Feelings Coloring Pages
“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”
—Maya Angelou
Why is coloring so beneficial for kids?
“Coloring can help you be more mindful. Mindfulness is the ability to focus and stay in the moment. For example, because you’re focusing on color choice and staying inside the lines, you’re only thinking about the present moment. You can shut off the noise around you, and give your mind the gift of focusing on the movements, sensations and emotions of your present moment.”
—Coloring is Good for Your Health, Mayo Clinic
When my son was little, I always attempted to have quiet time. If I am honest, those quiet time afternoons were more for me than for my son. His boundless energy meant he was never really up for being quiet or napping. So around 3pm each afternoon, I would make a big cup of coffee and we would play on the living room floor. These coloring pages can be printed out for a slow afternoon. Little ones can have a snack and color while you have a good cup of coffee or tea. They can also work together with my other printables for a social emotional learning lesson.
Taking moments to sit and color can also have a profound impact on children’s emotional well-being and overall mental health. Not only can it serve as a time to have a break in the day it has concrete benefits to a child emotional growth.
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4 great ways that coloring supports emotional wellness in kids
Emotional Expression
Coloring provides children with a non-verbal way to express their emotions, whether they’re happy, sad, angry, or anxious. Through choosing colors and filling in shapes, kids can externalize and process their feelings. (On these coloring pages, kids can color in the clouds that match how they are feeling.)
Mindfulness and Relaxation
Engaging in coloring activities can act as a form of mindfulness practice for children. The repetitive and rhythmic motion of coloring can help kids focus on the present moment, promoting relaxation and reducing stress levels. The silence and slow pace that coloring provides, can act as a form of mediation that children can engage in without the pressure of an actual formal meditation.
Emotional Regulation
Coloring can help children regulate their emotions by providing a calming outlet for pent-up feelings. It encourages self-soothing behaviors and teaches kids to manage their emotional responses in a positive way. They can also use crayons to draw pictures of how they are feeling.
Creative Expression
Coloring can be an open door to a child’s creativity! Once crayon is in hand a child’s mind can be opened to many different modalities of creativity. Keep crayon, pencils and coloring tool out and available for children to pick up.
By incorporating coloring activities into a child’s routine, parents and educators can help nurture important emotional skills, promote relaxation, and create a safe space for children to explore and express their feelings. Remember, a box of crayons and a coloring book can be powerful tools for supporting children’s emotional learning and well-being.
