If you're looking for gift ideas for your little ones, coloring books provide a great platform for practicing hand-eye coordination and proper pencil grip. These also encourage their self-expression and imagination. Kids are capable of absorbing new habits like a sponge, so make the most of this phase by introducing activities that develop their motor skills and creativity. Through coloring books, they can learn more about the alphabet, numbers, and animals.
There are also recreational ones that feature princesses, dinosaurs, and fun characters for kids. In this article, we will share our top picks for coloring books for kids, including printable ones that you can get online. There's a buying guide with comments from Early Childhood Educator Och Gonzalez as well to help you choose the best ones.
Quick List - Top Coloring Books for Kids
WS Pacific Publications, Inc.
A Fun Way of Practicing Hand-Eye Coordination Using Colors, Dots, and Mazes
Lampara Publishing House, Inc. and Precious Pages Corporation
Teaches Toddlers Color Recognition and Matching Skills
Tiny Buds Baby Naturals
Entertain Your Little Ones With Coloring and Tracing Worksheets
Och Gonzalez has been an early childhood educator in Manila for over 20 years. As a preschool teacher and grade school academic coach, she has worked with young children and their families to achieve learning goals and address developmental concerns. She has created reading programs that aim to develop literacy skills and a love for reading in young children. She holds an MA in Education from the Ateneo de Manila University and is also the author of the children’s book, “Every Sunday.”
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
Whether you have a toddler or a kid who’s a little bit older, coloring books have the same level of effectiveness. These help in developing their creativity and also introduce skills that your children will need once they start attending regular school.
The creative centers in children’s brains are in full motion when they’re coloring. The different shapes and color combinations allow them to imagine stories and create a world of their own while coloring. You can see their personality and mood in every drawing, telling you how they feel. Sometimes, pictures are more powerful than words.
Also, the attention span that your child develops while coloring hones the focus that they will need in school and their future careers. A simple task of finishing a coloring page will form a habit of concentration. This will come in handy once they start formal schooling. Some drawings are more intricate or detailed than others, hence coloring also teaches kids how to be patient.
Coloring teaches children to appreciate visual differences. Whether they color neatly or not, their brains are learning to notice nuances in colors and shapes. This leads to improved mindfulness, spatial awareness, and pattern recognition.
As they become more skillful in coloring, they also gain the confidence to express themselves through visual representations, even if they may not be fully verbal yet. All of these lay the groundwork for creative thinking.
Coloring books help toddlers and preschoolers build hand muscles, which they will continue to use as adultsーthink about writing, typing, and doing household chores! It also familiarizes your kids with proper pencil grip, a skill that they will utilize in school. A proper pencil grip improves their handwriting as well.
Most coloring books include other writing and drawing activities such as connecting the dots, tracing, and copying the picture. These activities will also improve fine motor coordination, specifically their hand-eye coordination or their ability to coordinate the activities of the eyes and hands in performing precise movements.
For very young children, it’s best to start with big crayons that are easy to hold. There are also crayons with triangular bodies which are good for training their fingers on the right way to hold a coloring or drawing tool. As their hands become stronger and they develop muscle memory, you can then begin to transition to thinner crayons or coloring tools that offer more challenge.
Coloring a book is a relaxing hobby. It gives peace and quiet time for both the kids and the parents. Through coloring, kids can sit down and pause from physical activities as well as their screen time. These breaks allow their mind and body to refresh and reboot.
It also gives an opportunity for the parents and child to bond. Coloring a book is a fun way to spend quality time together. When the coloring sheet is done, your kids will get a feeling of achievement, and this will help build their confidence in accomplishing other activities.
Coloring books are known to relieve stress. The rhythmic movement of the hands when coloring calms down the brain and makes it an excellent choice for quiet time. The amygdala, which is the area of the brain that regulates emotions and stress responses, rests when coloring, so children become relaxed and free of distractions. In fact, this is also why coloring books for adults have been such a big hit.
Coloring books come with different types of content. These can be categorized into two groups: educational and recreational coloring books. Of course, it's a great practice to let your children choose which book they prefer as this helps them develop their decision-making skills. But as parents, it's also good to keep a good balance between these kinds of coloring books.
Educational coloring books offer contents that introduce your children to themes taught in preschool. These include the alphabet, numbers, colors, shapes, animals, planets, fruits, and vegetables. Choosing this type of coloring book is like hitting two birds with one stone. Your little one gets to enjoy coloring the pages while learning about basic topics in reading, math, and science.
Educational coloring books can serve as the springboard for more diverse learning experiences. After coloring, you can extend the learning with other hands-on activities. For example, if your child’s coloring page is about the weather, you can then proceed to do a weekly weather chart together with them to show them that these concepts go beyond the page.
Recreational coloring books feature fictional characters such as unicorns, fairies, and pirates as well as princesses, robots, and other fun themes for kids. Your little one will especially love coloring books that are about their favorite characters from movies and cartoons.
