Purple Things for Kids
Are you looking for purple things to share with your students or kids? We collected below 100 purple things you can share plus a big list of activities around the purple color.
Learning colors can be a fun experience for young children. The best way to teach children colors is by showing them many examples.
The color purple can be celebrated with a themed day or classroom lesson.
Encourage children to wear purple. There will inevitably be many shades of purple that provide a teachable moment about how colors come in light and dark shades.
The next step is to showcase many examples of the color purple by offering pictures of purple items or tangible items that can be passed around and touched. A game is a great teaching method that makes learning fun.
Each year purple day is March 26th. Wear purple to support epilepsy awareness worldwide. For more info on Purple Day visit the ‘Purple Day Campaign’
Color matching, guess the color, and I spy are activities that build excitement and color recognition. Art projects and simple coloring offer another hands-on learning tactic.
Find something purple like grapes and have the children color them or glue purple circles onto the picture.
A display of the colorful art projects will continue to cement the concept into young minds.
Table of Contents
- Purple Things List
- Purple Decoration Ideas
- Purple Themed Activity Ideas
- Purple Art Ideas
- Purple Craft Ideas
- Purple Themed Science Projects
- Purple Snack Ideas
- Purple Beverage Ideas
The Big List of All Purple Things

1. Grapes
2. Eggplant
3. Lavender
4. Purple Nudibranch (marine animal)
5. Purple Sea Star
6. Purple Tang (fish)
7. Purple Mountain, China
8. Amethyst

9. Lucifer Hummingbird
10. Purple Peacock
11. Purple Honeycreeper (bird)
12. Purple Cauliflower
13. Crocus (flower)
14. Trailing Geranium
15. Purple Jade
16. Spinel (gemstone)

17. Jambul (Fruit)
18. Purple Martin (bird)
19. Canterbury Bells (flower)
20. Magenta Flower
21. Begonia Rex
22. Fig
23. Bruises
24. Barney

25. Orchids
26. Cabbage
27. Red Onions
28. Violets
29. Plums
30. Tulips
31. Blueberry

32. Blackberry
33. Purple Bell Pepper
34. Purple Cayenne Pepper
35. Purple Jalapeno
36. Violet-Backed Starling (bird)
37. Purple Grenadier (bird)
38. Purple Gallinule (bird)

39. Varied Bunting (bird
40. Violet-crowned Woodnymph (bird)
41. Splendid Sunbird (bird)
42. Indian Purple Frog
43. Orchid Dotty Back (fish)
44. Purple Emperor Butterfly
45. Violet Sea Snails
46. Purple Beetles

47. Purple Bamboo Salt
48. Purple Granite
49. Purple Potato
50. Purple Asparagus
51. Purple Carrots
52. Acai Berry
53. Purple Corn

54. Ube (Purple Yam)
55. Passion Fruit
56. Elderberries
57. Purple Kohlrabi
58. Radicchio
59. Purple Belgian Endive
60. Purple Kale

61. Red Leaf Lettuce
62. Purple Broccoli
63. Purple Thyme
64. Purple Basil
65. Black Currants
66. Lepidolite (mineral)
67. Quartz
68. Sodalite (mineral)

69. Spodumene (mineral)
70. Purple Coral
71. Elegant Firefish
72. Betta Fish
73. Purple Striped Jellyfish
74. Blackcap Gramma Basslet (fish)
75. Purple Queen Anthias (fish)

76. Charoite
77. Sugilite
78. Lilac
79. Violet
80. Jacaranda
81. Hellebore
82. Bellflower ( Campanula )
83. Lupin

84. Aster
85. Hyacinth
86. Foxglove
87. Giant Onion Flower
88. hollyhock Flower
89. Petunia
90. Fuchsia

91. Pansy
92. Anemone
93. Wisteria
94. Morning Glory
95. Verbena
96. Bell Heather

97. Columbine
98. Clematis
99. Lisianthus
100. Pasque
Pick a color for a theme and see how easy it is to do! Just choose a color your kids like–and go with it! This ‘Purplicious Theme’ for a party or childcare program is an example…
CALL IT:
‘Purplcious’ for a girls’ party…or…
‘Operation Purple’ for an all-boys’ or ‘boys and girls’ celebration or theme…
NOTE: Be sure to also visit the “PURPLE PEOPLE EATER” theme!
Purple Decoration Ideas
- Balloons: Purple, violet, lavender, and white
- Crepe Paper and/or paper chains: Make them in colors of purple, violet, orchid, lavender, pink and white
- Purple paper plates, cups, and napkins
PUT UP PURPLE ‘COLOR BLOCK ART’ or PAPER ON WALLS
Paint and color large sizes and shapes of paper in shades of purple. Hang them on the walls in art gallery fashion.
Several identical and very large purple paintings would look great going across a wall in the gallery-wall style. You could also mount purple fabric or paper!
Fun Purple Themed Activity Ideas

