A new baby. A move to a new house. A new school, a new town or a change in the family. Big changes can be exciting, but they also unsettle children. Their routines shift, their feelings get bigger and they may need extra comfort.
Familiar activities help kids feel steady when everything else is changing. Coloring is one of the easiest to keep going through any change, and it can also help kids work through what is happening.
Why familiar activities matter
When life changes, routines are a source of security. If coloring after lunch was a habit before the move, keeping it after the move tells a child that some things stay the same.
A new baby
Becoming a big brother or sister is a huge change. Coloring ideas:
- Color a welcome card. Let your child make a card for the new baby. Baby animals from Trace Then Color: Baby Animals make sweet card fronts.
- Color while you feed the baby. A coloring kit next to the nursing chair gives an older child something to do close to you.
- Make a "big sibling" book. Staple colored pages into a book about everything a big sibling can do.
- Give a big sibling gift. A coloring book of their own, just for them. See gifts for a new big sibling.
Moving house
- Color the new house. Draw or print a simple house shape to color and decorate before the move.
- Pack a special coloring box. Let your child pack their own box of crayons and pages to open first at the new house.
- Color a map. Draw a simple map of the new neighborhood and color it in together.
- Keep the routine. Color at the same time each day, even when surrounded by boxes.
A new school
- Color a "me" page. A self-portrait or a character that looks like them, to share with a new teacher. Trace Then Color: Cartoon People offers kids lots of characters to make their own.
- Color something for the new teacher. A small gift can help a child feel brave on the first day.
- Talk while coloring. Kids often share worries more easily with busy hands.
See also back-to-school coloring activities.
Family changes
Separation, illness or loss can bring deep feelings. Coloring together can be a quiet way to be close. Some children like to color pictures for a parent who lives elsewhere or for someone they miss. See coloring and grief.
Watch for signs of stress
During big changes, some kids regress, become clingy, have more tantrums or sleep poorly. That is common. Extra patience, routines and comforting activities help. If stress seems severe or long-lasting, talk to your pediatrician.
Questions parents ask
Should I talk to my child about the change while coloring?
Coloring is a good, low-pressure time to talk, but follow their lead. Some kids want to talk; some just want company.
My child scribbles angrily since the new baby arrived. Is that OK?
Yes. Angry feelings are normal. Give them scrap paper for scribbling and acknowledge the feeling: "It’s hard sharing Mom and Dad."
How can I keep routines during a move?
Pick two or three anchor routines, like bedtime story and afternoon coloring, and protect them no matter what.
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.
