Drawing and coloring is a great activity for children of all ages and quietly acts not only as a way to pass the time but also as an educational tool. As children flex their muscles of artistic expression, they’re also soaking up numerous educational and developmental beneï¬ts1. They include:
- Developing motor skills: Drawing helps a child practice holding a writing tool, using hand-eye coordination and developing the muscles in their hands and ï¬ngers.
- Developing patience and concentration: The world is a busy place and drawing and coloring allows the child to focus on an activity that needs to be completed. Children learn to stay engaged with the activity until it is done.
- Allowing a child to relax: Drawing is therapeutic for a child and allows them to relax and put their emotions on a piece of paper.
- Recognizing colors: Coloring introduces brightness and shades to a child, helping them recognize the differences between them.
- Showing self expression: A blank piece of paper is a canvas for a child and allows them to express themselves through shapes and colors.2
- Giving a sense of achievement: “Look what I did!” a child will say when they’re done. They completed an activity and feel proud of it their work.
- Bonding time between parent and child: Sitting down to draw with your child is a great way to spend quality time with them and create a masterpiece together.
Drawing and coloring doesn’t mean a child needs a fancy coloring book with pre-set lines and numbers. The activity can be done with a blank piece of paper, an old newspaper or even a wall. If you have computer accessibility, there are also numerous web sites that have free resources, such as Crayola3 and NickJr4, with wide varieties of printable themes that all children will enjoy.
A colored pencil, crayon or marker and a blank piece of paper will go a long way for a child. Let them spend some time drawing and coloring. The activity will help them grow and will give you a piece of art to display proudly in your home.
Do your children draw? Are the walls of your house sometimes scrawled with drawings of giraffes, little flowers, clouds or sun? Do they prefer to paint with crayons or colored pencils? What are the favorite motifs that your kids love to draw?
Tell us, we’d love to hear about your experiences.
1 http://www.artsusa.org/get_involved/advocacy/funding_resources/default_005.asp
2 http://www.voicesofyouth.org/en/posts/let-s-draw-together—–the-advantages-of-drawing
3 http://www.crayola.com/free-coloring-pages/
4 http://www.nickjr.com/printables/all-shows/coloring-pages/all-ages/index.jhtml
