Coloring pages in preschool
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Anonymous
| 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 |
Anonymous
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What is a coloring page? Like a copy from a coloring book?
My preschooler always come home with some "coloring" on a blank piece of paper. I prefer the open endedness of that but I can't tell whether that's what you'd prefer your center do. |
Anonymous
| Coloring isn't appropriate at age 3? I'm really confused...is there something special about these coloring pages that you object to? Our previous daycare/preschool had an assortment of different papers to color and kids, including mine, often took them home to color. |
Anonymous
| Op here-they do free art on blank sheets of paper but they also do actual coloring pages. Like frozen, princesses, and Dora. |
Anonymous
| What's wrong with coloring at age 3? Mine loves to color, she'd be thrilled if the teachers stuck a page out of a coloring book or something into her backpack. |
Anonymous
So like a coloring book? Why can't a three year old color in a coloring book? It's not like anyone is expecting him to stay in the lines or anything. And actually my three year old gets that different items on a page can be different colors - so she will color Elsa's dress one color and her hair a different color (not even close to in the lines, but I think it's so smart of her to know that they should be different colors!). Or is this about the fact that your feel like they are giving your boy girl-stuff? In which case 
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Anonymous
| Jesus I can't believe what teachers have to deal with. |
Anonymous
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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. |
Anonymous
| Good Lord, do you people just sit home and think up stuff to worry about. She is 3! She likes to color! It happens. And this just in: Being 3 pretty much is "the curriculum." It isn't freaking Harvard... |
Anonymous
| My kids' school uses them also. I would prefer if they gave a blank sheet so that they would do something creative, but...this isn't a huge deal. |
Anonymous
She said they're not part of any sort of group activity, they're just in the part of the room that has crayons, for when a kid gets bored and wanders over there. What's the problem? |
Anonymous
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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: There’s a simple activity that helps children to develop cognitively, psychologically and creatively: coloring. They love to do it anyway, and it could lead to a healthier, happier life in adolescence and into adulthood. The following are some of the key benefits of coloring pages in kids’ psychology and development: 1. Improves Motor Skills The act of coloring can help to improve motor skills in young children. The actions, motions and precise grip involved in coloring can aid in the development of the muscles of the fingers, hands and wrist. Fine motor skill development can help children write more skillfully as well as manipulate small objects. They can then build on these skills to become better typists and more adept in sports and other activities. 2. Prepares Them for School Children’s education takes place in a classroom with a fair amount of structure. Lessons are issued on paper via assignments, tests and other written course work. Coloring sheets, books and pages can be integral in preparing kids for the more structured work on paper ahead of them. 3. Stimulates Creativity Whether they stay in the lines or not, coloring fosters a creative spirit and an appreciation for visual differences. Coloring can stoke the imagination and inspire kids to brainstorm and learn to think of new ideas on their own naturally. 4. Contributes to Better Handwriting Dexterity, hand strength and attention to detail are all required to write both printed letters and cursive script. Starting out with coloring pages early can help to develop these qualities so that writing comes more easily and naturally. 5. Color Awareness, Recognition and Discernment The names and hues of colors must be learned, and coloring on coloring pages fosters practice and awareness of primary and common colors as well as more nuanced color awareness of lesser-known, more subtle colors in a direct hands-on manner. 6. Improved Focus and Hand to Eye Coordination Coordination and the ability to focus is just developing in young children, and undertaking activities to foster and strengthen this budding talent assists in efficient, healthy development. The act of holding crayons, choosing colors, implementing the color in the ideal spot and even sharpening crayons can all help with cultivating strong hand-eye coordination in youngsters. 7. Boundaries, Structure and Spacial Awareness Adhering to boundaries is an important part of juvenile and adolescent development. Even if he or she becomes a renegade artist later in life, it benefits all children to start out knowing the rules before breaking away. Coloring sheets can help with anchoring a sense of structure and the need and benefit of having boundaries. Coloring also helps children to learn about lines, shapes, colors/hues, perspective, patterns and forms. 8. Improved Confidence and Self Esteem The ability to complete a task successfully builds self esteem and confidence in young children. Coloring regularly and completing projects boosts a child’s sense of accomplishment and pride in themselves. 9. Self-Expression Every human being expresses themselves differently, and many children are visual in nature. Coloring is a fertile vehicle for self expression as children make color decisions and flesh out the boundaries of a coloring page, sheet or book. 10. Therapy and Stress Relief Coloring is also calming and therapeutic for kids, especially if they have no other outlet for unpleasant or confusing emotions. Even kids who fall into the “normal” range of emotional health can benefit from processing their feelings, frustrations and emotions though the simple but profound act of coloring. Most kids love to color, and it turns out it’s more than just a recreational activity. It can also foster physical and psychological development in a range of areas. Get your kids started with coloring as early as possible, and you’ll contribute to a lifetime of positive benefits. |
Anonymous
| This has got to be a joke |
Anonymous
I'm a little concerned a preschool teacher believes preschoolers get nothing out of coloring. |
Anonymous
You don't know the half of it! O had a parent tell me not to let her daughter play in the sandbox b cause she didn't want to chance sand getting in her car... I teach exact age group of OP's child. I have a mix of coloring pages and blank paper. For some of the kid it's a nice calming activity. There is also motor and imagination aspects. |