By 7, many children have a clear sense of what they like: favorite colors, favorite subjects and a style of their own. Some color everything in neon. Some love careful shading. Some add elaborate backgrounds. Supporting that emerging style is the key to keeping coloring fun.
What to expect at 7
- Careful control and attention to detail
- Interest in techniques and "how artists do it"
- A personal style starting to show
- Long focus on projects they care about
- Comparing their work with others, which can affect confidence
Pages for 7-year-olds
Seven-year-olds often love detailed, funny and slightly gross characters:
- Trace Then Color: Alien Cyborgs: gadgets, armor and tech details.
- Trace Then Color: Crusty Goobers: gross, goofy creatures.
- Trace Then Color: Weird Creatures: strange beings with lots of parts.
Techniques to try
- Blending. See blending colors.
- Shading and highlights. See easy shading.
- Texture. See coloring fur, scales and metal.
- Color schemes. See picking colors that go together.
- Inking. Tracing with a fine black marker for a comic look.
Supporting their style
- Ask about choices. "Why did you go with all neon colors?"
- Avoid comparison. Every artist is different.
- Offer new tools. Gel pens, metallic markers, watercolor pencils.
- Display their work. A rotating gallery shows their style.
Confidence at 7
Around this age, some kids start saying "I’m bad at art." Tracing and coloring can rebuild confidence. See tracing for kids who say "I can’t draw".
Questions parents ask
My 7-year-old only colors one theme. Is that OK?
Yes. Deep interests are great. Offer variety without pushing.
Should my 7-year-old take art classes?
If they are interested, art classes can be wonderful. Coloring at home is valuable either way.
Is coloring too easy for a 7-year-old?
Not if the pages and techniques are challenging enough. Detailed characters and new techniques keep it engaging.
About Kevin Coulston
Kevin Coulston is a cartoonist and member of the National Cartoonists Society who has written and illustrated more than 100 drawing, tracing and coloring books for kids, including the Trace Then Color series. Meet Kevin or browse all his books on FirstArtBooks.com.
