Color Blind Test for Kids: Spot It Early

Why testing kids for color blindness matters

Statistically, at least one boy in every classroom has red-green color blindness. If nobody knows, it can cause frustration: "wrong" colors in drawings, trouble with color-coded worksheets, maps or learning games – and sometimes the impression that a child isn’t paying attention. Once you know, it is easy to adjust.

Signs of color blindness in children

• Mixing up colors when drawing – brown and green, red and brown, purple and blue.
• Learning color names later or less confidently than other kids.
• Avoiding games or tasks where colors matter.
• Struggling to spot red berries in leaves or red objects on grass.
• Men in the family with color blindness – especially the mother’s father or brothers.

At what age can you test for color blindness?

• From about age 4: special children’s plates with shapes (circle, square, house) instead of numbers, or plates where the child traces a line.
• From school age: the classic Ishihara test with numbers – once a child reads digits confidently.
• Pediatricians and school vision screenings sometimes include color vision – it is worth asking.

Doing an online color blind test with your child

Our free color blind test works for kids who can read the numbers 1 to 9. To get the best result:

1. Turn screen brightness up and switch off night mode.
2. Don’t rush – "Not sure" is a valid answer.
3. Don’t give hints.
4. If the result is abnormal, see an eye doctor, who will confirm it with child-friendly tests.

Tips for parents and teachers

• Tell teachers: so color-coded tasks can be adapted or color names added.
• Label crayons: writing color names on pencils builds independence.
• High-contrast materials: avoid red on green; blue/orange or patterns work better.
• Talk about it: many kids are relieved to understand why colors are "hard". With the simulation in what do color blind people see? siblings and friends can see what it is like.
• Career plans: a few jobs (such as pilot) require normal color vision – good to know early.

Can color blindness in children be treated?

No – inherited red-green color blindness cannot be treated, but it also does not get worse. For older kids and teens, color blind glasses can be an option for seeing colors with more contrast; COLORDROP, for example, also offers models for kids.