Kids Color Blind Test
A fun, child-friendly way to screen for color vision deficiency. Children identify hidden animals in colorful dot patterns — no reading required.
Kids Color Blind Test
A fun, child-friendly color vision test! Find the hidden animals in the colorful dot patterns.
- •Look at the colorful circle and find the hidden animal
- •Click on the animal you can see from the options below
- •If you can't see any animal, click "I Can't See"
Tips for Parents
Color vision deficiency affects roughly 8% of boys and 0.5% of girls. Early screening helps ensure your child gets the right support at school — particularly for activities involving color-coded materials, maps, or art.
Before Starting
Set your screen brightness to at least 75% and turn off any color filters (night mode, blue light filter). Find a comfortable, well-lit spot where your child can sit without distractions for a few minutes.
During the Test
Frame it as a game — "Can you spot the hidden animal?" Let your child point to or name the animal without prompting. Avoid giving hints about what the correct answer might be. If they hesitate, encourage them to pick "I can't see" rather than guessing.
After the Results
If your child scores below 80%, don't worry — this is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. Factors like screen quality or a child's mood can affect outcomes. Schedule a visit with an optometrist for confirmation and to discuss school accommodations if needed.
How the Test Works
1. Spot the Animal
Each plate shows colored dots with a hidden animal shape. Children with normal color vision can pick it out easily.
2. Tap the Match
Choose the matching animal from the options below the plate. If no animal is visible, tap "I can't see any animal."
3. See the Score
After 10 plates, results show how many animals were correctly identified and whether further testing is recommended.
Signs Your Child May Be Color Blind
Many children learn to name colors by rote without actually perceiving them the same way others do. A child might call a fire truck "red" simply because they've been told it is — not because they see the same red you do. Here are some behaviors that may suggest a color vision issue:
Drawing & Coloring
Using unexpected colors — purple leaves on trees, green skin on people, or brown sky. Reluctance to color in worksheets or frustration with choosing crayons.
Color Identification
Mixing up red/green, pink/grey, or purple/blue pencils. Difficulty sorting colored blocks or beads when shades are similar.
Lighting Sensitivity
Colors become harder to distinguish in dim lighting or with small colored areas, but noticeably easier in bright natural daylight.
Avoidance or Denial
Reluctance to play color-matching games, or insisting they see colors correctly when results suggest otherwise.
Family history matters: if any males on the mother's side (uncles, grandfathers, cousins) are color blind, the chance is higher. By age 5, children with normal vision should identify color groups confidently within seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is this test designed for?
Children ages 4 and up who can recognize animal shapes. Since no number reading is required, it works well for pre-readers. For children under 4, observation of drawing behavior and color naming is usually more reliable.
How is this different from the Ishihara test?
The Ishihara test uses hidden numbers, which requires digit recognition. This test replaces numbers with animal silhouettes — fish, elephant, butterfly, and others — so young children can participate without literacy skills.
My child got a low score. Does that mean they're color blind?
Not necessarily. Low scores can result from screen glare, distraction, or simply not understanding the task. If the result is below 80% on a repeat attempt, an in-person evaluation with an optometrist is recommended. They can run standardized tests under controlled conditions.
Can girls be color blind?
Yes, though it is far less common (about 0.5% of girls vs 8% of boys). The genes responsible sit on the X chromosome — boys have only one X, so a single affected copy causes the condition. Girls need both X chromosomes to carry the gene, which is statistically rarer.
Should I tell my child's school?
Yes. If confirmed by a professional, informing the school allows teachers to make small adjustments — labeling colors on worksheets, avoiding red/green-only coding on maps and charts, and ensuring your child isn't disadvantaged during art or science classes.
What types of color blindness can this test detect?
This test screens primarily for red-green deficiency (Protan and Deutan types), which accounts for over 95% of all color blindness cases. For blue-yellow (Tritan) screening, a different test is needed.
Related Tests
Ishihara Test
Classic color blind test with 14 or 38 Ishihara plates.
Red-Green Color Blind Test
Specialized test for Protanopia and Deuteranopia detection.
Blue-Yellow Color Blind Test
Screen for Tritanopia and Tritanomaly.
FM100 Hue Test
Test your color discrimination ability with hue arrangement.