The first time a child opens a Trace Then Color book is exciting. Here is what to expect, and how to make that first page a happy experience.
Before you start
Pick a simple character
Choose a page with a big, round, friendly character and not too many small details. Trace Then Color: Cute Cartoon Animals and Trace Then Color: Baby Robots both have easy first pages.
Set up the space
A clear table, good light, a comfortable chair and a few supplies: a pencil or thin marker for tracing and a handful of crayons.
Show how it works
Point to the dots: "See these little dots? If you draw along them, the character appears. Then you can color it any way you want."
What will probably happen
The tracing will wobble
Lines will drift off the dots, especially on curves. That is completely normal. See wobbly lines are fine.
Some parts will be skipped
Small details like eyes or toes might be skipped. That is fine.
They might want to color right away
Some kids trace a few lines and then want to start coloring. Let them. The tracing habit grows over time.
The coloring will be enthusiastic
Expect scribbles, bold colors and lines outside the edges. A purple elephant with green ears is a success.
It might take five minutes or thirty
Every child is different.
How to help
- Trace one part together. Show how to follow the dots slowly on one part, then let them try.
- Look ahead. "Where’s the next dot?"
- Name the parts. "Now let’s trace the ear."
- Offer choices. "Which color for his body?"
- Hands off. Resist fixing their work.
Celebrate
When the page is done, celebrate:
- "You made a robot!"
- "Tell me about him. What’s his name?"
- Write the name and date on the page.
- Display it somewhere special.
Keeping the first page is lovely. In a few months you can compare it with a later page and see how much they have grown.
Next time
- Try the next page in the book.
- Try a quick tracing game. See 8 tracing games.
- Consider a regular time each day. See one page a day.
Questions parents ask
What if my child doesn’t want to trace at all?
That’s fine. Let them color the dotted character. Over time, many kids get curious about tracing.
Should I trace for my child?
Occasionally guiding their hand can help them get the idea. But let them do as much as possible.
My child traced in crayon and it’s hard to see. Is that OK?
Yes. Next time, offer a pencil or thin marker for a crisper line.
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.
