Even if you don’t think about it now, coloring pages are among other things a good preparation for learning to write later in school. Your child will practice holding the pen correctly, this will help guide the pen loosely.
Children quickly lose interest in coloring and later learn to write when their hands are cramped and hurt. Once they have learned to hold the pen correctly, they will enjoy learning to write in 1st grade.
From what age coloring pages?
Once toddlers have fun coloring pictures, you can give them coloring pages for children. It is best to put a pad under the picture, in the beginning, your child will paint over the picture more often
Which pens for coloring pages?
Thick colored pencils (triangular pencils) with a non-slip rubber grip or thicker wax crayons are suitable for small children. From kindergarten age, the crayons are narrower, are triangular and also have a non-slip rubber handle or a non-slip structure.
Later, from the age of 5, triangular pencils with recessed grips are good. These almost automatically ensure that your child practices the correct pen grip. This is important in 1st grade for learning to write numbers and letters.
How does the correct pen grip develop in a child?
First, a toddler grabs the pen with his whole hand, the so-called fist grip. Children from the age of 4 will then use the three-point handle to handle the pencils correctly.
Your child will hold the pen between thumb, forefinger and on the middle finger. This pen holder develops into a safe and loose pen holder by the beginning of school.
Especially at the beginning of school, it is important that your child guides the pen easily with three fingers. This position is less strenuous on the hand and your child learns to write letters and numbers with ease.
You should only take corrective action when your child is five to six years old and still has the pen in his fist. Until then, you should stay relaxed and have fun coloring with your child.
What do coloring pages promote?
Coloring pages are a meaningful activity for your child, they also encourage:
- patience
- endurance
- concentration
- Eye-hand coordination
- creativity
- Fine motor skills
Coloring in also trains the hand muscles and correct pen hold. Your child will benefit from all of these skills when they start school. When learning to write, in particular, you need fine motor skills, flexible fingers and the right way to hold the pen. Your child will only enjoy it if the wrist remains loose and not cramped while learning to write.
What do I do if my child doesn’t like coloring?
Nothing, every child is different and has different interests. You shouldn’t force your child under any circumstances, your child should have fun with what they do in their free time.
Your child learns the abovementioned skills in other activities such as handicrafts, folding paper, cutting with scissors, puzzles, threading games, pegging games or stacking games. You can also close the zipper, make buttons or tie a bow in everyday life.
