How Color Therapy for Kids can Help Build Self Esteem

There are a lot of ways that certain colors can inspire emotions in kids. Maybe you have a child who prefers or gravitates toward certain colors, and they make them feel good. If they are allowed autonomy or given the opportunity to decorate with and play with the colors they love, they could become more confident. 

Or, maybe you have a kid who associates certain colors with certain feelings, and seeing the color makes them feel different things. If this is the case, it may be a good idea to utilize colors that make them feel good or raise their mood.

When child therapists work with children, we find that the unique ways kids think of colors, or rather the way colors inspire their thinking, can be super interesting and impressive. This can be used as an amazing way to promote expression, communication, and self-reflection–all things that build self esteem!

So, what exactly are some areas that parents can encourage confidence through the concept of color therapy at home?

1. Clothes shopping:

   • If you are going shopping for your child, bring them along and let them pick out clothes in colors they like to wear.

   • Let them try on clothes that are their favorite colors; let them decide what colors they think matches.

   • Encourage buying an array of colors, in case they want to have more options.

   • Allow them to decide what certain color clothes may mean; some kids like to dress according to their mood.

2. Coloring books/apps, paint, clay:

   • Encourage them to get creative with all different colors.

   • Art is a good way to explore emotions and also occupy their mind.

   • Allow them to create art that expresses certain moods by buying art supplies in various colors.

   • You may find that while kids work on their art, they start opening up and talking about things that surprise you; child therapists see this all the time!

3. Decorating their bedroom:

   • Allow your child the independence to choose the color palette of their bedroom.

   • Painting their walls colors that either promote a positive mindset/mood, or their favorite color, is a fun activity to do together and may make your child feel really good!

   • You want their bedroom to be their safe space; let them pick out their fluffy, cozy, pink and purple stuff.

   • Encouraging creativity and autonomy in the form of decorating is a form of artistic expression of emotion.

4. Mixing paint colors:

   • Let your young kid mix their own paints around and learn first hand how to make colors.

   • Let them decide what feeling may stand for each color, or which colors they love most and make them feel the best.

   • Mixing paints is also a very soothing activity and may calm them in and of itself.

5. Toys in a variety of colors:

   • Colorful toys are a great way to keep young kids engaged.

   • Some toys have feelings associated with colors already (i.e. “Inside Out” toys or books).

   • Colorful and bright toys can improve kids’ moods and invoke positive feelings.

If you want to help your child develop self-esteem, a really good way to do that is through encouraging them to associate colors with emotions, facilitating experimenting and creativity with color, and allowing them the opportunity to fill their space/dress themselves with color. 

If you feel that your child is struggling with self-esteem and could use some extra support from a child therapist, call and schedule your free, 15-minute consultation with Amel Counseling & Consulting today!