Egg Carton Color Sticks: A Fun and Simple Color Sorting Activity for Toddlers

If You’ve Got an Egg Carton and Craft Sticks, You’ve Got a Learning Adventure!

If you’ve got an empty egg carton, a handful of colored craft sticks, and a toddler looking for something to do, you’re in luck. This egg carton color sticks activity is the kind of low-prep, high-fun learning experience that busy parents dream of.

Part of my Activities with Random Household Objects series, this color sorting game is perfect for little hands. It sneaks in fine motor skills, color recognition, and sorting practice—all while keeping things simple for you. Because, let’s be real, no one wants an activity that requires a trip to three different stores and an hour of prep.

Let’s dive into why this activity is a must-try and how to set it up in just a few minutes.

Why Egg Carton Color Sticks?

1. It’s an Easy Activity at Home: We love an activity that doesn’t require an Amazon order or a Pinterest-level crafting session. This one? Grab an empty egg carton, some markers or paint, and craft sticks, and you’re ready to go.
2. It Builds Fine Motor Skills: Little fingers will get a workout as they grasp, align, and push the craft sticks through the slits. That’s the kind of small but mighty hand strength needed for future skills like writing, buttoning a coat, or, you know, opening their own snack pouches (a true parenting win).
3. It Teaches Color Recognition & Sorting: Sorting activities like this help toddlers recognize and match colors in a hands-on way. They aren’t just hearing “red” or “blue”—they’re actively choosing, comparing, and placing. That’s how learning sticks.
4. It’s a Great Way to Use an Egg Carton: If you ever feel guilty about how many egg cartons you toss in the recycling bin, this is your solution. Activities using an egg carton give them a second life while keeping kids entertained. Double win.

How to Set Up the Egg Carton Color Sticks Activity

What You’ll Need:

• An empty egg carton (cardboard or plastic both work)
• Colored markers, crayons, or paint
• Scissors or a craft knife (for adult use)
• Colored craft sticks

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Color the Bottoms of the Egg Carton: Take your egg carton and flip it upside down so the bottom is facing up. Color a circle at the base of each egg cup using different colors. If using paint, let it dry before moving on.
2. Cut Small Slits Using scissors or a craft knife, carefully cut a small slit in each colored section. The slit should be just big enough for a craft stick to slide in but not so large that it falls through.
3. Gather the Craft Sticks: Hand your child a set of colored craft sticks that match the colors on the egg carton. If you only have plain ones, coloring the tips with markers works just fine!
4. Start Sorting! Let your child push each craft stick into the correct slit. Encourage them to say the color out loud or hunt for a specific one (“Can you find the blue one?”).

Optional Variations to Try

• Use More Colors – If your toddler is ready for a challenge, add more colors.
• Mix It Up – Give them all the craft sticks at once or offer one at a time to focus on matching.
• Go for a Speed Round – Challenge older toddlers to see how fast they can sort all the colors.
• Try a Number Twist – Write numbers on the egg carton and craft sticks for a counting activity.

The Learning Benefits of Color Sorting Activities

Color sorting isn’t just about knowing that red is red. It’s a foundational skill that builds on multiple areas of early learning.

1. Cognitive Skills & Early Math

Sorting is an early math concept! Grouping objects by color, size, or shape lays the groundwork for recognizing patterns, categorization, and problem-solving.

2. Fine Motor Development

This activity strengthens hand-eye coordination, finger dexterity, and precision—essential skills for everything from tying shoes to writing.

3. Language & Communication

Encouraging your child to say the colors out loud builds vocabulary and reinforces their understanding. Try adding phrases like:

• “You found the yellow one!”
• “Let’s find all the blue sticks together.”
• “Can you show me the green color?”

MORE WAYS TO PLAY WITH AN EGG CARTON

If your kids love this egg carton activity (and they definitely will), you’ll want to explore even more ways to play with this everyday item. An egg carton is surprisingly versatile, offering a wealth of creative learning opportunities. Here are a few more ideas to keep the fun going:

1. Egg Carton Color Hunt – Find colorful objects around the house and have your child find them and place them in the corresponding sections of the egg carton.
2. Egg Carton Counting – Label each compartment with numbers 1 through 9. Fill each spot with the corresponding number of miniature ducks (or any other small counting item) to reinforce counting skills.
3. Egg Carton Addition – Label each compartment with a simple addition problem (like 1+2, 3+5, etc.). Then, fill each compartment with the correct number of miniature ducks (or other small objects) to represent the sum.
4. Egg Carton Geoboard – Stretch rubber bands across the compartments to create shapes and designs, helping kids practice geometry and fine motor skills.
5. Egg Carton Paint Tray – Use the compartments to hold different paint colors, allowing your child to dip their brush and create a colorful masterpiece.

Each of these activities will transform an ordinary egg carton into an engaging and educational tool, all with materials you already have at home!

Keep It Simple, Keep It Fun!

Who knew that a simple egg carton could unlock so many learning opportunities? This Egg Carton Color Sticks activity is the perfect example of how everyday items can become powerful tools for hands-on learning. With just a few supplies, you can engage your toddler in color recognition, fine motor skills, and sorting practice—without any complicated setup or special trips to the store.

And remember, this is just the beginning! The egg carton is a surprisingly versatile tool, offering countless possibilities for creative play and learning. So, the next time you’re looking for a fun and easy activity, grab that egg carton, a handful of craft sticks, and watch as your child explores, learns, and grows.

By turning everyday household objects into learning adventures, you’ll not only save time and money but also nurture your child’s curiosity and creativity. Happy sorting, and stay tuned for more ways to play with random household items!

Colored Permanent Markers

Colored Craft Sticks