Many kids drift away from coloring around age 9 or 10 because the pages feel babyish. Detailed sci-fi pages, like alien cyborgs, can win them back.
Why cyborgs work for older kids
- Cool factor. Half creature, half machine.
- Challenge. More detail and textures to work on.
- Technique. Metal, glow, shading and skin textures on one page.
Techniques to try
Metal parts
Light-dark-light stripes with a white streak. See coloring fur, scales and metal.
Glowing tech
Leave a white center, color yellow around it, then a bright color like cyan or magenta, then a dark background around the glow.
Organic and machine contrast
Color creature parts in warm colors and machine parts in cool grays and blues. The contrast makes the cyborg pop. See choosing colors that go together.
Shading
Pick a light source and shade consistently. See easy shading for kids.
Pages to try
- Trace Then Color: Alien Cyborgs for detailed alien and machine combos
- Trace Then Color: Robot Dinosaurs for dinos with tech
- Trace Then Color: Cartoon Robots for robots of all kinds
Tools for older kids
Fine-tip markers, quality colored pencils, gel pens and, for some, alcohol markers. See alcohol markers for kids.
Let older kids color on their own terms: headphones on, music playing, no one hovering.
Questions parents ask
How do I get my tween to color again?
Offer cooler, more detailed pages and better tools. See coloring for tweens.
Is coloring good for teens?
Many teens find it relaxing. Research has found coloring can reduce anxiety in adolescents and adults.
Are cyborgs too violent?
Cartoon cyborgs are more sci-fi than scary. Check pages to suit your child.
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.
