FamilyLand: Where Coloring Is King

Have you noticed that coloring (for adults!) is all the rage right now? It’s likely that you’ve heard about its great benefits! Coloring can help relieve stress, calm you down, sooth frazzled nerves, and help you focus. Besides all that, it’s just plain fun! And it’s something you can easily do with your children whether you have preshoolers or high schoolers.

 

I love coloring because there is no right or wrong when it comes to coloring…everyone is an artist!

Let’s concentrate on how coloring may be used to enhance your family time.

Our family LOVES to have Game Night. And while game night IS a wonderful bonding time, if your family is like mine, well…umm…how do I put this nicely? We are competitive. Uber competitive. As in, everyone from the 4-year-old to the 40-year-old plays to win. I suspect in more households than just ours Game Night also tends to become fiercely competitive!

Coloring Night, on the other hand, can be used as a non-competitive, stress-free family activity.

Here is what you’ll need:

•  packs of crayons or colored pencils (enough for everyone)
•  a coloring page (click here for a FREE coloring page)
• a timer (the timer on a smartphone works great)

How to set up:

We like to have everyone’s favorite snacks and drinks on hand. Be sure to have adequate lighting and coloring utensils for everyone. Music is a fun option to add too, but music should not be the focal point of the night. (In other words, if music or dancing takes the stage, the volume may need to be lowered or the music turned off.)

Here is how to play:

Each person gets a coloring page and adequate colors. (Note: each family member may want to have the same coloring page or you may prefer for each person to have something different.)

Designate a Time Keeper who will be sure that the timer is reset. Set the timer for 3-4 minutes. Be flexible about whatever time works for the age/needs of your family members. The timer is meant to keep things flowing, not add stress. Please adjust as necessary to meet your family’s needs.

Each person colors on the page in front of him for the allotted time. When the timer goes off, each person passes his paper to the left. The timer is reset, and time begins again. Continue this process until all pages are complete.

Now the vibrantly colored pages may be displayed in your home. They will serve as a reminder that it was something you did together as a family.

Another great alternative: If you do not want to play this type of timed activity (or do not have time to set up), you can always simply color together.

 

Note from the author: We encourage positive talk in our home. In other words, no laughing at or poking fun at other family members. This works well for us because we want our home to be a safe place, as I am sure you do, too.

 

Heidi is a Louisiana native and the wife of her childhood sweetheart, Rick. (And when she says ‘childhood sweetheart’ she means she fell for him in 6th grade!) They have celebrated 15 years of marriage together, along with the blessing of two wonderful kiddos. Heidi is now a stay-at-home mom. She has a daughter in a Christian private school and a son who is being homeschooled. She believes home schooling is NOT for the faint of heart and is proud to be a homeschool teacher. Heidi also stays busy with her TpT store  and blogging at TheDoodleOven.com .

On a more personal level, Heidi is passionate about creativity on many levels. She not only designs coloring pages and classroom resources that incorporate art, but she also loves to be creative in the kitchen. She enjoys baking, cooking, and especially creating new recipes that help people with lactose intolerance. (These recipes may be found at TheDoodleOven.com also.)

Heidi loves to meet new people, so feel free to contact her and strike up a conversation!