How to Choose a Coloring Page for Your Child

Look at the spaces, not just the label

Large, open shapes leave room for broad crayon marks. Small windows, scales and flower petals invite slower work with a sharper pencil. Thick outlines can be easier to see, but a thick outline does not make a crowded picture simple.

Match the page to today’s activity

For a short session, choose one main subject with plenty of white space. For a longer afternoon, try a scene with several parts, or color just one part today and return later. A page does not need to be completely filled to be finished.

Offer two choices

Try showing one simple picture and one more detailed picture of a subject your child likes. Ask which they would like to try. Change the page or materials if the activity stops being enjoyable; staying inside every line is not the goal.

Check the printed size

Open the full preview before printing. Use A4 or US Letter to match your paper and keep the whole picture visible. Very small regions may be easier to color on a full sheet than on a reduced print.

Find a picture for this activity

• Animals
• Dinosaurs
• Easy Coloring Pages
• Vehicles
• Preschool
• Kindergarten
• Solar System

Try another idea

• Choosing Colors for a Coloring Page
• Simple Crayon Coloring Ideas for Kids