Notes for adults

Age 3 · 10 min · Easy

A coloring page with a friendly ghost, a pumpkin, and a smiling bat. Children can explore colors and practice hand movements.

Learning objectives

• Make marks on the pictures using crayons or colored pencils.
• Point to or name at least one picture.
• Choose one or more colors to use on the page.

What you need

• Printed page
• Thick crayons or colored pencils

Safety notes

Supervise the use of materials and choose age-appropriate crayons or pencils. Remind children not to put them in their mouths.

How to do it

1. Print the page and put the materials on a table.
2. Show the pictures and name the ghost, pumpkin, and bat.
3. Show your child how to make a few marks on the page.
4. Invite your child to choose colors and color in their own way.
5. Talk about the finished page and put the materials away together.

Teaching suggestions

• Say, “You chose that color for the bat. Tell me about it.”
• If holding a pencil is tricky, offer thick crayons and let the child rest the paper on the table.
• Accept marks outside the lines and praise the effort without correcting the picture.
• In a group, give each child a page and help children share colors.

Variations

• Easier: Offer two colors and invite the child to choose one picture to color.
• Harder: Invite the child to choose a different color for each picture.
• Extend the activity: Ask the child to make up a short story about the three friends.

Talk about it

• What do you notice in the pictures?
• How do you think these friends are feeling?
• What colors would you like to use?
• What could the three friends do together?

What to look for

• Notice whether the child makes marks on at least one picture.
• Notice whether the child points to or names a picture.
• Notice whether the child chooses one or more colors.