Coloring therapy becomes even more powerful when combined with fun, engaging activities that promote emotional expression, relaxation, and creativity. Whether used at home, in therapy sessions, or in the classroom, these activities can help children process emotions, develop motor skills, and experience mindfulness while having fun!
There are 8 different coloring therapy activities for kids to use to reap the benefits of coloring therapy like; Emotion-Themed coloring, Guided Storytelling with coloring, Mindful coloring and deep breathing, Collaborative Group Coloring, Sensory-Enhanced Coloring, Color by Number for Focus and Patience, Gratitude Coloring for Positive Thinking, and Story Coloring for Creativity and Expression.
After we’ve discussed in a previous article the basics about coloring therapy for kids including the definition, benefits and techniques, here we’ll focus more on the activities that can be used..
Content Covered Today:
1. Emotion-Themed Coloring 🎭
Helping children recognize and express their feelings through color can be a powerful therapeutic tool.
✅ How to Do It:
- Use a “Color Your Feelings” worksheet where kids pick colors that represent their current emotions.
- Encourage them to create a “Mood Mandala”, filling each section with colors that reflect their mood.
- Offer emotion-based coloring prompts, like “Draw what happiness looks like to you.”
🖍 Why It Works: Helps children develop emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and a safe way to express difficult emotions.
2. Guided Storytelling with Coloring 📖
Combining storytelling and coloring encourages self-expression and imagination.
✅ How to Do It:
- Have children color a scene and then tell or write a short story about it.
- Use printable story coloring pages where they fill in missing details.
- Try a “Draw and Tell” game, where one child draws while another makes up a story based on the picture.
🖍 Why It Works: Encourages creativity, improves language skills, and provides a therapeutic outlet for emotions.
3. Mindful Coloring and Deep Breathing 🌿
Mindfulness techniques paired with coloring help children focus, relax, and reduce anxiety.
✅ How to Do It:
- Use mandala coloring pages, encouraging slow and mindful coloring.
- Practice coloring to music, letting children match their strokes to calming tunes.
- Try breath-based coloring, where they inhale for three seconds while choosing a color and exhale slowly as they fill in a section.
🖍 Why It Works: Promotes relaxation, improves concentration, and helps with emotional regulation.
4. Collaborative Group Coloring 🤝
Coloring together fosters teamwork, social skills, and a sense of connection.
✅ How to Do It:
- Use a giant poster or mural, where each child colors a section.
- Try “Pass the Picture”, where children take turns adding to the same drawing.
- Encourage team-based theme coloring, such as a shared nature scene or a group mandala.
🖍 Why It Works: Enhances communication, encourages cooperation, and creates a sense of accomplishment.
5. Sensory-Enhanced Coloring 🎨
Adding a sensory element can make coloring more engaging, especially for children with sensory processing needs.
✅ How to Do It:
- Use textured paper or raised-line coloring pages for tactile feedback.
- Try scented markers or crayons for an extra sensory experience.
- Introduce watercolor blending or sand painting for a creative twist.
🖍 Why It Works: Stimulates multiple senses, enhances engagement, and supports sensory processing skills.
6. “Color by Number” for Focus and Patience 🔢
Structured coloring activities like color-by-number worksheets help improve attention and problem-solving.
✅ How to Do It:
- Use math-based color-by-number for an educational twist.
- Try emotion-based color-by-number, where colors correspond to different feelings.
- Introduce custom color-code activities, where children assign their own meanings to colors.
🖍 Why It Works: Improves concentration, enhances fine motor skills, and builds patience.
7. Gratitude Coloring for Positive Thinking 🙏🎨
Gratitude coloring is a wonderful way to help children focus on positive thoughts and develop an appreciation for the things that make them happy. This activity not only promotes a sense of well-being but also encourages a positive mindset and emotional resilience.
✅ How to Do It:
- Create a “Gratitude Tree” coloring page where children color each leaf while writing or drawing something they are thankful for on it.
- Use gratitude coloring prompts, such as “Color something that makes you feel happy.”
- Have kids create a “Gratitude Journal” coloring book, where they color each page with things they are grateful for—like their family, friends, or pets.
🖍 Why It Works: This activity helps children focus on positive emotions, promotes emotional regulation, and cultivates a sense of gratitude and happiness. It’s especially beneficial for reducing anxiety and fostering optimism.
8. Story Coloring for Creativity and Expression 📚🎨
Story coloring is a fantastic way to integrate creative writing, imaginative play, and coloring into a single activity. It helps children develop narrative skills, process emotions, and express themselves in a non-verbal way, while also improving focus and attention span.
✅ How to Do It:
- Provide coloring pages with blank speech bubbles or open-ended images and encourage children to come up with their own stories or dialogue for the characters.
- Introduce storybook coloring activities, where each page corresponds to a part of a story that children can color as they listen to or create the narrative.
- Try coloring prompts with a story starter, such as “Once upon a time, a little dragon went on an adventure. Color the dragon, then tell the rest of the story.”
🖍 Why It Works: Story coloring helps develop creativity, narrative skills, and emotional expression. It also serves as an excellent bonding activity, encouraging social interaction and communication between children and caregivers. This activity allows children to process complex emotions in a creative, fun, and engaging way.
By incorporating fun and meaningful activities, coloring therapy becomes more than just an art exercise—it transforms into a tool for emotional healing, mindfulness, and creativity. Whether children are expressing their feelings, creating stories, or engaging in group projects, these activities make coloring a truly enriching experience.
