But why is it so important and why do we include it in every storybook..

 

In every one of our storybooks we always have a colouring picture page, and this includes our commissions There is a very good reason behind this.

As a parent I understand the desire most children have to paint and colour in images, or create their own and draw. The need to build a picture is strong, keeping in the lines with pens/pencils of all colours is truly wonderful for creativity and development, as is experimenting with shading and learning that anything goes!  Also from our storybook and character point of view, it allows a child to further enhance their bond with our animal characters,  Phoebe, Spike, Stanley, Sarah, Freya and of course Sitka, as time would be taken by committing to the task of colouring/drawing and the end result would quite possibly end up on a wall somewhere for them to show off proudly!

For us the colouring picture does all of this and more as it underlines the message throughout the story and gives the child a moment to relax and consider our character in more detail consciously or even sub-consciously.  So from a general point of view I was aware how beneficial the simple act of colouring was, with regards to developing fine motor skills, enhancing focus and concentration and boosting creativity and self expression etc, but when you look at the science behind those benefits, the list increases substantially. So let’s encourage our little readers to get further creative any time they wish and get colouring more with love – just like these children have!

To view all of our storybooks that come complete with their colouring pages, please follow this link to our shop!

 

                                                     

 

Lets take a look at some of those benefits..

Here’s a more detailed look at the advantages of colouring:

• Fine Motor Skills: the act of colouring enables children develop the small muscle coordination needed for tasks like writing and drawing
• Hand-Eye Coordination: this is strengthened immensely just by holding holding a crayon/pencil and colouring within lines
• Focus and Concentration: when children colour they stay engaged on a task, and this action teaches young minds to focus, which is beneficial for school readiness. Also it teaches them the art of patience and perseverance as completing a colouring task can take time
• Creativity and Self-Expression: imaginations are explored and children can learn to express themselves with their creativity
• Color Recognition and Learning: the act of colouring exposes children to different hues and colours, helping them to learn to identify and differentiate them
• Relaxation and Stress Relief: repetitive nature of coloring is calming and helps children relax more – reducing stress
• Language Development: when discussing the colors and shapes, new vocabulary can be used to encourage communication and further understanding
• Self-Esteem and Confidence:  a sense of accomplishment is often achieved by a child when completing a colouring page and this boosts their self-esteem
• Mindfulness: a meditative state can be induced by the repetitive and calming nature of coloring , enabling children to relax and focus on the present moment
• Advancement in academic performance: the skills and cognitive abilities involved in colouring provides a great foundation for further academic achievement and performance in the future

References

Colour Psychology – benefits of colouring pages for kids

Neuro Launch – Child Psychology and Colour How Hues Influence Young Minds

Centre of Excellence – 7 Benefits of Colouring for Mental Health and Mindfulness