Coloring Issues

[Country Kids]

I have kids that just beg me to color. Then when we have a project to color they just scribble every where and then you can't tell what the picture is!

Its mainly the 3 year old group. I know they are still working on skills but they don't even really try to color-they just scribble. We sometimes cut out the picture and then put it on construction paper/cardstock but its hard to cut it out when you can't see the lines from all the scribbling.

I've shown them how to stay in the lines and color softly but its just not working. All my four year olds color beautifully and I did have a couple 3's that did but now just scribble because they see the others scribbling.

How do you get them to color nicely!

[Blackcat31]

Coloring is art. Art should be a process not a product.

Expecting children to stay within the lines is not developmentally appropriate and being allowed to use crayons on paper any way they choose is EXACTLY what preschoolers should be doing with their supplies....getting to know their crayons and what cool things crayons can do.

Having to coloring within the lines is setting too many boundaries and honestly makes art time not fun IME for kids that age.

Most ECE programs do not use any sort of coloring sheets/pictures but instead provide only blank paper.

Coloring pages/books are equivalent with work-sheets, flash cards, rote memorization and mass produced art projects in my program.

I say, let them scribble. You might see one giant mess but I bet they see all sorts of beautiful pictures within those crazy wiggly lines.

[sharlan]

I would be thrilled IF I could get my kids to put crayons on a piece of paper, any kind of paper. Not one of my kids will color.

[SilverSabre25]

I agree with Blackcat; it's hard, but let them scribble. You can set limits on it (no drawing one small scribble and getting a new piece of paper, for example) but let them scribble.

I'm not super militant about not having coloring sheets, etc (because sometimes they're fun) but I don't push coloring in the lines. I mention it occasionally. I suggest that they try drawing a picture (when they seem stuck about what to do beyond scribbling) but it's just a suggestion.

You can always have them just cut whatever and glue it to the construction paper. I wish I could get mine to understand that...they just glue one big piece of paper to another big piece of paper (usually covering up whatever they drew) and call it done.

[itlw8]

They are doing exactly what they are supposed to do at 3. coloring in the lines is a late 4 to age 5 skill and really serves no urpose except busy work

Just givethem plain paper to draw on. soon you may see circles. or single up and down lines. now those are prewriting skills and ar important. late 3 is about when those start showing up but it may be later and that is fine.

[Country Kids]

Coloring is art. Art should be a process not a product.

Expecting children to stay within the lines is not developmentally appropriate and being allowed to use crayons on paper any way they choose is EXACTLY what preschoolers should be doing with their supplies....getting to know their crayons and what cool things crayons can do.

Having to coloring within the lines is setting too many boundaries and honestly makes art time not fun IME for kids that age.

Most ECE programs do not use any sort of coloring sheets/pictures but instead provide only blank paper.

Coloring pages/books are equivalent with work-sheets, flash cards, rote memorization and mass produced art projects in my program.

I say, let them scribble. You might see one giant mess but I bet they see all sorts of beautiful pictures within those crazy wiggly lines.

We do free art time alot! Those are the ones that seem to get thrown away the most.

With some of the projects we are doing, we color the picture and then clue on objects in different areas. The thing is we can't see where to glue and then the parents have no idea what the picture is to resemble.

Also, some of them are constently wanting to have several coloring objects-crayons, markers, pencils hoarded in their hands. I'm constantly reminding them one at a time!

[Unregistered]

They are doing exactly what they are supposed to do at 3. coloring in the lines is a late 4 to age 5 skill and really serves no urpose except busy work

Just givethem plain paper to draw on. soon you may see circles. or single up and down lines. now those are prewriting skills and ar important. late 3 is about when those start showing up but it may be later and that is fine.

Agree, Agree, Agree!

[kitykids3]

Yup, free form process art is best for young kiddos. I rarely have coloring sheets and sometimes I have product art (still with some process), but it is mostly process, even at 3. Don't push the product art or staying in lines, stifling their creativity.

