Advice for Parents
What the parents of a colorblind child should know — detecting symptoms early and practical steps to support your child at home and school.
When your child starts to learn colors, the question of color blindness often arises. Does your child understand the colors correctly? Are they mixing some colors or can't name them correctly? Is this color blindness or is it just too early to know? Try to determine as early as possible if they have trouble with all colors or only a few.
Parents should understand the special needs of color deficient children and what can be done to help them in their quest to learn. Finding out if your child is color blind doesn't mean they're in for a difficult life ahead of them. Of course, there will be challenges ahead, but these are by no means insurmountable.
Detecting the Early Symptoms of Color Vision Deficiency in Children
The initial indication of color blindness surfaces when individuals have difficulty in discerning if colors are red and green, or blue and yellow.
Trouble seeing colors and the brightness of colors in the usual way.
Difficulties recognizing and identifying different colors beyond the age of approximately four years old.
Low attention span when coloring in work sheets.
Children may complain that their eyes or head hurt, if looking at something red on a green background, or vice versa.
Helpful Advice for Parents to Cope with Their Colorblind Kids
Do not ask "What color is this?"
After you come to the conclusion that your child is colorblind, do not ask them, "What color is this?" anymore. It is not only degrading but will more than likely become a pet peeve of theirs.
Let them know about their deficiency.
If you find out that your child has a color vision deficiency, let them know what it is and tell them it will only hinder them as much as they let it.
Empower them when dressing.
Pick a few outfits and ask the child to pick which outfit they want to wear if the child wants to dress him or herself. It empowers the child. Kids will be kids, so teasing may occur at school if they wear what they choose and it doesn't match. Please be aware of this.
Focus on what they CAN do.
Don't dwell on careers or hobbies that the color vision deficient child may not be able to do (e.g. pilot or boat captain). More than likely the child wouldn't have even wanted to go into those careers. Focus on the can dos and not the cannots! Empower your children.
Choose labeled art supplies.
Purchase the best quality supplies you can and make sure they are labeled. Many art supply stores now carry labeled crayons, markers, and colored pencils that include the color name printed on each item.
Tell your child's teachers.
Once the teacher knows about the color vision deficiency, they will be more understanding and can adapt their teaching materials. Most teachers are very cooperative. Share this information at the start of each school year.
Assist with color identification.
Do not get upset or frustrated if your child asks what color something is. Assist them whenever possible. Trying to guess on their own leads to embarrassment and often incorrect answers.
Get a professional color vision test.
A formal test identifies the specific type and severity of the deficiency. This information is valuable when communicating with schools, medical professionals, and future employers.
A word from Dr. Waggoner
"When I was in kindergarten, the administration believed I had a learning disability. I now have two Masters' degrees and will more than likely pursue a Ph.D. Don't dwell on what your child can't do — focus on the can dos and not the cannots! Empower your children."
Test your child's color vision online now with a professional test developed by Dr. Terrace L. Waggoner.
Take the TestQuestions? info@testingcolorvision.com