Family game night doesn’t have to mean board games. With a stack of coloring pages and some crayons, you can play games that work for every age, from preschoolers to grandparents.
1. Roll a color
Number six crayons. Roll a die before coloring each part and use the matching crayon. Everyone ends up with surprising color combinations.
2. Coloring relay
Each player starts a page. Every two minutes, everyone passes their page to the left. Keep going until each page has been colored by everyone. Monsters with many parts work well: Trace Then Color: Cute Cartoon Monsters.
3. Telephone coloring
One person colors a character. The next looks at it for ten seconds, then colors their own copy from memory. And so on. Compare the first and last!
4. Speed coloring
Set a one-minute timer. Color as much as you can. Laugh at the results.
5. Blindfold color
Color one part blindfolded (or eyes closed). Then reveal.
6. Guess the character
Each person secretly colors a different character from the same book. Then describe it while others guess which page. A mixed book like Trace Then Color: Cool Stuff gives lots of choices.
7. Color challenge cards
Write challenges on cards: "only three colors," "everything must be striped," "color it like it’s frozen." Draw a card and go.
8. Alien design contest
Everyone colors the same alien page in their own style. Vote for categories like "most colorful," "silliest" and "scariest." Everyone wins something. Trace Then Color: Cartoon Aliens is great for this.
9. Story chain
Each person colors a character, then adds a sentence to a family story using their character.
Tips for family coloring night
- Mix ages wisely. Give younger kids simpler pages.
- Avoid "best" awards. Use fun categories so everyone wins.
- Snacks help.
- Play music.
See also coloring together when kids are different ages.
Questions families ask
How long should a coloring game night last?
Thirty to sixty minutes is plenty for most families.
Can teens enjoy these games?
Yes, especially the silly ones like blindfold and telephone coloring.
What supplies do we need?
Crayons or colored pencils, copies of pages, a die and a timer.
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.
