Mornings with kids can be chaos: breakfast, shoes, lost backpacks. Some children also wake up early and need something to do while adults get ready. A short coloring routine can bring calm to the start of the day.
Why morning coloring helps
- Screen-free start. Avoids starting the day with a screen, which can make transitions harder.
- Calm. Quiet coloring helps kids wake up gently.
- Early risers. Gives early wakers something independent to do.
- Focus. A calm activity before school can help kids feel settled.
Morning coloring routine
- Wake up, bathroom, dress.
- Breakfast.
- Coloring: five to ten minutes while adults finish getting ready.
- Shoes and backpack.
- Out the door.
Coloring as the "reward" after getting dressed can motivate slow dressers.
Set it up the night before
- Leave a page and a few crayons on the table.
- Choose a simple page that can be finished quickly.
Gentle subjects like Trace Then Color: Baby Animals or Trace Then Color: Cute Cartoon Animals work well for calm mornings.
For early risers
Set up a quiet morning basket in the bedroom with crayons and a book, plus a toddler clock that shows when it’s OK to come out.
Keep it short
On school days, time is tight. A timer helps: "Two more minutes, then shoes."
Weekend mornings
Weekend mornings can be longer coloring sessions, maybe with pancakes and music.
Questions parents ask
Won’t coloring make us late?
Keep it short and after essentials like dressing and breakfast.
My child doesn’t want to stop coloring for school. What should I do?
Use a timer and a "to be continued" folder.
Should coloring replace morning screens?
Many families find replacing morning screens with coloring helps mornings run more smoothly.
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.
