Parents preparing for kindergarten often focus on letters and numbers. Teachers, though, often mention different things: Can the child hold a pencil? Sit and focus for a short time? Follow simple directions? Open their own lunch? Coloring builds many of these skills naturally.
Fine motor skills
Kindergarten involves lots of writing, cutting, gluing and coloring. Kids with strong hands and a workable grip find these tasks easier. Coloring and tracing build:
- Grip and finger control
- Hand strength and stamina
- Hand-eye coordination
See how coloring builds fine motor skills.
Following directions
Teachers give multi-step directions all day. Color-by-instruction games practice listening and remembering: "Color the robot’s head blue and its feet red." See color by instruction.
Focus
Kindergarten asks kids to stay with a task for a while. Coloring builds sustained attention in short, enjoyable sessions. See can coloring help attention span?.
Independence
Getting supplies out, using them and putting them away is a kindergarten routine. Practice at home with a coloring kit your child manages.
Letters and shapes
Coloring alphabet pages and finding shapes in characters build early literacy and math. Trace Then Color: Alphabet Monsters pairs each letter with a monster, and robots are great for shapes: Trace Then Color: Cartoon Robots.
Finishing tasks
Completing a page builds the habit of following through. Kindergarten teachers value kids who finish work and feel proud of it.
Social skills
Sharing crayons and coloring beside others prepares kids for classroom life. See sharing crayons.
Cutting practice
Many kindergartners struggle with scissors. After coloring a character, have your child cut it out with child-safe scissors. Great two-handed practice.
A simple summer plan
Ten minutes of tracing and coloring a day in the summer before kindergarten can make a noticeable difference. See the 4-week tracing and coloring plan.
Don’t overdo it
Kindergarten readiness is about the whole child: curiosity, confidence, social skills and play. Coloring is one helpful piece, not a test to pass.
Questions parents ask
Does my child need to write their name before kindergarten?
Many kids can, but teachers expect a range. Tracing their name is a great start.
What grip should a kindergartner have?
Many use a tripod or near-tripod grip; some still use a four-finger grip. Short crayons help.
Is my child ready for kindergarten if they don’t like coloring?
Readiness involves many skills. If coloring isn’t their thing, other fine motor play like building, play dough and puzzles helps too.
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.