[spud912]

I do not use coloring sheets. I give them a blank sheet and they fill it up with all sorts of their own drawings. When it's filled, I turn it over, then provide another blank sheet when that side is done . My kids love scribbling....it really helps them learn how to properly hold writing utensils.

[Heidi]

If your kiddos are even fairly verbal, ask them.

"Can you tell me about this picture?". Let them tell YOU what it is, and write it on the bottom. It's pretty hilarious. "well, that's my mom, and my dog, and there is a yellow sun" :confused::confused::confused:::

Also write it their name for them, but say it aloud "M-I-K-E-Y. Mikey..that's your name". Once they get closer to 4, you can help them write it themselves by printing it on another piece of paper and letting them try to copy it.

Sometimes I color with my kids, and I talk aloud while I'm doing it. "I am drawing a castle and a dragon. My dragon is green". So, I'm modeling a "product" but not demanding a specific one from them.

[littlemissmuffet]

As an artist, I HATED being told how to create art growing up. It's not natural. Let your little express themselves how they want... a 3 year old coloring in the lines isn't necessary. ::
I don't use coloring books or pages - I give blank paper and they can create whatever they see fit. I have never had a child choose a coloring book/sheet over blank paper.

[Country Kids]

I LOVE to color to this day as an adult. I think that is why it bothers me so much. I love being able to make the picture individual by putting in the colors I want-doing different shadings and such.

Also, we are studying Thanksgiving and coloring Pilgrims, Indians, the 3 ships,turkeys, corn, etc. So that is why we are doing the coloring sheets. They aren't really coloring sheets, its really part of the craft but you can't tell what the craft is when we are done because of all the scribbling.

We might add glitter to the hats, feathers to the turkey, real corn to the corn, seeds to the pumpkins, etc.

[Heidi]

I LOVE to color to this day as an adult. I think that is why it bothers me so much. I love being able to make the picture individual by putting in the colors I want-doing different shadings and such.

Also, we are studying Thanksgiving and coloring Pilgrims, Indians, the 3 ships,turkeys, corn, etc. So that is why we are doing the coloring sheets. They aren't really coloring sheets, its really part of the craft but you can't tell what the craft is when we are done because of all the scribbling.

We might add glitter to the hats, feathers to the turkey, real corn to the corn, seeds to the pumpkins, etc.

That's fine...coloring sheets aren't evil, as long as you don't care if they're all the same. So what if they're all scribbled...let them enjoy the process.

OMG, you should see my kids paint...one paints his face every single time...

[littlemissmuffet]

I LOVE to color to this day as an adult. I think that is why it bothers me so much. I love being able to make the picture individual by putting in the colors I want-doing different shadings and such.

Also, we are studying Thanksgiving and coloring Pilgrims, Indians, the 3 ships,turkeys, corn, etc. So that is why we are doing the coloring sheets. They aren't really coloring sheets, its really part of the craft but you can't tell what the craft is when we are done because of all the scribbling.

We might add glitter to the hats, feathers to the turkey, real corn to the corn, seeds to the pumpkins, etc.

That's ok. Crafts aren't all about the finished product, it's about the process of creating and having fun! Crafts are art... and art shouldn't be strict! Relax

[daycare]

Art should be a process not a product.

This.............

just like when the kids paint....first it starts out so nice, by the end, they have a pic of a big brown blob. They mixed all of the colors and now their once beautiful colorful pic looks like they used it as toilet paper..............LOL I sound so mean.

But that is what it is all about. The process of doing it. They could care less what the outcome is. I tell the parents its the process, not the product. I also will attach little cards to their pictures that say:

Now you see my scribbles, which one day will turn into circles, and later into lines. Eventually over time you will see my scribbles morph into words, pictures or drawings. Love them as much now, as you would then. I am the best artist I can be, I am me!!!!