Nurturing Children with Color Deficiencies for a Bright Future

P. Kay Nottingham Chaplin, Ed.D.
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By P. Kay Nottingham Chaplin, Ed.D.

Many people consider "colorblindness" as the inability to see any color, thinking that colorblind individuals view their world only in black and white, according to Terrace L. Waggoner, OD, a color vision expert and the father of an adult child with a color deficiency. Seeing only black and white is actually extremely rare. Instead, most individuals with color deficiencies have difficulty discriminating differences in colors. T.J. Waggoner, Dr. Waggoner's son say the colors most often confused are: pink/gray, orange/red, white/green, green/brown, blue green/gray, green/yellow, brown/maroon, and beige/green.

The ability to differentiate colors is important for young children who participate in a color-coded curriculum at school. Color vision for older children is essential for a variety of everyday tasks, such as coordinating attire (is this shirt brown or green?), driving a car (is the blinking traffic light red or yellow?), and even eating (is the apple green or brown?).

Because young children rarely tell us they have vision problems, when should a teacher or school nurse suspect that a child may have a color deficiency? Fortunately, clues are available to help detect possible color deficiencies in the early childhood setting.

Dr. Waggoner provides the following five clues:

1. Confusing different colors. Children, for example, may color a person's face green instead of brown or Santa's suit green instead of red.

2. Challenges seeing colors and the brightness of colors in the usual way.

3. Difficulty recognizing and identifying different colors beyond the age of 4 years.

4. Low attention span when coloring work sheets.

5. Complaints of eyes or head hurting if looking at something red on a black background. For example, children who are "red weak" have a difficult time seeing red letters on a black background because the letters lose their brightness or may appear black.

Several diagnostic tools are available to screen for color deficiencies in young children. Two tools include the Good-Lite Pseudoisochromatic 16-Plate Color Vision Test and Dr. Waggoner's Color Vision Testing Made Easy. Both screening tools use easy-to-recognize pediatric symbols or pictures to screen children as young as age 3 years.

If a child is diagnosed with a color vision deficiency, Dr. Waggoner and T.J. also have tips for classroom teachers. Here are seven tips:

1. Use white chalk on the chalkboard. Although some teachers prefer yellow or pink chalk, against a green chalkboard, these colors are sometimes difficult for a colorblind child to see, especially if there is a glare. Always use white chalk.

2. Photocopy books and educational items in black and white. Although a child cannot separate the items on paper, by copying them in black and white they will be able to see all the different sections properly. Always copy on white paper.

3. Teach colorblind students the colors of common items. Oranges are orange. The sun is yellow. Although the student will be unable to see the differences, the student will have a frame of reference when people are discussing colors.

4. Be patient with colorblind students on classroom activities. It's easy to get frustrated or think a child is not trying when they guess on certain activities. If a child has not been diagnosed, yet you see them panicking when asked to work with pie charts or color-coded maps, insist that child be tested for color blindness.

5. Stop color coding items, or write the color below it. Do not use color-coding for paperwork, classroom items, or on homework or testing. If you do, write the color below.

6. Label all craft items that have color, such as markers, crayons, and paper. So the child will not fall behind in art, or struggle, make sure everything is appropriately marked.

7. Teach what colorblindness is. Children without color deficiencies are likely to experience difficulty understanding what a color deficiency is. For example, provide images of how colors would look to a child with a color deficiency.

To reinforce these tips in the classroom, provide parents with suggestions and resources they can practice at home.

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