As parents, we are always looking for ways to make sure our children grow to be happy and fulfilled. Although there is no parenting manual to tell us everything we can do to raise our children and help them reach their fullest potential, we live in a time when helpful tools and information are more easily accessible than ever.
Whether it be through books, videos, articles, or podcasts – there are so many different ways that we can explore how to meet our children’s developmental needs at every stage. One tool that many parents find helpful is the use of noise to aid in sensory development. Through sound exploration, more specifically those associated with various colors, concepts of rhythm and melody become easier to understand and by associating colors with different notes, children may be more likely to develop important sensory skills. Attributing colors to sounds may also encourage creativity while nurturing self-expression, allowing children to discover their own innate sense of musicality from a young age.
Curious as to what the different color sounds are and which sounds might be best for your family’s needs? Keep reading as we dive into more detail and explore some of the benefits as well as a few resources where you can find your ideal colored sounds.
The Different Colors and The Sounds They Produce
We often tend to attribute colors to our sense of sight. From infancy, we learn colors as a way to stimulate our minds through association with everyday objects or surroundings – red ball, blue sky, yellow sun. As we grow and progress to more advanced levels of understanding, we begin to find that colors can be mixed to create new colors, shades, and tones that all come together to make up the world we see around us.
That being said, colors and their relationship to sound are not often explored in many curricula other than perhaps the most well-known color – white noise, which describes a certain high-frequency static sound that often is used to mask other sounds and auditory stimuli for a sense of relaxation. But did you know that there is an entire rainbow of sounds? Sounds and colors are both measured using similar wave-like frequencies so it is not far-fetched that both have become associated with one another in order to help us better understand and “visualize” them. Each sound color can have a different effect on the listener ranging from a meditative, and relaxed state to super focus or tranquility. For example, pink noise is usually described as sounding like rushing water or rustling leaves and can help improve focus and increase concentration. Brown noise is named for its deep, rumbling quality that can be useful for soothing an agitated mind, while blue noise is known for its high-pitched sound that often energizes and invigorates.
With all of these different tones and frequencies, it’s no wonder why different colors of sounds have long been used as an aid to help children and adults achieve a desired state of mind or enhance developmental progress.
How To Use Color Sounds To Improve Your Child’s Development
Now that we have a better understanding of how color and sound are associated, let’s explore how the use of colored sounds can be used to help your child’s development in a bit more detail. Depending on your child’s needs, early and occasional exposure to a variety of sounds – preferably one at a time – is often recommended in order to help gauge which frequencies your child gravitates toward and which help them work toward a desired outcome. Some colored noises allow kids to focus better and have a generally more positive experience while concentrating on a particular task while others can help them relax if they are feeling overly excited or anxious.
Since children are usually sensitive to abrupt change, a great way to go about this is to slowly introduce them to playlists that use a variety of different colored sounds which allows you to incorporate them into your child’s day without disrupting their normal routine. The sounds can be played in the background without your child needing to change anything about the activities they are focusing on, and in turn, you can observe which sounds are improving their skills and positively benefit their routines in their natural environment. Are they paying closer attention, remembering things they usually forget, and learning new concepts faster?
By experimenting with the various colors of noises, you can find which “rainbow” works best for you and your child while continuing to have fun and learn along the way.
Where to Find Colored Sounds
If you’ve decided to give colored sounds a try, there are plenty of resources available that you can take advantage of. One resource that has become increasingly popular are sound podcasts that incorporate various colors of noises depending on their purpose. Some hone in on certain colors like white noise, while others focus on a solution to specific desired outcomes like relieving anxiety, improving focus, and soothing a crying baby. You can also find podcasts that cover many uses by leveraging multiple colored sounds while also incorporating other often overlooked but seemingly innocuous noises like raindrops, thunderstorms, a purring cat or the ambient noise from the inside of an airplane cabin.
One of the main reasons why colored sounds are such an effective tool is because they help block out distracting environmental noises, making them increasingly popular in a modern world where our children are constantly bombarded with external stimuli making it hard to concentrate on learning, play, or even falling and staying asleep.
With many children having access to a tablet or their parents’ smart devices, it has never been easier to tap into the benefits of these helpful tools all with the tap of a finger or click of a button. Just download and go!
The Benefits Of Using Color Sounds With Kids
Although the benefits of the colors of sounds have been studied for years, there is still so much to learn about how the frequencies of each noise color can be positively beneficial for children further than our current understanding. Let’s dive into some of what we do know about each color and how it can impact our kids.
Starting with pink noise, researchers say this color sound is often preferred by children to white noise because it is easier on sensitive ears. The sound also has been shown to improve task performance and when listened to before bed, promotes a deeper and more restful sleep which is directly linked to positive memory function. Needless to say, an enhanced memory is extremely beneficial for children and adults alike.
If you are looking for the ultimate distraction-blocking sound, look no further than brown noise. Its ability to resemble the brain’s resting state is why many people find that brown noise is one of their favorite colored sounds for quieting their mind and focusing more intently on tasks at hand while also maintaining a sense of relaxation, as is similar to green noise.
Green noise is known for its sound-masking properties so it is great for promoting relaxation and can help reduce anxiety levels. While relaxing is important, especially when our children are “on” all day in daycare and school, are involved in after-school activities and clubs, and are often running from appointments to playdates, those types of activities often call for more energy which is where you may find blue noise helpful. It is on the opposite end of the sound spectrum from brown noise with a much higher frequency. These two sounds do have some crossover in their ability to boost concentration.
White noise is also great for concentration because it “switches off your mind” and allows your brain to focus on one sound while blocking other noises to the extent that it has helped counteract symptoms of ADHD which may lead to potentially improved speech recognition, literacy skills, and reading speed. Similar benefits can be found with the pulsating sound of yellow noise, while red noise can help improve memory recall.
As you can see, there are plenty of benefits to using color sounds that go beyond simply masking other sounds. They can easily be used as therapeutic and developmental tools that you may find helpful for your children’s needs.
Which Color Sounds Are Best For Your Child
Each child is unique, so when it comes to finding colored sounds that work best for your kids there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Some children may be soothed by a gentle pink noise while others may find solace in the familiar notes of a piano playing classical music.
There are so many different colors of noise that are available to explore, and when unsure of how your child will react to them it may be a good idea to gradually increase your kids’ exposure to these sounds rather than try all of them at once to find the one that sticks.
If you’re not sure where to start, you can always begin with sounds that are more familiar to your child. For example, if your child is struggling to focus you may try calming nature sounds like leaves rustling, waves, rainfall, and birds chirping. These are often categorized as green noise since they are part of the natural world.
From there you can try moving to more intense, noise-blocking, and focusing sounds like pink, white and brown until you discover what works best for each kid. Experts argue that the most suitable for kids of the three is pink, so that may be a good place to branch off. When listened to during waking hours, pink noise is said to be stimulating and energizing, making it perfect for kids who need a little boost.
Conclusion
Every color has a different vibration and produces a unique sound and when used with intention, they can have a profound effect on kids’ moods and energy levels. If you are looking for a way to improve your child’s well-being, give color sounds a try. By using the right color sound for your child, you can help them to feel happier and more relaxed, ultimately aiding in their development. So, don’t be afraid to experiment with different colors to find the right one for your child’s needs. The benefits are numerous, and it’s never been easier to get started.