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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think colouring books are no good for any age kids?

53 replies

Purplesky2 · 13/07/2015 18:52

Dd 3 scribbles in them.
Ds1 and ds2 are 6 and 7 and really not bothered. Could it be they are only for 4 and 5 year olds?! (Mine didn't do them at 4 or 5 either though)

OP posts:
windchime · 13/07/2015 21:14

OP this is so strange. I was thinking this earlier. I flicked through a colouring book someone had left in the waiting room at work, and every single page had just been scribbled on!

HagOtheNorth · 13/07/2015 21:17

YABU to make such a sweeping statement based on three children.

SylvanianCaracal · 13/07/2015 21:18

I used to love them as a child. I was very anal and liked to colour in perfectly, it was very satisfying. I was and still am very creative though, so you are wrong Quentin Blake (much as I lurve you)

My DS has never been interested, DD slightly more so but I always feel a bit perturbed that she really doesn't mind going over the lines. I have to bite my tongue and not say "Nooo it should be all neat!" :o

bumbleymummy · 13/07/2015 21:20

Yabu. Mine like them. So do I! :) you can actually get 'grown up' colouring books now as well.

SylvanianCaracal · 13/07/2015 21:52

I've seen the grown up ones and they look lovely, but where the hell do people get the time? I quite fancy one for when I'm retired :)

bumbleymummy · 13/07/2015 22:01

Commuting? You could share your crayons with the person sitting across from you on the train. Grin

blink1552 · 13/07/2015 22:05

It's something that other people's children do. Mine much preferred sticker books up to age 5, then reading took over.

Sadly in our case, avoidance of colouring hasn't led to more creativity. They avoid drawing more than colouring.

AChickenCalledKorma · 13/07/2015 22:07

I run children's activities at my church. We had a discussion with the young people a while back about what activities they love and hate. There are three children who immediately issued a total ban on colouring in. They never want to colour anything in at church. Ever again.

Then there are a couple of other kids, who will look me in the eye every week, no matter what exciting activities I have spent hours preparing planned for them and say "Can I colour a picture?"

In other words, I'm agreeing with everyone who said some kids love 'em, some kids don't.

ollieplimsoles · 13/07/2015 22:08

I was a child who loved colouring in at any age, I'm now a children's illustrator and still enjoy that zoned out relaxation of colouring a spread! Grin

WinterOfOurDiscountTents15 · 13/07/2015 22:21

Is it national self centred day on aibu? "My kids don't like colouring books so obviously they are unsuitable for all children".....haven't you noticed there are a lot of children around who aren't yours and might differ in varying ways?

Mehitabel6 · 13/07/2015 22:22

They are all different. Some love them, some don't like them and some are indifferent. The surprise would finding they were all the same!

RachelRagged · 14/07/2015 08:55

Bought an adult colouring book last week (not as in sexy AS kind) , find it very calming and something for my hand to do (trying to stop smoking).Great it is .

Loved colouring as a child too

RachelRagged · 14/07/2015 08:58

They are available in Waterstones ,, but cheaper by a few quid or so in The Works.

Anyone remember those little books with shapes on each page close together and you coloured it in ? Would be early 80s I imagine.

Mrsjayy · 14/07/2015 09:02

1 of mine loved it the other had no patience for colouring now she is into those adult colouring books and can sit for hours colouring in she has Sn and says it helps her focus too. Tbf little kids have the concentration of a gnat sometimes so colouring books are a waste of time drawing or sticking glittery shit is probably more their thing.

Mrsjayy · 14/07/2015 09:04

Oh i loved those i was in and out of hospital as a kid all you had to do was colour in i liked those shaped colouring in books

RachelRagged · 14/07/2015 09:06

That's the ones Mrsjavy

LarrytheCucumber · 14/07/2015 09:08

DS (who has AS) used to use them as a calming activity when he was anxious. I think it is like everything else- some like them, some don't.
They are useful for fine motor control, developing a sense of pattern and just plain calming down.
If a child has colouring to do some children will talk about things that are worrying them, because they don't have to look at you while they are doing it.
My 5 year old DGS often goes and gets the colouring books out when he is visiting.

horseygeorgie · 14/07/2015 09:09

I had no artistic ability as a child and I loved them as I cannot draw. At all. I can't even do successful stick men.

(still get excited when DD(3) wants to do colouring!)

treaclesoda · 14/07/2015 09:09

My dd loves colouring in. She is very artistic and creative but also loves to just colour in neatly, and has done so since she first mastered holding a pencil. She is 9 now and likes those grownup colouring books.

DS just scribbles.

BertieBotts · 14/07/2015 09:32

I loved them as a child. My sister did, too. Our favourite thing ever was when DM would join in and we'd all sit there happily colouring!

DS seems to consider it some sort of punishment. Probably because they make him do it at school when he's getting too rowdy Grin

BertieBotts · 14/07/2015 09:32

Yes! They were called Pattern Pads. I have one, I found it not long ago.

differentnameforthis · 14/07/2015 11:36

I used to love colouring in as a kid!

BolshierAyraStark · 14/07/2015 11:42

I spent hours colouring as a child & loved it, both DC 5 & 3 also seem so enjoy so YABU.

lagirafe · 14/07/2015 11:49

DS1 (7) loves colouring books - especially those more adult ones with geometric patterns in. He also enjoys making his own patterns on plain paper then colouring them in.
DS2 (4) also liked colouring books but more the traditional animals/tractors etc type ones!

ouryve · 14/07/2015 11:49

I used to spend hours, colouring them in just perfectly. DS1 used to enjoy them, too.

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