Understanding Others: Using Real Colors with Parents, Caregivers, and Families

As facilitators, we often talk about the power of Real Colors in building self-awareness. While this is true, its real magic shines when it helps people understand others, especially those closest to them.

Whether you’re working with families in a school setting, a treatment program, or a community group, you’ve likely seen how misunderstandings between adults and youth – or even between adult co-parents – can create unnecessary conflict. Real Colors gives us a language to shift that dynamic from conflict to understanding.

Why Real Colors Works in Family Settings

Parents and caregivers often operate on instinct, using the strategies that work for them or that they learned from their own upbringing. But every youth is wired differently. Real Colors helps bridge that gap by making temperament visible and understandable without judgment.

When a GOLD caregiver starts to recognize the creativity and non-linear thinking of their ORANGE youth, they can shift from “Why can’t you follow directions?” to “How can I create structure without crushing your spark?”

When a BLUE parent realizes their GREEN teenager’s quiet detachment isn’t rejection, but a different way of processing, they can stop taking it personally and start giving space for meaningful connection.

Bringing Adults and Youth Together

Facilitating Real Colors with adults and youth in the same room can be powerful, but it takes intention. The key is to help both groups feel seen and respected while giving them tools to better understand one another.

That could look like:

• Parallel activities that let youth and adults explore their styles side-by-side
• Shared language to talk about conflict without blame
• Actionable insights for how to motivate, calm, or connect with each style

It’s Not About Changing Each Other

Families don’t need to “fix” their differences. Real Colors helps them appreciate them. When a family sees their full Color Spectrum, they begin to move as a team, one where everyone’s needs matter and everyone brings something valuable.

Want to bring Real Colors to families more effectively? Reach out to info@realcolors.org to schedule time with an Account Manager who can help you plan engaging Real Colors workshops for adults and youth together. They’ll provide structure ideas, activity tips, and real-world examples to help you facilitate your next family session with confidence.