Colorblind?

[Anonymous]

Can anybody tell me when their kid started to reliably identify colors? My DD turned 2 in October, and doesn't seem to know any of her colors. She's not delayed in any other aspect and my husband's father was colorblind. I was really upset about it and had pretty much decided it was a done deal (she's colorblind), but then I did some internet research that says that in order for a girl to be colorblind, her father would have to be colorblind, and her mother would at least have to be a carrier (mother carries gene but is not colorblind herself). My husband is not colorblind, and I don't think I am a carrier of the gene as no one in my family is colorblind.

So can anybody help me figure this out? I know, I know these are questions for our pediatrician ultimately. But until then I am wondering -- when do your kids start to know their colors. My DS seemed to know his colors well before 2.

I don't know. I just think it will be such a bummer if DD is colorblind. Her father is a professional artist, and so we thought that she could have some of his talent. If she can't see color she can't be an artist. Then I think about clothes, make-up, manicures and pedicures and highlights -- and I do think these things are important so don't even try to talk me out of it -- and I just get really, really upset. Genetically, she should not be colorblind.

I feel very confused. She knows her letters and is quite a talker and has always had good motor skills? What's the deal with the colors? Is she slow just with colors alone? Just not ready to do colors?????

[Anonymous]

" If she can't see color she can't be an artist."

Had to respond to this: My husband is color blind and would totally disagree with this statement. He took art in high school and did lovely paintings. He also takes fabulous photos--and not just in black and white!

In his case, he can usually tell colors apart upon very close examination. (Not sure if this is typical--I'm curious how it works, but he assures me this is how he experiences colorblindness. Maybe there are different degrees of it?)

Anyway, day to day his colorblindness is completely irrelevant. I'm more likely to notice contrasts between green and red (such as a hedge of blooming hydrangea bushes), and I pick up on the changing fall colors a little more quickly. But he appreciates subtleties of color that I don't --he sees the beauty in shades of brown that don't do anything for me! And he matches his clothes just fine.

So, I have no idea about your daughter's situation, but just wanted to let you know that colorblindness is a minor problem, really, if that's how things turn out.

[Anonymous]

Give her time. Some kids take longer. She's probably fine.

Wouldn't hurt to ask your doctor or an ophthalmologist though.

[Anonymous]

I am not sure of the website but there is a site that you can go to and print out colored circles... they are colors inbedded into colors and the child has to identify the colors they see. The instructions will tell you what responses are cause for concern. I think if you google color blindess test the site might pop up but I cannot recall the name. It is a commonly used test and you need a printer or you can just use the computer.

[Anonymous]

The genetics is simple on this, If her father is not colorblind, neither is she. A paternal grandfather carries his colorblindness on his one X. That X was not passed onto your husband (he got his Y from dad), So your husband isn't even a carrier of colorblindness, and a daughter needs to X's carrying.

[Anonymous]

sorry, two x's.

[Anonymous]

Thank you everybody. PP -- that was what my research said too. I'll work harder with her.

[Anonymous]

My son didn't get interested in colors until he was 21/2. He is a one thing at a time kid. First he had to learn to count to 20, then he got interested in the alphabet and once he new his letters he started on colors. I think some kids just have to take it one step at a time.

[Anonymous]

She's just plain too young to be able to verbalize whatever she may notice about colors.

I'm not sure why you need to work harder with your kid on this - she's a kid, not a trained seal. Talk about colors. Give her toys with colors. Color. Then just let her learn to be more verbal when she's ready.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you everybody. PP -- that was what my research said too. I'll work harder with her.

Maybe let her be instead of working harder with her? it's like her life and identity are all planned out in your head. That's a lot of pressure for a little girl.

[zumbamama]

I'm an artist. My daughter didn't learn colors until 3, but she would still color/draw without knowing the names. Now she knows the colors in English and Spanish, thanks to Dora and I.

People can also still be artists despite colorblindness...all they need is an imagination! My uncle is dyslexic and painted a whole series called Dyslexart. Not the samething as colorblindness, but I've seen artists without hands, arms and a variety of handicaps/conditions, that do amazing work. : )

[Anonymous]

OK, PPs. Don't be so hard on me. I'm not training her like a seal; I don't have her life planned out in my head, and I'm not pressuring her to become an Olympic gymnast. Her brother knew his colors before 2, and that was the only other kid I had as a comparison. I now feel calmer in knowing that other children do not verbalize colors until past 2. However, it is a little unnerving to show her something bright red and have her say "yellow". These are the kind of things that keep me up at night (not that it takes much to keep me up at night). We watch a lot of Baby Van Gogh -- she loves it but doesn't seem to be learning from it. But I don't want to pressure her or to hurt her self esteem. I think I'll start talking about colors more. "Hey, S, do you want some green apple? Or an orange carrot."

This too shall pass.

[Anonymous]

Color blindness is very rare in girls.

[Anonymous]

I have to pipe up here. I was CONVINCED my son was red/green color blind when he was still unable to tell the difference between the two at the age of five. After he turned 5 I took him to a pediatric eye doctor who was convinced he was not. I couldn't figure out how a 5 year old, who has know all of his other colors for years now (and I don't recall when he learned them all - all kids are different) still could not tell the difference between red and green. So I started working with him to make the distinction (which I didn't do before because I was convinced he just wasn't able to do it) and after a few months -- he's got it now (he's 5.5). Hope that helps.

[Anonymous]

Our daughter was well into her 3's before she could identify colors.