How to get DS to like to color?

[jren]

DD hates to color, too. Really, it's boring to her. Once she gets the color she's supposed to have in the space, she doesn't want to keep going to fill the space. She prefers to color "rainbows" in her spaces, using all the colors, switching crayons a lot. I think it keeps it from being so monotonous for her. But for K, they're supposed to use a certain color per space, etc. She also doesn't care about staying in the lines.

One thing that has helped for her is having her color in the car. On long trips or around town. She'll color b/c there's nothing better to do and it's better than just sitting there. So, I know she CAN color, KWIM?

Another thing that helps is using markers. THey cover a lot more ground than crayons. Not sure if that's allowed in school, though.

[egoldber]

Sarah likes to draw, but she hates to "color" in a picture. Like the PP said, I think she gets bored. And honestly, I don't blame her. You can add enforced coloring to excessive homework to my list of things I don't like about school.

[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.

[niccig]

Why do they have them colour and why must they colour between the lines? What's the educational rationale for making them do it? I know I would have awful battles with DS over colour if we had to do it in between the lines - a sure fire way to take the fun out of art.

[KrisM]

Originally Posted by niccig

Why do they have them colour and why must they colour between the lines? What's the educational rationale for making them do it? I know I would have awful battles with DS over colour if we had to do it in between the lines - a sure fire way to take the fun out of art.

The teacher told me that coloring is the precusor to writing. But, he already can write all his letters, can draw shapes fairly well, etc.

They don't have to be between the lines, as far as I know. But, his is just blank.

[megs4413]

Clearly I'm missing something....what does it matter if a kid likes to color or not? My kids have never liked to color. DD scribbles a bit on the page and then moves on to another activity when she's forced to color at preschool or sunday school, etc. I've never pushed her...is that wrong? DD can write letters and numbers...writes her name well, so I don't think her fine motor skills are an issue, she just doesn't enjoy coloring.

should i be paying more attention to this? she's in pre-K and her teacher hasn't said anything to me about it yet, but her papers are clearly the same at school as in every other situation, so i know she's not really "coloring" at school...

[jren]

None of DD's pre-K teachers ever said it was a problem. They just agreed that coloring wasn't her thing. Her teacher last year had a son the same way. Kids just like different things. It was never a big deal, even now in K. And she isn't required to color in the lines, just some kids do and she doesn't care to be that meticulous with it - just wants to get it done.

The teachers and schools (preK and now elementary) have been great with it, it's just they do use coloring with some of their lessons. For example... "color the children in this picture who are being responsible" was a social studies lesson. She would have preferred to just circle them!

[KrisM]

Originally Posted by megs4413

Clearly I'm missing something....what does it matter if a kid likes to color or not? My kids have never liked to color. DD scribbles a bit on the page and then moves on to another activity when she's forced to color at preschool or sunday school, etc. I've never pushed her...is that wrong? DD can write letters and numbers...writes her name well, so I don't think her fine motor skills are an issue, she just doesn't enjoy coloring.

should i be paying more attention to this? she's in pre-K and her teacher hasn't said anything to me about it yet, but her papers are clearly the same at school as in every other situation, so i know she's not really "coloring" at school...

Well, because he doesn't like it, but is expected to do it at school. So, he doesn't do it and it comes home with him to finish. Now, I have to get him to do it. Some nights it's fine, and other nights he still doesn't want to do it. I don't think I can just tell his teacher that he's just not going to do the coloring. It's very frustrating to know that he isn't doing his work in school because he doesn't like it. I want him to like going to school.

[KrisM]

Originally Posted by jren

The teachers and schools (preK and now elementary) have been great with it, it's just they do use coloring with some of their lessons. For example... "color the children in this picture who are being responsible" was a social studies lesson. She would have preferred to just circle them!

A lot of the coloring is like that. Color in all the circles on the page. Color the things that should be red. He'd rather put a check mark on them .

[egoldber]

I don't think I can just tell his teacher that he's just not going to do the coloring.

Yes, you can. Let her know that this is frustrating for your son, you are concerned about setting up a negative cycle regarding school and homework so you are going to opt out of this for now. Tell her that if it is a concern that he show that he master the skill in question (identifying colors, shapes, objects), then you will make sure that he identifies them in another way.

It is NOT worth setting up a negative dynamic re school and homework in K. I think many kids like those coloring papers and it probably doesn't occur to her that it's an issue.