In this blog post we look at why colouring inside the lines of pre-printed colouring-in sheets could be holding your child back—and what to do instead!
While colouring-in, where children fill in pre-drawn outlines, can help with fine motor skills, it often leads to a focus on staying within the lines rather than exploring their own ideas and creativity. In this way, colouring-in activities can limit childrens’ creativity and self-expression.
When children engage in open-ended activities like free-drawing or painting, they make decisions about what to create and how to do it. This encourages critical thinking and problem-solving, which are essential skills in both early childhood education and later academic success.
Every child sees the world differently, and open-ended art activities allow them to express these unique perspectives. Instead of focusing on replicating someone else’s design, children are free to explore their ideas, which is more meaningful and developmentally appropriate.
In early childhood, the process of creating is far more valuable than the final product. Open-ended art activities help children learn that it’s okay to make mistakes and that there’s no “right” way to create art, fostering resilience and a love for learning.
Here are some practical ideas that you can incorporate into your daily routine:
- Provide a simple still life setup, like a bunch of flowers, and encourage children to draw what they see.
- Discuss the shapes, sizes, and patterns they notice in the flowers, integrating vocabulary that supports their understanding of maths concepts.
- Celebrate childrens’ creativity and the different ways they represent the same objects.
Let’s encourage creativity beyond the lines!
Download the Infosheet for more information and ideas >>