Recreational coloring books are a great way to get your child interested in coloring instead of seeing it as a task. You can ask them to pick their own so that they feel a sense of ownership and involvement in decision-making. That way, they can come to the table feeling excited to sit down and color.
Most coloring books will indicate the age-appropriateness of their contents. This will help you decide whether your child can handle the difficulty of the coloring activities inside the book. Also, consider the size of the images inside the book.
Younger kids or toddlers 2 to 4 years old will find it easier to color images that are quite large, while older kids, aged 5 years old and up, can manage more intricate details.
Children learn at different paces, so aside from age-appropriateness, don't forget to check for developmental appropriateness. If your child still struggles with hand-eye coordination at 5 years old, it's all right to go for a book that's designed for a lower age.
If you want more options for your kids, you can check out printable coloring sheets that are available online. Most of these can be downloaded for free, no need for any subscription. Some are categorized by grade levels, such as preschool and kindergarten, while others are sorted by subject and topic.
For instance, Crayola offers free coloring pages on their website featuring Disney characters, nursery rhymes, plants and animals, even illustrations about concepts in science and social studies. Your kids can choose the designs or coloring sheets themselves.
Printables give teachers and parents more freedom to customize the sheets for the child. This is great for when you want to do a theme-based curriculum or an exploration into a specific subject matter.
Coloring workbooks combine a wide range of exercises into an all-in-one activity book. Aside from coloring, your kids can enjoy tracing, puzzles, connect-the-dots, mazes, matching games, and stickers. These will give variety to your child’s sit-down session and prevent boredom from the monotonous task of coloring.
Some coloring workbooks even incorporate a story, which will make it more interesting and fun. This is especially true if the story follows their favorite character from a movie or cartoon series. Some coloring books even come with a matching crayon or sticker pack to make it a complete set.
Aside from developing finger dexterity, coloring workbooks offer the added advantage of developing logical thinking through exposure to the various kinds of tasks in the workbook. They learn how to follow different types of instructions and develop simple problem-solving skills.
The most common type of coloring book is intended for crayons, colored pencils, and paint. Such traditional coloring books are affordable and are printed on regular paper. Some have perforated edges so your child can rip the page once finished and display it in their room or your fridge.
Meanwhile, you can also check out reusable coloring books that come with “magic markers.” These refer to washable markers that allow your child to recolor the page once it dries. These are ideal if you want a mess-free coloring session since these special markers will not stain floors, the wall, or the furniture.
Having a diverse set of coloring materials shows your child the different ways that art-making is possible. When they have more choices, they have more avenues to explore creativity. It also makes the leap from simple coloring to making original creations much more natural when they are used to different types of coloring tools.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | Details | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Type | Additional Content | Suitable Coloring Materials | Age Recommendation | Page Count | |||||
1 | Deli Coloring Book | ![]() | A Coloring Book for Every Medium to Unleash Your Child's Creativity | Educational | Copy the Color | Watercolor, Colored Pencils, Oil Pastel | 4 to 12 Years Old | 12 | |
2 | WS Pacific Publications, Inc. Fun With Series Set of 3|Coloring, Dot-to-Dot, & Mazes | ![]() | A Fun Way of Practicing Hand-Eye Coordination Using Colors, Dots, and Mazes | Educational | Learn the Alphabet, Connect the Dots, Mazes | Crayons, Colored Pencils | Not Specified | 32 x 3 | |
3 | Lampara Publishing House, Inc. and Precious Pages Corporation My Big Book of Copy the Color by Age|2–3 Years Old | ![]() | Teaches Toddlers Color Recognition and Matching Skills | Educational | Copy the Color | Crayons | 2 to 3 Years Old | 64 | |
4 | Tiny Buds Baby Naturals Tiny Things Coloring Activity Book With Orie the Sleepy Owl | ![]() | Entertain Your Little Ones With Coloring and Tracing Worksheets | Educational | Tracing Activities | Crayons | 1 to 3 Years Old | 20 | |
5 | Lampara Publishing House, Inc. and Precious Pages Corporation Peppa Pig, Family and Friends Coloring Book | ![]() | Immerse Your Kids in Peppa Pig's World With Coloring Fun | Recreational | None | Crayons | 3 Years Old and Up | 64 | |
6 | Lampara Publishing House, Inc. and Precious Pages Corporation Disney Frozen II Coloring and Storybook | ![]() | Engaging Storybook That Also Hones Your Child's Creativity | Recreational | Storybook | Crayons | 3 Years Old and Up | Not Specified | |
7 | Whiz Kidsz ABC Colouring Book | ![]() | Let Your Kids Learn the Alphabet Through Coloring | Educational | Copy the Color | Crayons | 3 Years Old and Up | 32 | |
8 | Duyan books Connect the Dots Coloring Book | ![]() | Improve Your Child's Fine Motor Skills With This Interactive Coloring Book | Educational | Connect the Dots | Colored Pencils, Crayons | Not Specified | 32 | |
9 | Adarna House Magkulay Tayo ng Kuwento 1: Alamat ng Ampalaya | ![]() | Imparts Valuable Lessons While Honing Children's Creativity | Educational | Storybook | Crayons | 1 Year Old and Up | 20 | |
10 | WS Pacific Publications, Inc. Smart Kids My First Coloring Book of Opposites | ![]() | Provides an Enjoyable Way of Learning About Opposite Words | Educational | Opposite Words | Crayons | Not Specified | 32 |
Type | Educational |
---|---|
Additional Content | Copy the Color |
Suitable Coloring Materials | Watercolor, Colored Pencils, Oil Pastel |
Age Recommendation | 4 to 12 Years Old |
Page Count | 12 |
This book bundle from WS Pacific Publications, Inc. includes three engaging coloring workbooks: Fun With Coloring, Fun With Dot-to-Dot, and Fun With Mazes. The set combines educational and engaging content, ensuring children remain entertained and engaged during their sit-down sessions.