1. Have kids/guests come DRESSED, in purple, violet, lavender, orchid or white!
2. Have PURPLE MAKEOVERS with purple eye shadow, purple lipstick, purple nail polish, purple hair ribbon, etc.
3. USING FACE PAINT– paint purple stripes, hearts, and stars on face and hands
4. PLAY ACTIVE GAMES USING PURPLE BALLOONS OR BALLS. See many balloon games in the Races, Relay, Balloon and Bean Bag Category. (Balloon games are towards the bottom of the page.)
5. Watch a movie and count how many purple things you see
Have a treasure hunt for purple items (Purple crayons, ribbon, fabric swatches, small nail polish, ponytail elastics, etc.)
6. MAKE EDIBLE PURPLE FRUIT LIP GLOSS
Materials:
✓ Grape Flavored drink mix
✓ 1 cup vegetable shortening
✓ Food coloring
✓ A small container such as a film container
- Mix one packet of drink mix with shortening.
- Add in a few drops of food coloring that matches the flavor. ie: yellow for lemon.
- Pack in a small container, such as a film container, and you have a wonderful tasting and smelling lip gloss. Of course, the lip gloss is edible should some accidentally be licked off.
Purple Art Ideas
1. MAKE PURPLE PLAYDOUGH (Grape) NO COOK

This is my favorite playdough because–it’s fast–no cooking–easy ingredients and smells good—tastes bad. The original recipe calls for 1 cup of flour–however, just having made it–we added another two or three cups of flour. When making playdough, you can always add more flour if it is too wet and additional hot water if it’s too dry! My 4.5 and 6-year-old grand-daughters thought it was the greatest thing ever! (Barb 10/3/10)
Ingredients:
✓ 2 1/2 c flour, sifted
✓ 1/2 c salt
✓ 3 T cooking oil
✓ 1 or 2 pkg Grape Kool-aid (unsweetened)
✓ 1 c very hot water
Instructions
- Mix together flour, salt, oil, and Kool-aid.
- Add the cup of almost boiling water. Mix well.
- Knead the mixture until it forms a soft dough.
- Have fun!
When done, store in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Your play dough will be the scent and color of the Kool-Aid!
*Any other unsweetened, powdered drink mix may be substituted.
*There may be colored hands but it washes off. (My own experiences have never produced colored hands–hower some have said theirs did.)
2. Painting With Purple Ice Cubes
Materials:
✓ 2 tsp. purple powdered tempera paint
✓ 1/3 cup water
✓ Wax-coated paper cup
✓ Craft stick
✓ Plastic wrap
Instructions
1. Mix paint and water together.
2. Pour the mixture into a wax coated paper cup.
3. Cover the cup with plastic wrap, then insert the craft stick through the plastic wrap in the center of the cup.
4. Place the cup in the freezer and freeze until solid.
5. Remove the paper cup and plastic wrap from the Freeze Pop Paint.
6. Dip the paint into water and paint on white paper.
3. MAKE A ‘PURPLE THING’ COLLAGE
Material Ideas

