Early Childhood Cognitive Development & Colors

Posted On: 07-22-2016

While it is exciting when your toddler begins naming the colors that he can see, this type of knowledge is also important for his cognitive development. Recognizing colors is a way for him to categorize what he sees in the world around him. To encourage this part of his development, it is important to understand when you can expect color identification skills to emerge.

Birth to 18 Months

Your child sees in shades of black and white at first, but during the first few months of life, she begins to see the colors around her. By 18 months of age, she is able to recognize different colors. Although she may not be able to verbalize the names of the colors, she is likely able to point out the red truck or the blue plate when you ask her to identify them.

18 Months to 3 Years

Around 2 years of age, your toddler will begin sorting objects by shape and color. You might notice that he likes arranging blocks or other toys according to their color and can play simple matching games. He will be able to name some colors by 3 years of age, though you might notice this skill much earlier. As his vocabulary continues to grow, so will the amount of colors he is able to name.

Recommendations

You can encourage your toddler’s development of color knowledge by frequently asking her to point out different colors throughout the day. Identify items by including their color as much as possible. For example, instead of asking her to bring you the plate off of the table, you can say, “Please bring me the blue plate.” Additionally, playing matching games and reading colorful picture books will further familiarize her with different colors. You can also pick up some paint sample swatches and use them to sort and categorize based on color.

Considerations

There is a chance that your toddler could experience color blindness, especially if one or both parents are also color blind. This does not mean that your toddler is unable to see any colors at all, but rather will have difficulty telling the difference between some colors. There are different variations of color blindness, but if your toddler is color blind, you might notice that he is unable to name certain colors or point them out. If you suspect that your toddler is color blind, talk to his doctor to be sure.

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