Coloring pages in preschool

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This has got to be a joke

I'm convinced there are people who get their jollies by making up absurd complaints and posting them on DCUM hoping to find people that agree so they can secretly mock them.

[Anonymous]

I wish my 3 year old would color. He's almost 4 now and has colored like 3 times in his life. I wouldn't worry about this OP.

[Anonymous]

My 3 year old DS sometimes colors in "school". No matter what is on the piece of paper, he takes a crayon or two and scribbles all over it. Then, he brings it home and is VERY VERY proud of his "artwork". It makes my heart melt to see how much he wants to show off whatever he colored.

[Anonymous]

So, a 3 year old who wants to color shouldn't be allowed to color? That's absolutely insane and way overthinking it. Let the kid use some crayons for crying out loud. It's not interfering with her education in any way. Coloring books were the joy of my childhood and I can't imagine someone stating they are not appropriate. So what if she's not drawing the picture herself. Let her color a shape or two.

[Anonymous]

Coloring pictures is a great way to learn how to hold and use a writing implement. Plus, it's enormously fun. It's ridiculous to complain that a preschool is allowing your child to color. Do you realize how crazy that is?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter just moved from the 2 year old class to the the 3 year old class and there have been coloring pages in her cubby. I know that the school does not do worksheets. I asked the teacher about the coloring pages and she said they don't do them as a class but they always keep a few for the kids to do on their own in the writing center. I have mixed feeling about this. I do not feel that coloring pages at this age is developmentally appropriate but I also understand that it's the child's choice. I thought about talking to the director and asking where coloring pages fits into their curriculum, but may wait to see how frequent these coloring pages come before I say anything else

Hi OP, what would you prefer your daughter be doing instead of coloring? What is your idea of an "age appropriate" activity that you would like to see?

[Anonymous]

Well, I think you can rule out Montessori as being a good fit for your family. I have many, many block towers colored pink!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a teacher and I don't see a problem at all with a coloring book with characters. There are proven benefits for children who color and if a character in a coloring book invite a child to color, then what's the problem?

This is from colorpsychology.com:

You're a teacher actually referencing this bs website??

Here's the header quote on the main page of the website:

White for Shadowhunters is the color of funerals,” Luke explained. “But for mundanes, Jace, it’s the ?color of weddings. Brides wear white to symbolize their purity. ”
– Cassandra Clare, City of Fallen Angels

And an entire page of the website is devoted to:

Recommended Lipstick Colors for Disney Princesses

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Jesus I can't believe what teachers have to deal with.

+1
I love children and child development, but I would slit my wrists having to deal with people like OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, I think you can rule out Montessori as being a good fit for your family. I have many, many block towers colored pink!

And how many coloring pages do your kids bring home from school? I would hope zero.

OP isn't complaining about her kid drawing, but filling in pages from coloring books.

[Anonymous]

So, coloring pretty pictures is out. Huh.

[Anonymous]

I think OP's issue is with the pre-printed coloring pages (like from store-bought coloring books), not with the activity of coloring. There are actually lots of people who say allowing kids to "free color/draw" rather than providing those pre-printed coloring sheets is much better for creativity, etc. And you'd be surprised at how many daycare teachers are encouraging 2 and 3 year olds to color in the lines..or coloring for them so that they can be sent home. My son's preschool uses coloring sheets a lot and truthfully, I wish they'd just give the kids blank scrap paper to draw on. BUT, I do agree that this is not a big enough deal to worry about or really talk to the preschool about. It is what it is, and at least they are coloring! Plus, kids sometimes like these pre-drawn pictures...even if we don't always.

[Anonymous]

My 2 year old nearly always chooses a "coloring page" with a character/picture on it over a blank page, but then she just draws all over it having nothing to do with the lines 75% of the time. I assume she chooses the coloring pages because she likes whatever is pictured on them, but then just wants to draw and paper is paper.

Unless the teachers are stressing the "you must stay in the lines" aspect of it, I don't understand the concern... at all. (Especially since you say they also have blank sheets available, which suggests they are almost certainly not stressing that aspect.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:preschool teacher here- those coloring pages should't even be a choice!
the children get nothing out of it.. I would be disappointed too if I saw these at a preschool. Especially if they are of princesses and super heroes. This makes me think the teachers are lazy and don't have a depth of knowledge.

I would however wait to see how often these are around.

Another teacher here. I respectfully agree. I am known as the "creative" teacher, and do TONS of open-ended, free-style, non-cookie-cutter projects....but I see nothing wrong with offering coloring pages IN ADDITION to all the other better projects offered....and as long as they do NOT have to stay w/in the lines. I do not think it is an all or nothing, black or white issue. Do not overthink.

[Anonymous]

I meant respectfully DISAGREE