https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 22 Apr 2026 21:49:44 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-johnny-cant-name-his-colors#post-2367408 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 17:31:57 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2367408@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't find colors hard to teach with my DD.<br /> They all eventually get it so I don't understand the rush. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-johnny-cant-name-his-colors#post-2367380 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 17:06:39 +0000 Oxana 2367380@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catlady: Have you read Nurtureshock? They talk a lot in that book about how parents project so much that they often have skewed perceptions of their children's abilities and habits. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-johnny-cant-name-his-colors#post-2366890 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 11:51:00 +0000 catlady 2366890@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I read somewhere awhile ago that it is easier for LOs to pick up concepts like this if you use them twice ("Look at the red bird. The bird is red."). So we do that all the time and I think it helps. That being said, this article was a little confusing with regards to the parents. The parents thought the kids knew colors but they actually didn't? That seems a little weird. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-johnny-cant-name-his-colors#post-2366871 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 11:32:09 +0000 .twist. 2366871@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I try to do this. When we're talking about colours I usually say something like "What colour is the ball? That ball is RED!". </p> <p>He has a few of his colours down really well. We're still working on others though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-johnny-cant-name-his-colors#post-2366863 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 11:25:43 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2366863@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Interesting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-johnny-cant-name-his-colors#post-2366812 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 10:43:00 +0000 Oxana 2366812@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's funny the parents had be blindfolded in order to not have them interfere with the scientists' experiments. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-johnny-cant-name-his-colors#post-2366684 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 09:07:35 +0000 Oxana 2366684@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p><a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-johnny-name-colors/" rel="nofollow">http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-johnny-name-colors/</a></p> <p>I thought this article was really interesting. It points out that even four and five year olds, who can do complex tasks like ride bikes, read books, and tie their shoes, still inexplicably mix up their colors sometimes. It explains why colors are so difficult to learn and references a study that found a way to increase toddlers' ability to identify colors.</p> <p>The gist is that the English language puts the color before the noun around 70% of the time ("The red ball") which is confusing to their brains and almost makes them think the color is part of the object's name, whereas postnominal phrases ("The ball is red") help the child narrow their focus to the object and then recognize the color as a descriptor.</p> <p>According to the findings of the study, your toddler will have an easier time learning their colors if you make it a habit to put the object before the color when pointing things out.</p> <p><i>Do you see the bird? That bird is blue!<br /> These carrots are orange.<br /> Mama's shirt is red.</i></p> <p>We're going to give it a try. :) </p>