How to get DS to like to color?

[KrisM]

DS has never really liked to color. He just quickly scribbles and is done. They color every day in kindergarten and more often than not, his comes home with him for him to finish before the next day. He will finish, but is not happy about it. I've talked to him about how he just needs to do what the teacher asks and to do his best. But, he just doesn't like it. Any ideas?

[Sillygirl]

How are his fine motor skills? Lots of kids don't like coloring at that age because holding the crayon is tiring if they haven't developed those hand muscles. Play-Doh work, pin punching, and other fine-motor manipulatives can give the strength to make crayons more fun.

[KrisM]

Originally Posted by Sillygirl

How are his fine motor skills? Lots of kids don't like coloring at that age because holding the crayon is tiring if they haven't developed those hand muscles. Play-Doh work, pin punching, and other fine-motor manipulatives can give the strength to make crayons more fun.

He can write fairly well. He cuts my coupons for me with great accuracy. So, I think mostly fine motor skills are good.

[Corie]

Originally Posted by KrisM

He can write fairly well. He cuts my coupons for me with great accuracy. So, I think mostly fine motor skills are good.

That's funny. My son LOVES to cut things out! He has a Kumon workbook
on cutting and he's like Edward Scissorhands.

[KrisM]

Originally Posted by Corie

That's funny. My son LOVES to cut things out! He has a Kumon workbook
on cutting and he's like Edward Scissorhands.

Yeah, he really likes to cut things. Coupons are great since he has to cut on the line and knows why.

I should add that he likes mazes and dot-to-dots as well, so I think the fine motor skills are good and it's really a lack of interest in coloring.

[m448]

mine have never been crazy about coloring already drawn pictures but they love to draw. My oldest will sit for hours at the kitchen table drawing fire pictures (they're obsessed with firefighters). Maybe providing more blank paper for him to freely draw whatever he'd like? Could you sit with him and doodle on your own page too? Mine love to do whatever I'm doing so that could help.

[KrisM]

Originally Posted by m448

mine have never been crazy about coloring already drawn pictures but they love to draw. My oldest will sit for hours at the kitchen table drawing fire pictures (they're obsessed with firefighters). Maybe providing more blank paper for him to freely draw whatever he'd like? Could you sit with him and doodle on your own page too? Mine love to do whatever I'm doing so that could help.

He'll draw on his own, for the most part. But, maybe I'll just sit and color pictures with him and coach him through.

[belovedgandp]

Yeah, my 5 1/2 year old is in K and has just now kind of turned the corner on coloring. It's just never been his thing.

Now he's always had plenty of focus for other fine motor skills. No problem writing letters, doing mazes, connect the dots, or cutting things. He does "ok" at drawing some objects, but the idea of just coloring in the lines is just not his thing.

[DietCokeLover]

Would he enjoy picking out some colors/ crayons/ markers that are his "special" ones? Maybe if he thought he had fun colors he might enjoy it more.

Don't know, just trying to think of an idea for you.

[Globetrotter]

LAst year, in KG, my ds hated to color and one time he wrote on his homework "I will not color."

It helped to get some thick crayons. That way it was less tedious for him - his fine motor skills are excellent, so I wasn't concerned about it.