Most parents will be involved in guiding their children to learn as they’re growing up. Like ABC and 123, children are being taught about colours through daily coversations as well. Are you aware if your child has problems identifying certain colours? Do you think he/she is a slow learner? Do you bother at all because you think it is a teacher’s job to teach your child?

The reason I talk about this is because the sooner parents identify their child’s problem, the earlier they can start to change the method of educating their child. This will give the child more confidence as they grow up and enter school.

Last weekend a parent told me his daughter had been tested for colour blindness. She is already 7 years old. That makes me wonder what had the parents been doing for the past 2-3 years? I feel a bit sad for the girl. She does not know how to get help due to her young age. She probably lacks confidence to ask her teacher or friends for help also.

As an art teacher, I do not purposely correct colours used by children between the age of 4-6 unless it is really necessary. The purpose is for them to be able to express themselves. Most children will have no problem using their favourite colours. They are allowed to use their favourite colours as long as they acquire better drawing skills.

However, older children will be taught using the correct colours for natural objects. This girl will always use a lot of light green and light blue. No red, purple or orange most of the time. Yes, I noticed that. Sometimes I had to make her change the colours of flowers to something else. Children do need time to change if they’re accustomed to using their favourite colours.

If I had known her condition earlier, my teaching method will be totally different from the start. She could have been taught to read colours at the age of 5. She would be taught the common colours for things around us. But then again, how can the parents not noticed this earlier? Do they teach or guide the child at all?

Nowadays I noticed many kids are being brought up by maids. Yes, a maid can feed, wash and make sure the child is being taken care of. Can a maid teach or instill proper habit for children? NO.

People in Singapore often talk about how pet dogs are actually the maids’ dogs because the maids are the ones that bring the dogs out on their daily walks, feed and wash the dogs. All the owners do is come home and play with their pets for a while everyday.

Our children will end up like that. This is very sad.

Photo source : Dreamstime

Posted on 01-03-2009 at 8:37 pm (0) Comments