“Black and white patterns and images are easier for them to see and provide the visual contrast needed to stimulate their visual development.
But in the very beginning, black, white and shades of grey are most effective for their visual development.
Having said that, they are attracted to other high-contrast colours in the first four months of life, such as bright red.
As regards shapes, they can notice shapes as long as they are large and drawn in high-contrast colours,” says Dr Ashwin Sainani, consultant paediatric ophthalmologist, P.D.
Research published by the American Optometric Association states that high-contrast visual patterns can promote visual and brain development in infants.
Babies love red, they say. But even as parents pick up red and other brightly coloured toys for their toddlers, very few of their children are exposed to art. For most, seeing art comes later in life even though sketches and paintings are believed to positively impact early development.
Rudritara Shroff, a Class 11 student in Mumbai, has filled this gap with the book Art for Baby, which has artworks by 15 contemporary artists that are meant to stimulate the little mind. The book was released in February.
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The book is an art lover’s dream come true, with the artists being brought together by Shroff to create a one-of-its-kind work. The contributors are Dhruvi Acharya, Jyoti Bhatt, Jyotsna Bhatt, Jogen Chowdhury, Atul Dodiya, Anju Dodiya, Shilpa Gupta, N. S. Harsha, Bijoy Jain, Reena Saini Kallat, Shakuntala Kulkarni, Manish Nai, Amol K. Patil, Gigi Scaria and Sudarshan Shetty.
The project had the support of UNICEF. The young author Shroff, whose grandmother Rajani Bhagat is a collector of black and white sketches and mother Poonam Bhagat Shroff is an art patron, says the intent is to “awaken newborn minds”. But can babies see art and actually benefit from early exposure to it? Yes, say experts. Babies as young as one month old can gain from colours and shapes.
The impact of colours, shapes and forms is manifold—it aids in visual, emotional and cognitive development.
High-contrast visuals
The artworks are all in black, grey and white because babies, doctors say, can see monotones better. “Black and white patterns and images are easier for them to see and provide the visual contrast needed to stimulate their visual development. These high-contrast visuals can help in developing newborns’ ability to focus and promote early eye coordination,” says Shroff, who consulted with leading paediatricians and ophthalmologists.
Visual development
It is believed that in babies as young as three months, art can help with visual, cognitive, emotional and social development. As babies grow and their vision develops, they start to distinguish between colours. But in the very beginning, black, white and shades of grey are most effective for their visual development.
“The vision of a new born is approximately 20/400 to 20/200, which means the baby can see large objects mainly close to the face. They are attracted to high-contrast objects. The two ends of the contrast spectrum are black and white, and thus they are most attracted to these colours. Having said that, they are attracted to other high-contrast colours in the first four months of life, such as bright red. As regards shapes, they can notice shapes as long as they are large and drawn in high-contrast colours,” says Dr Ashwin Sainani, consultant paediatric ophthalmologist, P.D. Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai.
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Understanding forms and shapes
It is believed that art, particularly in black and white, enhances visual perception by helping develop the ability to distinguish shapes and patterns. “This visual stimulation stimulates brain development, fostering neural growth and synaptic formation, thereby enhancing learning capabilities and overall brain function. Furthermore, engaging with art improves eye coordination and tracking skills, essential for later tasks such as reading,” says Shroff, quoting conversations with leading healthcare professionals.
Research published by the American Optometric Association states that high-contrast visual patterns can promote visual and brain development in infants. These patterns can help newborns to distinguish objects and may support the development of eye coordination and eye muscle strength.
Visual-motor skills
Seeing patterns develops visual tracking skills or the ability to follow a moving object with the eyes. This is crucial for visual-motor abilities, such as catching a ball or reading. This is believed to be enhanced by viewing contrasting images at a very early age.
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