Coloring is one of the easiest party activities there is: it is cheap, quiet and it turns into a favor kids can take home. Here are ten ideas, plus the practical details that make them go smoothly.
Ten ideas
- Coloring placemats. Print a page at full size at each seat. Kids start coloring while they wait for cake.
- "Color me in" invitations. Print a themed page with the party details in the margin. Guests can bring it back colored.
- A star-of-the-day page. Turn a photo of the birthday child (or their pet) into a coloring page and let every guest color a copy. With a photo-to-coloring-page tool such as Color Garden's photo feature, it takes a minute. Get a grown-up's okay before using other children's photos.
- Mini coloring books. Staple four to six pages together with a cover and tuck in two crayons for a favor.
- A group mural. Tape a long sheet of kraft paper to a wall or table and let everyone add to it.
- Thank-you cards. Print a half-page design on card stock. Kids color it and you write the message after the party.
- Color and swap. Everyone colors a page, then you trade for a surprise.
- Themed pages. Match the party: dinosaurs, space, ocean animals, farm friends or food.
- A quiet corner. A table with pages and crayons gives overwhelmed kids a calm break.
- A coloring contest with no losers. Give every picture a silly award, such as "Most Sparkly" or "Boldest Blue".
Plan the details
- How many pages? Print one per child plus about a third more for second tries.
- Page choice. Mixed ages? Offer a simple page and a detailed one so everyone can pick.
- Paper. Standard letter or A4 is fine. Card stock helps with markers and for cards.
- Tools. Washable crayons or markers keep the party and the tablecloth safe. Add a few pencil sharpeners and a cup per table.
- Timing. Plan 10 to 20 minutes. Put coloring right before or after cake, when kids need to sit.
Printing tips
- Print in black and white and at 100 percent size.
- Pick pages with thick outlines and big shapes for ages under 5.
- Do a test print the day before.
A screen-free party that still uses a screen
If you do not have a printer handy, a tablet can be a nice quiet-time activity: guests can take turns coloring on a device you hold. With Color Garden, a grown-up controls the device, nothing is for sale in the kids' area and there are no ads.