✓ purple fabric scraps
✓ Purple paper
✓ purple tissue paper
✓ purple yarn
✓ purple buttons
✓ purple cotton balls
✓ purple milk jug caps
✓ purple confetti
✓ purple paint chip samples from the paint or hardware store, etc.
Beautiful collages can also be made by clipping ‘purple images’ from magazines and cards! Clothing collage made by Abby in Grand Rapids for Polyvor.com
4. THUMBPRINT GRAPES
Instructions
On finger-paint, paper, draw or copy a lot of grape stems. Using purple finger-paint- have children use their thumbs to fill the page with “purple grapes”!
5. SPONGE PAINTING
Instructions
Dip sponge pieces into thick purple paint. Print on sheets of white or light blue paper. Tip: Clothespins can be clipped on the sponges and used as handles.
6. PURPLE SCRATCH AND SNIFF WATERCOLORS
Ingredients:
✓ 1 Tablespoon purple powdered unsweetened drink mix
✓ 1 Tablespoon warm water
✓ Several small containers
Instructions
- Mix the water and unsweetened drink mix together in a small bowl. (Make tints of purple (grape) and also mix red and blue to make purple)
- Pour blended mixture into containers. (Muffin tins or film canisters work well.)
- Repeat this with each “color” you’re making, pouring them into separate containers.
Paint with ordinary paintbrushes, cleaning the brush between colors. Allow artwork to dry overnight before scratching and sniffing.
7. PURPLE KOOL-AID PAINT
Ingredients:
✓ 2 packages unsweetened grape Kool-aid
✓ 2 cups flour
✓ 1/2 cup salt
✓ 3 cups boiling water
✓ 3 tablespoons oil
Instructions
Mix dry ingredients together, then add wet ingredients. Paint.
8. PURPLE SILLY PUTTY
Ingredients:
✓ 4 TBSP of white Elmer’s glue
✓ 2 TBSP of liquid starch… Add liquid starch slowly to the glue
✓ If it is stringy–add a drop of glue.
✓ If too hard– add more starch. Mix in a couple of drops of purple food coloring-or red and blue.
Caution: the food coloring mixed into the glue and starch concoction–WILL stain hands. Be sure to have good soap near a water source. Color should come off in a couple of washings
Chill for at least 2-3 hours. It becomes runny when too warm.
9. PURPLE MILK PAINT
Mix one cup condensed milk with a few drops of red and blue (or purple) food coloring.
10. SHAVING CREAM FINGER PAINT
Materials:
✓ 1 medium Ziploc bag
✓ white shaving cream
✓ Food coloring
Instructions
1. Place a palm-size dollop of shaving cream into the Ziploc bag; add a few drops of blue and red food coloring.
2. Zip up the bag, removing all the air you can before sealing. The kids can “knead” the bag to mix the colors – red and blue make purple!
11. SPRAY KOOL-AID
Sprinkle Kool-aid crystals onto a piece of paper. Have children spray water from a spray bottle onto the paper. Use grape mix as well as blending red and blue.
12. SHADES OF PURPLE
Put out shades of purple paint, from dark purple to lavender at the easel or art table.
13. PURPLE SAND ART
Instructions
1. Give each child a piece of construction paper, and have them draw a picture or write words with the glue. Make sure that they do not put gobs of glue in any one spot.
2. Before the glue dries, with the hand, pour/put sand onto the glue. Let it sit for a few minutes and then shake off the excess sand.
3. It should dry flat for about half an hour depending on how much glue was used.
DRY SAND PAINT WITH SHAKER
Take 1 cup of sand and 1 T. powdered paint. Mix and put into a shaker.
Put glue design onto paper-Shake sand onto the glue.
14. SENSORY TABLE: MAKE ‘PURPLE SUDS’
This is a great sensory play activity idea. Add red and blue food coloring into the water table. Squirt some liquid detergent for wonderful purple suds.
Purple Craft Ideas for Kids
1. PURPLE YARN VASE
Materials:
✓ A glass bottle
✓ Purple Yarn
✓ Craft glue
✓ A toothpick
Instructions
- Cover about 1″ of the bottom of the bottle with glue.
- Wind the yarn around the bottle, tight but not too tight. You can use different colors of yarn to make stripes on your vase.
- When the glued area is completely covered, push the rows of yarn closer together. Tuck in the beginning of the yarn with a toothpick, add a little more glue there and press down for a minute.
- Keep repeating steps 1, 2, and 3 until the whole bottle is covered with yarn. Glue will dry clear.
2. PURPLE GLITTER SPARKLE BOTTLES
Instructions
- Remove the label from a clean, clear 16 oz. plastic soda bottle.
- Pour at least 1/2 cup of light corn syrup into the bottle. Add a few drops of purple food coloring and some glitter and/or confetti.
- Hot glue the lid onto the bottle.
- Swirl and shake the bottle to watch its movement.
3. PURPLE YARN BALLOON BALLS

Blow up a balloon to a size of a softball or larger; cut about a 2 to 3 foot of purple yarn (depending on the size of ball) and put it in a bowl of Elmer’s glue.
Take out the yarn and begin wrapping it around the balloon. Hang the balloon to dry for 24 hrs or till the glue is dry. Pop the balloon and carefully remove it. You can hang this yarn balloon from the ceiling, branches or ______!
Purple Science Activities
1. COLOR CUBES
Instructions
- After filling an ice cube tray with water– add drops of red and blue food coloring in the compartments.
- After cubes are frozen, place a red cube and blue cube in a glass.
- As the cubes melt, watch what happens!
2. PURPLE GOOP/SILLY PUTTY
Add 4 TBSP of white Elmer’s glue to 2 TBSP of liquid starch. Mix together…if it’s too stringy, add a drop of glue. If too hard, add more starch. (The playdough ideas up above in ‘Art’ is also science!
3. COLORED CRYSTALS
Instructions
- For each child mix 1 tablespoon Epson salts and 1 tablespoon water in a baby food jar or a clear plastic glass.
- Stir in 1/4 teaspoon of purple food coloring.
- Have children observe over the next few days as the water evaporates and small crystals begin to form.
- Keep a magnifying glass handy for closer examination.
4. OSMOTIC CELERY

