In terms of child development, the benefits of coloring are great. Once you know what this simple activity can do for your little one, you’ll have him/ her coloring every day.

15 Benefits Of Coloring That You Never Considered

Perhaps you thought coloring was just a simple activity to keep your child entertained. Nope! It is so much more.

But first, do not fret about coloring within the lines. This is a skill that will develop over time.

1. Coloring Helps With Focus

When we color, we have to focus on small details. Children who spend a lot of time coloring have better concentration and focus skills.

1. It Develops Fine Motor Skill

It may seem simple to us, but the act of holding a crayon and manipulating it as it moves around the paper requires the development of tiny muscles in the fingers, hand, and wrist. More specifically, the development of fine motor skills.  Your kiddo is developing quickly by coloring.

1. Coloring Stimulates Creativity In Little Ones

Coloring is creative heaven. Your little one can think about and choose different color combinations. They can create whatever they want with the colors they have. This freedom gives your child the opportunity to express his/  her creative side.

1. It Develops Handwriting Skills

When toddlers color, they have no regard for coloring within the lines. However, as they get older, they start to learn about boundaries and coloring within the lines. This exposure to boundaries is one of many benefits to coloring as your child learns to write.

1. With Coloring, Children Develop Early Writing Skills

Kids need hand strength and dexterity to manipulate a marker or a pencil on paper. By starting to color early, your kiddo will develop hand strength early, and learn to grasp a pencil or marker properly. Once they start preschool, this will be one less skill to learn. Instead, they can focus on writing.

1. Coloring Develops Confidence

As your kiddo completes a coloring page, he/ she will feel a sense of accomplishment. This is a great boost to their self-confidence and self-esteem.

1. Coloring Allows Self-Expression

According to a UCLA survey, the average 1-year-old hears the word NO! more than 400 times a day. That’s astonishing. One of the great benefits of coloring, however, is that your child can express him/ herself. They are allowed to color whichever way they want.

1. Coloring Develops Hand-Eye Coordination

When coloring pages, your kiddo has to color within a specified area. In the beginning, this is irrelevant as they are scribbling all over the page, but later, staying within the lines develops hand and eye coordination.

1. Coloring Develops Critical Thinking And Planning

Which color should I use for the eyes, face, etc? Your little one will have to figure all this out as they get started and proceed.

1. It Develops Recognition of Patterns

As your child colors more and more, they will start recognizing patterns, lines, colors, hues, shapes, and forms.

1. Coloring Is Therapeutic

Coloring can be therapeutic, especially if done frequently. By coloring, we are venting our frustrations, feelings, and other emotions. You can see this sometimes when a child angrily scribbles over the picture with no regard for staying within the lines.

1. Coloring Develops Patience

Coloring takes time. This develops your kiddo’s level of patience.

1. It Develops Early Color Recognition

You may already be teaching your child about colors, but coloring takes it to a new level. They now get to recognize and play with colors, first hand.

Another one of many great benefits of coloring is that it teaches children lesser-known colors. Children who learn early about the color wheel have an easier time understanding the mixing of colors.

1. Coloring Enhances Language Development

As your little one colors, he/ she may want to talk about the picture they just colored. This is excellent because your kiddo is learning new words and ways to express themselves. Children generally use descriptive words to talk about the things they like.

1. Coloring Is Great For Parent-Child Bonding

It’s a great opportunity for parents and children to spend quality time together and engage.