Tips to Help Your Colorblind Child Survive and Thrive!

Color is everywhere in our lives. The enjoyment of color, and recognition of its varying hues, are abilities most of us take for granted. If your child is totally or partially colorblind, he or she will need some help in understanding and coping with the condition. Here are tips for helping your son or daughter be happy and successful, in spite of colorblindness!

If your child is colorblind, you probably have other family members who are also. In my personal family, my son is partially colorblind, as is his cousin and grandfather. It is my understanding that more males are colorblind because the gene of colorblindness can be passed on to them from only one relative. In contrast, females require genes from both parents to have the condition themselves. I do not know if this is scientifically correct or not, but do know there seem to be more colorblind boys than girls.

You are most likely to discover your child's trouble with colors when he is a toddler or preschooler. If your child is intelligent and inquisitive, yet has difficulty distinguishing major colors, he may be colorblind. This is even more likely if there are other family members who are.

Try to determine as early as possible if he has trouble with all colors or only a few. Partial colorblindness is more prevalent. Trouble distinguishing reds, greens, and colors containing these shades is particularly common. Some partially colorblind children may also have the most trouble with blue and yellow colors. And some children may be unable to discern any colors at all.

Help your small children by determining which colors are troublesome to them. Teach them at an early age to distinguish whatever colors they can, and be supportive about the colors they can't. You can explain to a young child that some people have difficulty seeing certain colors, but not others. Teach them about those they can see, through play activities such as coloring, games etc.