The Fun With Coloring book provides an enjoyable introduction to the alphabet, while the Fun With Dot-to-Dot and Fun With Mazes books are excellent for developing problem-solving skills. According to buyers, these books are highly effective in enhancing children's hand-eye coordination and improving their pencil and crayon grip.
Type | Educational |
---|---|
Additional Content | Learn the Alphabet, Connect the Dots, Mazes |
Suitable Coloring Materials | Crayons, Colored Pencils |
Age Recommendation | Not Specified |
Page Count | 32 x 3 |
Type | Educational |
---|---|
Additional Content | Copy the Color |
Suitable Coloring Materials | Crayons |
Age Recommendation | 2 to 3 Years Old |
Page Count | 64 |
Type | Educational |
---|---|
Additional Content | Tracing Activities |
Suitable Coloring Materials | Crayons |
Age Recommendation | 1 to 3 Years Old |
Page Count | 20 |
Type | Recreational |
---|---|
Additional Content | None |
Suitable Coloring Materials | Crayons |
Age Recommendation | 3 Years Old and Up |
Page Count | 64 |
Type | Recreational |
---|---|
Additional Content | Storybook |
Suitable Coloring Materials | Crayons |
Age Recommendation | 3 Years Old and Up |
Page Count | Not Specified |
Type | Educational |
---|---|
Additional Content | Copy the Color |
Suitable Coloring Materials | Crayons |
Age Recommendation | 3 Years Old and Up |
Page Count | 32 |
Type | Educational |
---|---|
Additional Content | Connect the Dots |
Suitable Coloring Materials | Colored Pencils, Crayons |
Age Recommendation | Not Specified |
Page Count | 32 |
Type | Educational |
---|---|
Additional Content | Storybook |
Suitable Coloring Materials | Crayons |
Age Recommendation | 1 Year Old and Up |
Page Count | 20 |
Type | Educational |
---|---|
Additional Content | Opposite Words |
Suitable Coloring Materials | Crayons |
Age Recommendation | Not Specified |
Page Count | 32 |
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by our expert, Och Gonzalez.
For very young children, jumbo crayons are the best tool to start with. Since their finger muscles are still developing, they won’t have the strength and control yet to handle regular-sized crayons. Big triangular crayons are also great for transitioning to the tripod grip because they naturally train the fingers with their self-correcting shape.
This depends on the child’s age. Big illustrations and bold lines are best for kids who are new to coloring, as they need wide spaces for their strokes. As they gain more control, they can then level up to medium-sized illustrations for more challenge.
Yes! Having more choices makes coloring even more fun for them. It’s also a great opportunity to delve into not just color names, but also their relationships with one another. You can discuss how two primary colors mixed together make a new, secondary color, and so on.
Want to know which coloring books Och Gonzalez recommends? See her two fun picks below and know why she recommends them!
This coloring book has big illustrations and bold lines that are perfect for preschoolers. Designed for kids 4 to 5 years old, each page contains only one illustration, which makes the task easier to finish and helps kids focus better.
The spaces within the drawings are wide enough to accommodate the rough and uneven strokes of coloring beginners, and the images are fun and age-appropriate, featuring things that kids that age love, like ice cream, animals, and toys. The pictures are also a good way to introduce new vocabulary words.
A healthy mix of learning and playing will lift your kid's mood while at home. Check out the links below for our recommended products for indoor activities.
Author: Ayeza Mangulabnan
Reviewed By: Early Childhood Educator, Och Gonzalez
Re-editor: J. Ausa
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
No. 1: Deli|Coloring Book
No. 2: WS Pacific Publications, Inc.|Fun With Series Set of 3|Coloring, Dot-to-Dot, & Mazes
No. 3: Lampara Publishing House, Inc. and Precious Pages Corporation|My Big Book of Copy the Color by Age|2–3 Years Old
No. 4: Tiny Buds Baby Naturals|Tiny Things Coloring Activity Book With Orie the Sleepy Owl
No. 5: Lampara Publishing House, Inc. and Precious Pages Corporation|Peppa Pig, Family and Friends Coloring Book
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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