Summer break is long. Kids need downtime, but they also get bored, and skills like handwriting can slip. A relaxed coloring plan helps with both, without turning summer into school.
Weekly themes
Pick a theme each week and match coloring, books and outings:
- Week 1: Ocean. Color sea creatures, visit an aquarium or beach. Trace Then Color: Fish, Sea Creatures and More.
- Week 2: Dinosaurs. Color dinosaurs, visit a museum. Trace Then Color: Cartoon Dinosaurs.
- Week 3: Space. Color aliens, stargaze. Trace Then Color: Cartoon Aliens.
- Week 4: Magic. Color unicorns, read fairy tales. Trace Then Color: Unicorn Animals.
- Week 5: Bugs and gardens. Color outside in the garden.
- Week 6: Food. Color food characters, cook together.
Color outside
- Picnic blanket coloring
- Clipboard coloring under a tree
- Sidewalk chalk "coloring pages": draw a big outline and color it in
Avoid leaving crayons in hot sun; they melt.
Travel kits
Summer trips mean car rides and waiting. See road trip coloring and airplane coloring kit.
Keep skills fresh
Ten minutes of tracing and coloring a few times a week helps keep hands ready for the school year. See one page a day.
Summer coloring challenges
- Color one page a day for a month
- Fill a portfolio to show the new teacher
- Make a summer memory book from colored pages
Don’t overschedule
Summer should feel free. Offer coloring as an option, not an assignment.
Questions parents ask
How can I prevent summer learning loss?
Reading, outings, conversation and hands-on activities like coloring and tracing all help.
Is coloring enough to keep handwriting skills?
It helps hand strength and control. Some writing practice is useful too.
What if my child won’t color in summer?
That’s fine. Offer it, then follow their lead.
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.
