Black and white high contrast cards.

STREAM Activity: High Contrast Cards

Create high-contrast stimulation cards for your little one!
Activity best for children ages four and up

Did you know that at birth, babies can only see three colors: black, white, and some gray? Additionally, most of their vision is blurry. Images that have a high contrast or have many opposite colors such as black and white, are easier for newborns to focus on at this stage of development. Photos with high-contrast patterns or images can help encourage and stimulate infant vision development and curiosity. Today, we’ll make our own high-contrast stimulation cards for you to use at home!

VOCABULARY

  • Contrast: The representation of two elements of design in opposite ways.
  • Cognitive: Mental action or process and understanding through experiences and senses.

GUIDING QUESTIONS

  • What are other ways to help newborns focus on things?

MATERIALS

  • White construction paper
  • Sharpie or black marker
  • Scissors

DIRECTIONS

STEP 1

Start by gathering the materials for your high-contrast cards.

Materials need for high contrast cards.

STEP 2

Begin by cutting your piece of paper into four squares.

Two white pieces of paper.

STEP 3

Now, think of four contrasting patterns and draw them out. You can do designs as complex as a checkerboard or as simple as diagonal lines.

Black and white high contrast cards.