Crayons & Little Hands

The simplest avenue to introduce Art to toddlers is through coloring. It’s everywhere – you can find coloring books at the market or the dollar store and buy crayon boxes for cheap. Many restaurants offer kids a small pack of crayons and something to color on while they wait for their meal. Here’s the thing – if you have a kid like mine, she might not actually love coloring. Chloe will color for a solid 3 minutes and then be ready to start a new activity. However, coloring is a really important skill to have your child practice, and starting them young is key.

Here are some ideas to further this activity and engage your little one.

1) Choose coloring books that interest them. Chloe loves herself some shapes so I found some simple books that had all the shapes in them.

2) Use Crayola crayons for the best quality, but finding ones that are unique and/or large and easier to hold for little hands is great, too.

3) Offer blank paper for more free-coloring practice.

4) Color with your child! Praise them for their efforts, and don’t offer much (or any) advice. They don’t need to color in the lines or choose “correct” colors for objects (a purple elephant never hurt anyone!)

5) With all activities you do with your child, use it as a time to naturally incorporate lessons, both academic and social. When my husband and I first started coloring with Chloe, she would tell us which crayons to use and when! It was a little absurd, but because she was cute, we obliged. It wasn’t long, though, before we realized we were perpetuating a dominating attitude. We began to use particular language with her. “Mommy wants to choose the color blue. Which color do you want to choose, Chloe?” “Daddy is not finished yet using the orange crayon. Would you like to help me choose my next color for when I’m done?” We also include academic language, such as “How many ducks am I coloring here?” or “Do you see something shaped like a circle on this page?”

6) Use this time to communicate with your child. I already mentioned including social and academic “lessons,” but when Chloe and I are sitting together and coloring, we always end up having the greatest little conversations.

7) Bring a little more to the “coloring” table. Include stickers, markers or dot paints. Invest in a kit which has basic materials for toddlers to add to a coloring page.

You know those adult coloring books that are all the rage right now? Mine stay hidden and only come out after bedtime! This mama doesn’t share everything, lol! And if you have no idea what I’m talking about, check ‘em out! Just one of the cheaper forms of therapy out there. You’re welcome.

xoxo, Heidi