Gather up a small pile of buttons, which should be as varied as possible in color, shape and size. Ask your kindergartner to help you sort them by color first. Place as many paper plates as you have colors on the ground (up to three works well). Demonstrate by placing a green button on one plate, a yellow button on another and a blue button on the third. Let your child choose the next three buttons for placement, asking him why he chose certain buttons for certain plates.
Pour a number of flat plastic shapes, buttons or small blocks on to the floor. Ask your kindergartner to help you count the edges of each kind of shape. Then help your child sort the shapes by the number of edges. If your child gets stuck, help her count the number of edges on a shape. Talk about the names of the shapes as you sort them as well. After sorting the shapes by the number of edges, try sorting them by color and size as well. When finished, mix them all together and ask your child to pick up a small yellow triangle or a big blue square as a follow-up.
Give your kindergartner a small paper bag, and take her to an open, outdoor space such as your yard or a local park. Ask her to find as many black stones as she can. When she comes back, sort the stones by shape and size. Teach your child about shades of color with this activity as well. Ask her to find as many green things as she can, cautioning her to be gentle with plants. When she comes back, sort the plant items by type of green. Place light green in one pile, dark green in another and yellow green or blue green in a third.
This activity gives your kindergartner some exercise while he learns about shapes and colors. Cut out and laminate a number of very large, colorful shapes. Scatter them over the yard or in a large room in your house, making sure none of the shapes are more than 10 in. apart. Ask your child to transport something -- such as a ball or favorite bear -- over the shapes while only stepping on circles or only stepping on yellow shapes. When your child gets good at the game, try asking him to step on yellow triangles or blue circles. Get some of his friends involved and have a relay race.