How old is he?

I use motions when starting patterns. Jump, clap, jump, clap, etc. It's also fun to do a musical pattern. If they can hear it or feel it, it helps to cement it in the body and brain.

If this is the standard AB pattern, I would use movement patterns and later pair movements with the colors, shapes, etc.

So you could do... up/down/up/down/up/down (stand/squat) or touch head/knees/head/knees/head/knees, etc.

If he gets that, pair them up.
As you both say red, blue, red, blue, red, blue...
Both of you clap, tap(legs), clap, tap, clap, tap...

Say the pattern in a very dramatic, rhythmic way for best results.

Say and do the ABAB pattern together and then stop at the 5th or 6th B and wait for him to finish it. If he starts doing that, he may continue on with the pattern...

Let us know if you mean the ABABABA-ABABABA pattern instead.

Hope this helps.

I initially did colors using poker chips. I had one little guy who just had a terrible time with colors. Then before Valentines Day, I had die cuts of different size hearts to make cards. He took his hearts and made a pattern of big, little, big, little.......you could also try those colored bears or something he is interested in. Good luck!

(This might sound stupid, but it is early and I am serious...)

Is this an AB pattern? or an ABABABA pattern? so they next in the pattern would be ABABABA? ABABABA ABABABA ABABABA

Can you tell I don't teach patterns like this?

How old is the child?

rhythm? Verbalizing the pattern? Circle square circle square circle etc?

Any tips on teaching ABABABA patterns? I've used shapes, pattern blocks, dot markers, but my son is still inconsistent with identifying the next item in the pattern.