toddlers are strong and curious — they may pull the rolls off the cardboard like mine.
If that happens, glue them back on.
How Long Will It Keep Your Toddler Engaged
It varies!
Sometimes she played for over 30 minutes; other times just 2.
On average, it kept her engaged for 15 minutes.
I rotate the activity every week or so to prevent boredom.
She doesn’t just sort the popsicles — she turns it into open-ended play too.
Sometimes she plays with both of us (me and her dad), and we sort together, saying:
“Ready, set, go!”
“Yaaay, we did it together!”
It’s become a little bonding moment — and it only takes 1 minute! Perfect for quick breaks between chores or meetings.
Other times, she builds a popsicle bridge over the rolls or pushes sticks through the gaps between the rolls.
Make This Activity More Fun!
- Sing color or rainbow songs while naming each color.
- Turn it into a timed game — how fast can they finish sorting?
- Celebrate matches with high-fives and cheerful “Yaaays!”
- Let your toddler use the setup creatively beyond sorting — spark their imagination!
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s a bit fragile. My toddler pulled out two rolls within five minutes.
But you can always glue them back. Take this opportunity to teach gentle play — over time, they’ll understand.
I keep it on top of the cupboard. You could also store it in a closet or cover it to prevent dust if saving it long-term.
Yes, especially if your toddler is new to sorting. Supervision helps teach color names and prevents them from pulling the rolls or mouthing the popsicle sticks. (Toddlers love to chew everything!)
YouTube or Spotify has many! You can play one on a speaker or sing it yourself.
Have you tried a similar activity with your toddler? I’d love to hear how it went in the comments!
