Is black a negative color when used by children in their drawings?

Question

My 3 year old's favourite colours are black and orange. His nursery teacher says that black is a negative colour, and removes all black crayons and paints in the nursery. is she right?

My 3 year old's favourite colours are black and orange. His nursery teacher says that black is a negative colour, and removes all black crayons and paints in the nursery. Is she right? Would love to hear opinions of teachers, psychologist or art therapists. Thanks!

Answer 1

no. Of coutse not at that age as long as he's not full of hate which would only be posible if he was tought that in the house or in a nursery/pre school there is abolutely nothing wrong with that.
Just educate him that in the US multi culturism is unique and good. Thats it.
Education is the key to success

Answer 2

This is misunderstood colour theory, without a negative colour you cannot have a positive colour, in this case orange with a white surround appears duller than orange with a black surround (leaving aside that black and white are achromatic). Positive and negative in colour theory do not represent the psychology of the user, especially given his age (three is too young anyway to have been fooled into believing that colours should be assigned an emotion).

Answer 3

I can't believe this sadistic control freak is in charge of nursery-school children. I guarantee you she is doing some other weird things you just haven't heard about yet, because your child is too young to know something's wrong with his authority-figure's behavior.

Pay careful attention to everything your son says about school, and be prepared to pull him out.

Let him have all the orange and black he wants at home. He'll probably have a new favorite color combo every year, just don't let him think there's anything wrong with a COLOR. Actually, it's probably not too early to teach him that sometimes adults are just dead wrong about something.

Answer 4

black is not a negative color. Black is just the opposite is is void of color. Kids use black for looks and not for emotion. Most artists don't learn about color's feelings until later in life when they can understand the science behind color theory. At 3 it is just what is there. Just what they see for themselves. Taking away black from a child's collection could hurt them if they are ever going to be good in art.

Answer 5

That just sums up what the hell is wrong in this country. Jesus people need to wake up and smell the roses. Removing black crayons and paint. I dont know if I should laugh or cry. People are just way to touchy and just flat out ridiculous. This is just another case and NO SHES NOT RIGHT SHES A MENTAL PATIENT AND SHOULD NOT BE TEACHING ANYBODY ANYTHING!!!!

Answer 6

Black and orange are highly visible. It may be the child artist has a little perception problem with some of the "weaker" hues, but an eye-exam should clarify that question.

The most negative thing I see in your post is the teacher's attitude. Grounds for DISMISSAL!! Harmful to impressionable children. Makes me angry. :=(

Answer 7

Black is a color. People like your child's nursery teacher make it negative. That's her opinion. His use of colors harms no one. When he starts shoving crayons in other kids' eyes then she should do her job and worry as should you. Don't let her zap your child's artistic expression. She's negative.

Answer 8

Yes, instruct more black circles like in the movie "The Ring" to profile his imagination in a constructive way of being a physic demon possessed child.

Answer 9

not really. as children, they really dont focus on colors to connote feelings, it's just a common color

Answer 10

Ya most kids are taught this and there is a reason.