A Rebuttal of the Ban on Coloring Pages in Art Theory By Mar Takeaways cognitve benefits developmental benefits emotional benefits

Coloring Books have traditionally been anathema in the art world. Art Theory and curriculum has dissed coloring books and coloring pages, believing that coloring books stem the flow of creativity in art. I have observed art instructors ripping up coloring books to make the point that coloring in prescribed patterns kills the freedom of art and creates a copying mentality. I am not an artist, but I am a teacher well versed in educational and developmental psychology, curriculum development and particularly early childhood and special needs education. I write this article in defense of coloring books and will illustrate (pardon the pun) my point by highlighting the benefits of coloring and coloring books.  

Physical: Coloring is an ideal way to practice the skill of holding a writing tool. Coloring develops the small, intricate muscles in the hands, fingers, wrists as well as the gross or large muscle groups in the arms. Our ability to utilize our hands with opposable thumb and fingers is called 'prehensile'. Our pincer grip (thumb and first finger) is one essential skill which distinguishes us from many animals. Developing these muscles will increase our ability to use any sort of hand-held tool.

Perceptual: Artists who oppose coloring books will say that the former argument defends coloring in general and not coloring books. I had to make that initial point as a precursor to my next point which is that coupling the physical skill development of coloring with a patterned fill-in- the-spaces type of art used in coloring books, has a double benefit. When a child colors in set spaces 'inside the lines', so to speak, she must coordinate a complex set of skills that we call 'perceptual'; this category includes eye-hand and eye-arm. In other words, when a child colors within spaces, she must train her hand to move within a confined area. She learns to use her eyes to control all the gross and fine muscles in her arms, hands, fingers and wrists. Her eye tracking and focusing improves (a pre-reading skill). She develops attention to detail and visual acuity.

Emotional: Many of us have experienced the therapeutic value of drawing and painting. Art is used as a tool for expression in therapy, but also as a way to relax and decompress. When a child colors in a book, he often experiences more relaxation as he doesn't have to make his work look a certain way. I have a sort of art phobia when I need to draw something. It worries me when I can't draw a realistic picture. Coloring in a prescribed pattern is a safer art form for me; I feel more comfortable. We all know that student success is crucial to learning.

Cognitive: Students who color in coloring books explore the basics of art curriculum: color, hue, density, line, perspective, shape and form. Coloring helps children to see patterns and recognize patterns. This is another pre-reading and pre-math skill. Perceiving patterns in one format enables students to look for and find patterns and connections in other areas. Coloring books and coloring pages are obviously not the only art that children should experience but there is a place for coloring books in education. Lastly and probably most important of all is that kids love coloring in coloring books!