Feeling blue! Seeing red! Green with envy or yellow with fear…. These colourful phrases reflect how we feel. Colour is a very real thing in our lives and influences what we do and how we feel. For impressionable kids minds, it’s even more relevant! Colours certainly catch the attention of little ones more easily, but they do a lot beyond that. They contribute to the growth, development, receptiveness, moods and more of children.
Colour Psychology
Colour Psychology is an ancient idea and has a place in all ancient cultures. People would surround themselves with different colours that soothed them, made them sleep better or feel better. In fact. they had colours associated with ceremonies and traditions.
While Holi colours are fun (and you can read about safe colours on our blog too) they are not permanent. They come around once a year. How do we keep colours in our lives all year round? Especially when they can influence us, make us feel better, help us focus and elicit the desired behavior?
Colours are gender neutral, and you can use them in your child’s room and play area for more than just making it pretty. Calming colors like blue and green are great for quiet rest areas, especially for kids who might have sleep issues or prone to tantrums.
If you want your children to sleep well, try using cool colors like blue, green, or purple. Their calming effect can make your child’s room feel spacious and relaxing, like the blue sky or the ocean.
Avoid a profusion of dark colours in your child’s room as they can inspire gloomy, stormy day feelings.
Bright, warm colours are great in the playroom since are known to enhance growth and development.
Yellow during study time to enhance attention and focus is an excellent choice. A yellow tablecloth or placemat at the homework station may help too as will small items like a yellow folder, pencils, or pencil case . If you have a small room dedicated to studying, definitely paint it yellow!
Notice how bright, colourful food is eaten faster? Bright red, yellow, or orange dishes and placemats are great in the kitchen, as these colors stimulate appetite.
In big cities, we all do not have the luxury of having several dedicated spaces for children alone. In such cases, it’s easy just to splash colour temporarily wherever the activity is. A colourful mat with warm colours while playing will have as much effect on the child’s growth and development as a painted wall.
Another way to add colour to a child’s room or space is to use colourful furniture. A small yellow study table can not only make the room look colourful and bright, but can also act as a mood enhancer for learning. Explore our Bunny table & chair set in four lovely colours HERE.
You can also use curtains and sheets to add the desired colours to your child’s room. The advantage of these easy to do ideas is that they can change and grow along with the child.
Small do it yourself projects where you paint just small squares or geometric shapes on a wall or a wardrobe to enhance the look and feel of space or use stamps to create a pattern are fun and engaging activities that can also include colour therapy.
Colours lift us up and influence us every day. Colours are also the most inexpensive way to make a difference. If you have the bandwidth, go ahead and paint the room in colours that help your child’s growth and development to the maximum. If you cannot afford to go the whole hog and change the walls or make other significant changes, just making small ones will also help. The only thing you must keep in mind is that the child will grow up and the needs might change with each stage.
Look at the colours around you this Holi and after you have enjoyed those lovely colours safely, find ways to incorporate them in your everyday life. Share with us how it works for you and your child.
Happy Holi!