9 Great Benefits of Coloring Books for Toddlers and 3 Safety Concerns
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Both my kid and I love coloring books. This is an activity that we do together very often. We usually spend about 10-12 minutes coloring together (talk about the attention span of a toddler!). Coloring is a fun activity, and it comes with many benefits for both adults and children. An article published by healthline.com discussed the benefits of coloring books for adults, whereas we will go over the positive impacts of coloring books for toddlers.
Benefits of Coloring Books for Toddlers
Coloring is a simple inexpensive yet enjoyable activity for toddlers. It is also a very helpful activity for the developments of young children. Let’s review the great benefits of coloring books for toddlers.
Improve fine motor skills
To color, toddlers need to learn to grasp a coloring tool, whether a crayon or marker. In addition, they need to learn to control the pressure and direction of the crayon. These actions are very important for developing their hands’ and fingers’ muscles, thus improving their fine motor skills.
Increase concentration and focus
As we all know, toddlers have a very short attention span. Coloring books can help increase their concentration because they will learn that the goal is to keep the colors inside the lines. Moreover, with different colors and images involved, they will tend to stay focused for longer.
Spark Creativity
Toddlers will learn to choose different colors and shades for particular parts of the image. Sometimes, they might also try mixing the colors. This helps stimulate their right brain and boost creativity.
Promote patience
Coloring is an activity that requires kids to stay still. The beautiful images and many colors will help capture and keep their attention. Occasionally, coloring sheets can keep young kids focused for more than 30 minutes.
Encourage self-expression
Coloring has no rules. Kids can freely choose their colors and color combinations. Thus, they have the freedom to follow their heart and express themselves. Some kids can use coloring (and later drawing) to spell out their dreams.
Reduce stress
Little kids also get stressed due to the lack of communication skills. Coloring is a great activity to help relieve the stress and help kids stay relax.
Stimulate hand-eye coordination
According to Empowered Parents, hand-eye coordination is the ability to move and perform tasks using the information received from the eyes. Coloring is a great activity to develop this skill since kids have to evaluate the images and colors using their eyes, then use the hand to color inside the lines.
Develop hand-writing skill
Coloring helps little kids build the ability to control crayons and markers, which will translate to the ability to control pens and pencils. This will help develop handwriting skills at early age.
When are Toddlers Ready for Coloring Books?
Many parents ask this question, but there is no right or wrong answer. Depending on your kids’ interest, they can start “coloring” as soon as 12 months. You can give it a try, but if your kid is not ready, you should wait to try when they are a little older. Even though there is no exact answer to this question, here are several cues that allow you to determine whether or not your kid is ready for coloring books.
- Knowing colors: kids might not be interested in coloring activity if they cannot distinguish the colors.
- Hold onto tools comfortably: until your toddlers can hold on to crayons or markers comfortable, it is very hard for them to start coloring.
- Scribbling: this is a sign that your toddlers are ready for the coloring fun.
Above are the signs that your little kids are ready for coloring books. It’s important to remember that every kid is different, and they will start when they are ready.
Coloring Activity for Toddlers: Safety Concerns
Coloring is fun, but there are some safety concerns that parents should pay attention to.
Toxicity of crayons or markers
It is recommended that parents always choose non-toxic crayons or markers. Since many different types of crayons and markers are available in the market, it is very easy to get overwhelmed. A rule of thumb is to choose a creditable brand. Another important tip is to read their labels.
Pointy and sharp coloring pencils
When your toddlers start learning to color, they might not be able to control the tools very well. It is suggested to avoid offering toddlers pointy and sharp coloring pencils. You don’t want your kids to poke their eyes and mouths.
Choking hazard when crayons break
You might have heard the phrase, “kids eat crayons all the time.” Trust me, it is true. Since most kids cannot distinguish what is edible at young ages, they tend to put everything in their mouths. That is why we need to consider the toxicity of crayons. However, there is another area that needs parents’ attention. Crayons break all the time. When they do, they become a choking hazard for kids. It is important to be with your toddlers when they are coloring. It will not take a lot of time because of their short attention span. You can also enjoy coloring with them!
Alternatives
There are several alternatives you can offer your toddlers when they want to color.
- Coloring with fingers. It can be a little messy, but it will be fun. All you need is a coloring sheet or canvas, paint, and little fingers. Make sure you choose non-toxic washable paints and cover the surface with lots of magazines.
- Dot coloring. If your toddlers cannot get a good grasp on small crayons yet, chunky dot coloring chalk will be helpful. These are washable and fun to use.
- Water coloring books. If you don’t want to deal with the mess of paints or want your kids to color on the go, water coloring books are for you! They are non-toxic and reusable.
Check out the available products for the alternatives mentioned above.
Keys take away
- Coloring books are fun and useful for the development of little kids.
- Make sure to choose non-toxic materials only.
- Be patient and enjoy the process as every kid develops at their own pace.
I hope this article provide you more information on the benefits and safety concerns of coloring activities. Please share with whom you think might be beneficial from it. Don’t forget to comment your favorite coloring material and your kids’ masterpieces.
Check out other activities you can do with your kids after you have fun coloring together.
