ERIC Number: EJ857486
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Oct
Pages: 2
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0036-6463
EISSN: N/A
There's More to Color than Red, Yellow, and Blue
Goobich, Joel
SchoolArts: The Art Education Magazine for Teachers, v109 n2 p16, 58 Oct 2009
From an early age, so much emphasis goes into teaching children the fundamentals of color theory, in particular the primary colors of red, yellow, and blue. Toys, building blocks, furniture, and so many other items used in a preschool environment are manufactured in these three colors. Yet, recent research has uncovered that babies as young as four months old show a preference for certain colors. During their first years, children are overexposed to certain colors while being significantly underexposed to others. The overemphasis on the primary and secondary colors may actually be detrimental to the creative development of children. They may be less apt to mix or try other colors since they are less readily available. The author contends that discouraging children from mixing different colors can be a major factor in slowing the sense of discovery that is so critical to the development of analytical reasoning. Providing more guidance and resources for teachers about the importance of color and its role as a means of communication in children is of utmost importance. Encouraging children to experiment with different color combinations is an essential ingredient in promoting curiosity and the exploratory process that is so important to nurture.
Davis Publications. 50 Portland Street, Worcester, MA 01608. Tel: 800-533-2847; Tel: 508-754-7201; Fax: 508-753-3834; Web site: http://www.davis-art.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Opinion Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A