Are Coloring Pages Enough?

When a child is coloring he or she will also draw, write and doodle. This creative expression should never be discouraged. What one person may see as a ruined picture with random scribbles should actually be viewed as a positive step in the progression of prewriting and emergent literacy skills; as well as increased development of hand-eye coordination.

Be forewarned; however, coloring pages tend to lose their charm and do not generally hold children's attention for an extended amount of time (which seasoned parents and caregivers can attest tend to lead to artistic expression on living room walls).

Whenever possible, couple coloring sheets with an art activity such as creating a frame for the child's masterpiece. Not only will this almost certainly guarantee more enjoyment of the project at hand, but should also result in your child's exploring pre-literacy activities independently.

According to Dalene Joubert of ArtistsHelpingChildren.org; children benefit socially, emotionally and developmentally from learning opportunities inherent in arts and crafts activities. Aside from the cultivation of creativity: Joubert praises the merits of artistic experiences for its role in developing the ability to delay gratification, improved self-image, and perseverance.

It is not necessary for craft supplies to be elaborate; but they do need to be available. Placing crayons, washable markers, watercolors and paper or other drawing and painting surfaces where children can access them as desired will produce teachable moments like no others.

Children oftentimes communicate their most complicated thoughts, feelings and emotions through their art. Instead of asking "What is that?" the next time a child presents you with a seemingly unidentifiable masterpiece; compliment the effort and ask him or her to tell you about what is happening in the picture. It may be that the adult is doing the learning instead of the child!

So, yes, printable pages can be a worth-while component of a child's early artistic experience; and yes, they can contribute to valuable early learning and development. Just make sure to provide a wide-range of opportunities for creative exploration and consistently praise your child's efforts.

Who knows, he or she may be selling artwork for millions of dollars one day and you can pat yourself on the back for your contribution to the treasures enjoyed by art connoisseurs across the world...or not. It may be that your reward will be a slightly different scenario; but either way, remain confident in knowing that your positive guidance and encouragement plays a bigger role than any single craft project ever could!

Sources:
Dalene Joubert, "10 Compelling Reasons To Use Arts And Craft For Kids." ArtistsHelpingChildren.org.
Karen Stephens, M.S.; Maxine Hammonds-Smith, Ph.D., CFLE. Child and Adult Care Professionals, McGraw Hill: New York, 2004.