Supplies tucked away in a cupboard rarely get used. Supplies set out at a child-height table invite creativity every day. A simple coloring station can transform how often your child colors.
Choose the spot
- Good light, ideally near a window
- Easy to clean flooring or a mat underneath
- Close to where you are, especially for younger kids
- A child-height table and chair, or a booster at the kitchen table
What to include
Basics
- Crayons in a cup or caddy
- Colored pencils and a sharpener
- Washable markers
- A pencil and eraser for tracing
Paper
- Coloring books
- A tray of loose coloring pages
- Blank paper for drawing
Extras
- Stickers
- Child-safe scissors and a glue stick
- A clipboard
Storage ideas
- Cups or jars for crayons and pencils, sorted by type or color
- A caddy that can be carried to the table
- A magazine file for coloring books
- A drawer or tray for loose pages
- A "finished work" folder or display spot
Keep it curated
Too many supplies can overwhelm. Offer a manageable selection and rotate. A few good crayons beat a pile of broken stubs (save some stubs for grip practice).
Rotate books
Swap books every couple of weeks. A dinosaur book one month, a mermaid book the next. Good options: Trace Then Color: Cartoon Dinosaurs and Trace Then Color: Mermaids, Unicorns and Other Cute Stuff.
Make clean-up easy
- A labeled spot for everything
- A small trash bin nearby
- A clean-up song or timer
See organizing crayons and markers.
Display space
A corkboard, clothesline or frame near the station shows off finished pages. See display your child’s coloring.
Questions parents ask
How do I stop my toddler drawing on walls?
Supervise, keep markers out of reach and redirect to paper. Washable markers help.
Should the station be in their bedroom?
Common living areas often work better because kids like being near family, and you can supervise.
How many supplies is too many?
If kids can’t easily choose or clean up, it’s too many. Keep it simple.
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.
