Written by Guest Blogger, Grace of Sandier Pastures & The Parenting Diaries
Kids love to color. The one thing that got me excited in grade school was my crayola set. I clung to it like a precious diamond. I had several coloring books and spent most of my weekends working on it page after page. But I am no Picasso and mom would tell me over and over to color within the lines, stop blending red and white to produce pink as there is a pink crayola stick already and that roses are red and not blue!
My daughter has inherited my love for coloring and crayolas but if you see her work, you’d probably question why her mom allowed that kind of coloring style. It’s not that bad (she is just 4!) but it is unique and certainly non-standard in the adult world. Children see the world in fresh, new eyes and use what they see in their own ways.
Instead of demanding the picture perfect artwork, I give her the opportunity to use her imagination and express her creativity on her own rather than telling her to color within the borders or use a specific color for this and that. I believe that children are naturally creative and right now, I’d like to encourage creativity than neatness or finished product.
My little artist colors daisy petals with different colors each but I am perfectly ok with it. It’s how she sees it — who knows, horticulturists might come up with daisies with multi-colored petals in the future?
19 Comments on “Color My World”
12:26 am
I don’t know, I think your idea to blend red and white to make pink is kind of smart, and who says roses aren’t blue?
I say let them do their thing. Coloring is a way for them to express themselves when kids are young and if your little one is coloring multi colored daisy petals, good for her!!
Cecily’s last blog post..Scrolling Saturday and A Stupid Post
12:56 am
I say let them color the way they want to. telling them different is squashing their creativity. And I like blue roses.
And Girl Scout Daisies too!
Renee’s last blog post..Easter is next week!
3:53 am
I agree. If colouring can’t be fun and crazy, then what can?
School attacks a child’s natural creativity and inventiveness soon enough, telling them how things are “supposed” to be done. I’d rather my son stay outside the box as long as he can, free and open to possibility.
Sweet post. Thanks.
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10:31 am
[...] Life is on vacation and has given me the chance to guest post at her blog. Please check out my first guest post at Kailani’s blog - one of my favorite family blogs [...]
12:32 pm
My kids love to color too and I never squash their creativity..I love how you use the girl scout Daisy petal on the side of your post and laugh because that’s what we are doing in Daisy’s tonight…learning about color and mixing them
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1:22 pm
Kailani, I hope you had a wonderful trip. I am sure your kids did a great job on the plane. I had to laugh when you mentioned all the stuff you were taking and how it would last for 30 minutes:)
I think it is great that you let your children color the way they see it. Keep up the good work, mom!
Melissa Markham’s last blog post..Today in a Nutshell
2:05 pm
I agree about letting them color in their own way - I love seeing how creative my kids get and the things that they come up with!
Deb - Mom of 3 Girls’s last blog post..Monday Morning Meme #8
2:59 pm
Hi Grace!
What a pleasant surprise meeting up with you at Kailani’s.
I think you are a wonderful mother and nurturing your daughter’s creativity is the perfect way to go.
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3:12 pm
“Rules” for coloring … are just certain people’s opinions.
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3:31 pm
You go makuahine! I believe in the same thing.
How can kids be creative when they are given strike bounderies?
You always got it going on wahine!
Sorry if my spelling is off..it has been a while!
3:32 pm
Good for you! I also noticed the Girl Scout Daisy - my JJ was a Daisy last year, and my next daughter is about to begin!
As far as coloring, let them experiment, absolutely.
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4:59 pm
How many times must we be reminded that “it’s the PROCESS, not the finished product that is important in art”!?
groovyoldlady’s last blog post..Oh Poo!
5:34 pm
My son created a map of an Oregon Trail town when he was in third grade. At the end of the Oregon Trail houses were made pretty much of mud, grass and wood but he colored each building bright blue or orange or green, with purple or red roofs. I loved it, and fortunately so did his teachers. What do I care what colors he chooses at age 9?
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6:28 pm
Hey that looks very nice, great job! I so enjoyed coloring with my sisters as a child. Sigh. I think now I’ll need to go find my crayons!
Stacey’s last blog post..Stacey’s Biggest News This Week! (Now that I re-read the post, I really don’t get out much)
11:31 pm
one of the prettiest daisies ever
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11:42 pm
That she was OK with using all different colors like that, and came up with the idea on her own, is a very good sign! She’s going to do well.
I love how children see things differently than adults do.
Kila’s last blog post..Sunday…
3:05 pm
I agree with you. When you’re that young, the rules shouldn’t apply. Kids should be just that and should be allowed freedom to express themselves.
4:19 am
Yohan also loves coloring. Like you, I also give him a lot of freedom in his artwork. I let him use whatever color he likes. I think it’s a wonderful way of letting our children nurture their creative side.
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7:24 pm
I agree! My daughter is NO artist…but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t love to color!
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(I'll take good care of it.)