Creative Coloring Ideas for National Crayon Day on Great Day Connecticut
If your child is not excited by a basic coloring book anymore, that does not mean they are not creative. It may just mean they need a different way into arts and crafts.
That was the idea behind Toy and Play Expert Charlene DeLoach’s recent Great Day Connecticut segment on WFSB Channel 3 (CBS Connecticut) for National Crayon Day. Instead of treating coloring like a sit-still activity with the same old supplies, I shared creative ways in the TV segment to help kids color outside the lines with products that make art feel more playful, interactive, and inviting. I shared products from OOLY, Melissa & Doug, Crayola, Tonies, Uncommon Goods and Two Tumbleweeds!
Why traditional coloring does not work for every child
National Crayon Day, celebrated on March 31, is a fun reminder that creativity does not have to look one specific way. For some kids, that may mean washable markers instead of crayons. For others, it may mean wearable art, light-up surfaces, portable drawing tools, or prompts that help them get started when a blank page feels overwhelming.
A lot of parents assume kids either like coloring or they do not. But often the real issue is that traditional coloring can feel repetitive, limiting, or just not that exciting for certain kids. Some children want more movement while others want novelty. Some want a creative activity that feels more open-ended than filling in pre-drawn spaces, but others simply need a fresh format to make art feel fun again.
That is why National Crayon Day can be a helpful prompt for parents. It is a chance to rethink what coloring can look like and offer kids new ways to create.
What makes coloring more engaging
The best creative play products do more than hand a child a page and a crayon. They add surprise, interactivity, portability, or a fresh format that makes kids want to dive in.
That might mean art they can wear, art they can erase and redo, art they can bring on the go, or art prompts that help them get past the pressure of figuring out what to make.
The bigger point is that coloring does not have to stay in one lane. It can be playful, reusable, sensory, imaginative, and flexible enough to meet different kinds of kids where they are.
What Charlene shared on Great Day Connecticut
In the Great Day Connecticut segment, she featured a mix of creative products that make coloring feel new again.
Some focused on wearable creativity while others made room for reusable decorating and design. Some helped bring art on the go. Others gave kids prompts and inspiration so they were not staring at a blank page wondering what to do.
Together, they showed that National Crayon Day can be about a lot more than crayons alone. It can be about encouraging kids to experiment, express themselves, and find a creative format that feels natural and fun to them.
Creative coloring ideas for National Crayon Day
If you want to make National Crayon Day feel more exciting at home, think beyond the standard coloring book.
You can try washable art activities kids can use again and again. Alternatively, you can look for art tools that travel well for restaurants, waiting rooms, and car rides. You can offer products with prompts, themes, or unusual surfaces to color on. You can even use the day as a reason to rotate in a new creative activity for kids who usually say they are bored with drawing.
Sometimes the easiest way to spark more creativity is not to push harder. It is to change the format.
Watch The Segment
Want the full Crayon and Coloring list?
If you want the exact products featured in my Great Day Connecticut segment and where to buy them, read the full product roundup below!
Final thought
National Crayon Day is not really about crayons alone. It is about giving kids permission to create in ways that feel fun, fresh, and personal to them. And for parents, that is a good reminder too. Creativity does not have to be perfect, polished, or traditional to count. Sometimes it just needs a better invitation.