Tips for Parents, Teachers, and Therapists to Implement Coloring Therapy
Coloring therapy can be a transformative tool in helping children express emotions, develop skills, and relax. However, to maximize its benefits, it’s important to approach it in a structured yet flexible way. Here are some helpful tips for parents, teachers, and therapists to effectively implement coloring therapy for children.
1. Create a Calm and Inviting Space 🏡
A quiet, comfortable environment can significantly enhance the effectiveness of coloring therapy.
✅ Tips for Setting Up:
- Choose a quiet space – Reduce distractions such as loud noises or TV, which can disrupt focus.
- Use soft lighting – Dim lights or natural light helps to create a calming atmosphere.
- Ensure comfort – Provide comfortable seating, such as soft cushions or chairs that suit the child’s height and needs.
- Add calming sensory elements – Consider including soft music, essential oils, or a weighted blanket for extra comfort.
🖍 Why It Works: A peaceful environment helps children relax and engage more fully with the therapeutic coloring process.
2. Offer a Variety of Coloring Materials 🎨
Providing a range of coloring tools and materials allows children to explore different textures, colors, and mediums, which can be stimulating and motivating.
✅ Tips for Materials:
- Choose different mediums – Offer crayons, markers, colored pencils, gel pens, and even paints to keep things exciting.
- Use sensory-friendly tools – If needed, select materials that are non-toxic, soft, or easy to grip for children with sensory sensitivities.
- Include textured paper – Some children enjoy the tactile sensation of coloring on different textures, such as raised-line or watercolor paper.
🖍 Why It Works: Giving children multiple options helps them stay engaged and allows for self-expression through their choice of medium.
3. Set Clear, Flexible Guidelines 📝
While coloring should be a free and creative activity, a few basic guidelines can help children stay focused and make the session more therapeutic.
✅ Tips for Structure:
- Start with a clear focus – Begin each session by discussing what the child will be coloring or focusing on, whether it’s a theme like gratitude or a specific activity like coloring to relax.
- Give gentle prompts – Encourage children to think about what they want to express or how they’re feeling, but avoid being overly directive.
- Offer a time frame – Set a gentle time limit if necessary, but allow flexibility for the child to complete the task at their own pace.
🖍 Why It Works: A structured approach with room for flexibility ensures that the child feels safe and guided, but not constrained.
4. Use Coloring as a Conversation Starter 🗣️
Coloring provides an excellent opportunity to connect with children, especially when they may find it difficult to express their feelings directly.
✅ Tips for Communication:
- Ask open-ended questions – For example, “What do you like most about the picture you’re coloring?” or “How does this color make you feel?”
- Observe without interrupting – Sometimes, children may start to talk freely about their thoughts or emotions while coloring, so listen attentively without rushing to respond.
- Discuss the picture afterward – Ask about their favorite part of the drawing or what the picture means to them, helping them process emotions and thoughts.
🖍 Why It Works: This conversational approach builds trust, encourages emotional expression, and strengthens the therapeutic relationship.
5. Incorporate Positive Reinforcement 🌟
Positive feedback helps children feel accomplished and motivated to continue their coloring therapy journey.
✅ Tips for Reinforcement:
- Praise effort over perfection – Focus on the effort the child put into the activity rather than the final result.
- Celebrate completion – Acknowledge when they finish a coloring session with positive words like, “You did such a great job, I love how focused you were!”
- Use rewards (if appropriate) – Offer small rewards like stickers or extra coloring time as motivation for completing tasks.
🖍 Why It Works: Positive reinforcement boosts a child’s self-esteem and encourages them to engage more in therapeutic activities.
6. Tailor Activities to Individual Needs 💡
Every child is unique, so it’s important to adapt coloring therapy to fit the child’s specific preferences, developmental level, and emotional needs.
✅ Tips for Personalization:
- Consider developmental stages – For younger children, choose larger designs with simple shapes. For older children, opt for more intricate or abstract designs.
- Adapt to emotional needs – For children struggling with anxiety, opt for calming, repetitive patterns like mandalas. For children with emotional challenges, encourage expressive or emotion-based coloring activities.
- Be mindful of sensory preferences – Some children may prefer soft crayons or markers, while others may be drawn to textured or interactive coloring books.
🖍 Why It Works: Personalizing the coloring therapy experience helps children feel more comfortable, valued, and motivated to participate.
7. Encourage Mindfulness Through Coloring 🧘♀️
Coloring can be a mindfulness exercise that encourages children to focus on the present moment, promoting relaxation and reducing stress.
✅ Tips for Mindful Coloring:
- Introduce deep breathing exercises – Before starting, guide the child through a few deep breaths to help them relax.
- Use slow, intentional coloring – Encourage children to color slowly and with intention, focusing on the sensory experience of the colors and the act of coloring.
- Incorporate meditation elements – Try pairing the coloring session with soft music or guided imagery to deepen relaxation.
🖍 Why It Works: Mindfulness helps children develop self-regulation skills and promotes a calm, focused state of mind.
By following these tips, parents, teachers, and therapists can create a structured yet flexible coloring therapy experience that is both therapeutic and enjoyable for children. Whether you’re helping a child express their emotions, build their motor skills, or simply relax, coloring therapy can offer countless benefits when tailored to meet their unique needs.
Conclusion
Coloring can be more than just an entertaining activity for kids, it can provide therapeutic effects when planned, done with purpose, and equipped with the right tools. Teachers, parents, and therapists can incorporate all above 8 coloring therapy activities for kids and tailor them to the needs of their kids.