As new parents, one of the most exciting aspects of preparing for a baby is decorating the nursery. Colors can effect development from visual and cognitive stimulation to emotional well-being. Choosing the right colors for a nursery can have a significant impact on a child's development. In this blog post, we will explore how different colors can affect your newborn's development. We will discuss the importance of creating a stimulating environment for babies. We will also explore the role of color in promoting a peaceful and calming atmosphere for sleep and relaxation. This post will help you understand how color can impact the development of your child and help create a calm and nurturing environment.
Color Psychology
Color psychology is the study of how colors affect human behavior, emotions, and cognition. It examines how different colors can evoke certain emotions and responses in individuals. Colors can create different moods and atmospheres, while changing how people perceive and interpret information. The color red is often associated with passion, energy, and excitement! Blue associates with calmness, trust, and serenity. The color yellow evokes happiness, and green with growth and harmony. Black conveys power and elegance, while white is purity and innocence.
I am sure by now you're saying: "That's great, but what about my newborn?"
Newborn Eyesight Development
At birth, a newborn's eyesight is not fully developed. Newborns can only see within a range of 8 to 10 inches, which is why they tend to focus on faces and objects that are close. They can also distinguish between light and dark, and can see some basic shapes and colors.
During the first few months of life, a baby's eyesight continues to develop. They begin to see things more clearly, and their eyes start to work together as a team. They can also see more colors, and can focus on objects farther away. By the time they are 3-4 months old, they can see across a room and can track objects as they move.
A study published in the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience found that by 6 months of age, infants have adult-like visual acuity and can see fine details, such as small letters and numbers, and can distinguish between different shades of colors. They can also follow moving objects with their eyes and perceive depth and distance. It's worth mentioning that a child's visual perception develops alongside their cognitive development. As they learn to recognize and understand different objects, shapes, and colors.
Colors that Stimulate Development
(Stimulating color scheme in a nursery)
Studies have shown that color can have a significant impact on child brain development. Different colors can affect a child's mood, behavior, and cognitive functioning in various ways. Color perception does not finish developing until roughly 6 months. For this reason, high contrast colors (i.e. black and white) provide the best level of stimulation. As their vision develops, color starts to play a role in their mood and cognitive development.
Bright colors like red, blue, and yellow, can be stimulating to a baby's brain. These colors can create a stimulating environment for babies and young children. These colors can be beneficial for their spatial awareness, memory and attentional abilities as well.
Calming colors such as soft shades of blue, green, yellow, and pink can have a soothing effect on children. These colors can create a sense of serenity and balance in their room. For a calmer and more sleep friendly environment, you should use these colors.
Here is an example of a nursery which uses primary and calming colors to create a great environment for your child:
(High contrast blue and yellow nursery with calming shades of blue)
Our Conclusion on Color Psychology
Children are amazing. The input that they receive growing up help shape them into the person they will become. If you've read this far, you are going to be a great parent. Trust me. The shade of whatever color you choose won't matter as much as the love you show them. Do your best to follow the advice in this blog, but no color in the world is going to substitute for your love and affection while they grow up. Put love into everything you do for them and you'll watch an amazing person form in front of your eyes. Color psychology is only one small aspect of helping develop a child and the fact that you've gone through all this trouble to learn more means you're on the right track. Keep up the good work, they'll love you all the more for it.
Written by Joseph Humenuik
Joe is a 34-year-old father of two boys, with another one on the way. He works as an SEO specialist, helping businesses improve their online visibility and reach. When he's not working, John loves to cook and experiment with new recipes in the kitchen. He's also passionate about home remodeling and enjoys taking on DIY projects to improve his home.