Cut the bottom of celery stalks and set them in glasses of PURPLE tinted water; the longer the stalks are in the water, the deeper the color will be. The stalks will absorb the color and then the kids can eat them!
ANOTHER CELERY IDEA: Mixing Colors
- Take a stalk of celery and slice it up the center leaving it connected at the top. Place the celery stalk in two containers of colored water. Example: To get purple, put one side in red, and the other in blue.
- Leave it for a day or two and watch how the veins in the celery turn color as it takes up the water. You can also include a discussion of plant life with this activity.
PURPLE SNACK IDEAS

- PURPLE FRUIT SALAD
Make a purple fruit salad with a selection of purple fruit. Purple fruits include:
Blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, plums, Purple and red grapes, cherries. - Make Grape JELL-O
- Make Peanutbutter and Grape JELLY/JAM SANDWICHES–cut with cute cookie-cutters if desired.
- Grape POPSICLES
- Purple JELLY BEANS
- Add purple food color to a sour-cream base DIP — and serve with veggies. Putting veggies on toothpicks and inserting them into an EGGPLANT would add to the purple theme!
- Make Purple PIES (Blueberry Pies)– Bake pre-made pie shells and have kids fill with blueberry pie filling…
- Serve CREAM CHEESE ON CRACKERS –Tint cream cheese purple (blue if can’t find purple) and spread on crackers.
- Make purple or blue POPCORN balls tinted with food coloring and blueberries.
or… - Tint melted butter with purple food coloring before drizzling – then let the kids mix well)
- Make EGG SALAD sandwich filling (tinted with food coloring)
- Frost a CAKE OR CUPCAKES with frosting tinted with purple food coloring. Or–have kids FROST PLAIN SUGAR COOKIES with purple-colored frosting. Decorate with purple sprinkles and candy.
PURPLE BEVERAGE IDEAS
Have the kids make Berry Smoothies!

BLUEBERRY SMOOTHIE #1
Ingredients
✓ 1/2 cup orange juice
✓ 1 cup blueberry yogurt
✓ 1 cup washed, stemmed blueberries
✓ honey to taste
Instructions
Place all the ingredients in a blender. Blend on high speed until smooth.
BLUEBERRY SMOOTHIE #2
Ingredients
✓ 1 pint fresh blueberries or 2 cups (10 oz.) frozen blueberries, slightly thawed
✓ 1 cup pineapple, orange and strawberry juice blend or pineapple-orange juice
✓ 1 container (8 oz.) blueberry or vanilla yogurt
✓ 2 teaspoons sugar
Instructions
- In the container of an electric blender, combine blueberries, juice, yogurt, and sugar.
- Blend until smooth, about 1 minute.
- Serve immediately in tall glasses.
Check out our other kid’s smoothie ideas.
MAKE PURPLE ICE-CUBES #1
Add a small amount of food coloring to the water before putting in ice cube trays and freezing. Add a grape to each if desired.
PURPLE ICE-CUBES #2
Freeze grape juice or soft drink in ice-cube trays.
PURPLE COW #1
Ingredients
✓ ¼ cup unsweetened grape juice
✓ 1 cup milk
✓ 1 sliced banana
Instructions
Mix all ingredients together in a blender. Makes 4-6 small servings
PURPLE COW #2)
Ingredients
✓ 2 oz. of grape juice
✓ 1/4 c. vanilla ice cream
✓ 2 oz. of lemon-lime soda
Instructions
- Blend juice and ice cream
- Add soda.
POEM TO GO WITH ‘PURPLE COW’
I never saw a Purple Cow,
I never hope to see one…
But I can tell you, anyhow,
I’d rather see than be one.
Grape Healthy Homemade Soda
Ingredients
✓ 100% frozen grape concentrate juice
✓ Carbonated water (amount required on juice can)
✓ Small cups
✓ Pitcher
Instructions
- Make frozen concentrate juice by the directions on the can, substituting carbonated water for the regular water.
- Pour into cups and enjoy.
Serving size 6 oz.
Storebought Purple Beverage Ideas
- Grape KOOL-AID
- GRAPE JUICE
- Grape Soda Pop or ICE-CREAM FLOATS
- Purple PUNCH
Looking for ‘Purple People Eater Ideas? VISIT OUR PURPLE PEOPLE EATER THEME! Lots of fun ideas!
Sources:
https://demplates.com/things-that-are-purple/
https://www.papaleng-amazing-animals.com/2015/04/10-striking-purple-colored-birds.html
https://www.animals-zone.com/10-amazing-purple-animals
https://www.finedininglovers.com/article/35-purple-fruits-and-vegetables-you-should-be-eating
https://www.thoughtco.com/blue-purple-and-violet-minerals-1440938