My son says everything is black, gray and white. He only identifies these 3 colours. How can I tell if he is telling the truth or just lying? Does he need a doctor or some help?

How old is your son? Children's ability to recognize different colors improve around 18 months – the same time he begins to notice similarities and differences in shape, size, and texture. It will be a while longer before he knows basic colors, but most children can name at least one by the age of 3 years. Learning colors is tough and an abstract concept that takes time and patience. Follow your child's lead. If everything in your child’s life is “black, gray and white” then only talk about those colored things. Then, introduce another color the following week -- labeling all things red, for example. Breaking down colors one by one is much easier than learning the whole crayon box at one time. Compare identical objects of different color. For example, compare a red ball and a yellow ball, rather than a red shoe and a yellow jacket. Also, if you think your child may have a color identification problem, talk to your pediatrician or eye care professional.