Creative Coloring Ideas for Kids Beyond the Coloring Book
National Crayon Day on March 31 is a fun reason to pull out something colorful and invite your child to create. And if your child is not usually excited by a traditional coloring book, this can be a good time to try something a little different.
In this episode of the Playroom Chronicles Podcast, I share arts and crafts type creative products for kids who love to color, draw, and make things but want more than a basic coloring page. These are the kinds of picks that can make coloring feel fresh, interactive, and easier to come back to. Check them out below, or watch or listen to the podcast episode.
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Tonies Crayola Art Adventures Clever Set
I’m obsessed with this art adventure set. Just place one Tonie on top and listen to Jarrett and his friend Drew share an adventure filled with drawing, storytelling, and imagination! There are four episodes; Places, Faces, Sounds, and Squiggles. In each episode, kids learn artistic techniques like perspective, emotion, motion, and improvisation. With all four combined, you get over 100 minutes of art instruction and fun. It is also something that kids can do along with an adult or two kids together regardless of where they are in there artistic journey. The set requires a Toniebox Audio Player, which is sold separately.
OOLY X Girl Scouts Collection (OOLY)
One standout idea is the OOLY X Girl Scouts collection, especially the scented markers and gel pens. These are fun because the scents are tied to Girl Scout cookies, which makes the coloring experience feel a little more playful and different.
Coloring Pajamas (Uncommon Goods)
Another favorite is the Fairy Tale Pajamas from Uncommon Goods. Kids can color directly on the pajamas with wash-out fabric pens, wear them, wash them, and do it again. It is a clever option for children who want something more interactive than paper, and parents appreciate that it is not a one and done activity.
Light Ups Recolorable Chick (Crayola)
I also mentioned the Crayola Light Ups Recolorable Chick, which combines coloring with a light-up display. Kids can color it, wipe it off, and redesign it again, which makes it a good fit for children who like creative projects they can use after the activity is over. Plus, kids who like coloring but struggle with traditional coloring formats. Can get dry erase markers or other washable markers to add additional color options to expand what comes in the box.
Take-Along Double-Sided Tabletop Activity Art Easel (Melissa & Doug )
For families who want something portable, the Melissa & Doug Take-Along Double-Sided Tabletop Activity Art Easel creates a vertical surface for coloring and drawing. Especially helpful for physical diversity challenges or kiddos who struggle with paper and flat surfaces. It is easy to store, easy to travel with, and useful for homes that do not have room for a larger easel setup.
Art Dice (Two Tumbleweeds)
Also, if your kiddos need a little prompting when sitting down to draw or color, then check out Art Dice from Two Tumbleweeds as can help kids decide what to draw by turning art prompts into a game.
Coloring Tablecloths, Runners and Placemats (Creative Crayons Workshop)
Plus, if you need a traditional coloring activity (but with a twist) Creative Crayon’s Workshop offers coloring tablecloths, runners, and placemats that make creativity part of the whole table, not just one sheet of paper. Put it on a wall or place on a table. Great for birthday parties and the placemats are great for teens and tweens (and parents) who need a little stress relief on their desk.
If you are looking for easy National Crayon Day activities for kids, start with one idea that matches your child’s style and let that be enough. The biggest takeaway from this episode is simple: kids do not always need elaborate entertainment. Sometimes they just need a good invitation to create!
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