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How old is the child who coloured this picture in?

253 replies

ViaRia01 · 21/07/2025 19:46

I’ve seen these threads on here before and now I’m interested in hearing the replies for my own child.

I drew the aeroplane, my child did the rest - colouring in, extra squiggles on top, selecting the colours and where to put them. It’s felt tip.

How old so you think this child might have been?

Once we get a few replies I will come back and share the reasons I’m asking.

How old is the child who coloured this picture in?
OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Pussygaloregalapagos · 22/07/2025 02:39

Between 3 and 10 probably....

ooooohlala · 22/07/2025 06:08

Somewhere between 3-7

1AngelicFruitCake · 22/07/2025 06:54

This is great for a 3 and a half year old 😊

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Barnbrack · 22/07/2025 08:22

6?

BertieBotts · 22/07/2025 09:07

ViaRia01 · 21/07/2025 21:59

Thanks for the replies. The child is 3.5.
I just posted because (1) I’ve seen others do it and thought, why not? (2) My son has shown zero interest in colouring or drawing and now, all of a sudden he seems to want to really try and concentrates on it well. So his ‘artwork’ has gone from just a few squiggles on the page to (what I thought was) relatively neat colouring in just a short space of time.

DS3 my youngest did the same! His colouring is quite intense and unusual. Very different to the older two who were less bothered about it.

Lilactimes · 22/07/2025 09:31

@ViaRia01 wow! Think that’s really impressive for 3 years old!! Amazing!
I didn’t think a preschooler could be quite so precise 👏👏👏

Muffinmam · 22/07/2025 09:44

Your child is typical for his age.

I don’t understand why you posted this.

BarnacleBeasley · 22/07/2025 11:28

My DS was like this so I can see why OP is excited and a bit taken aback. That is, instead of gradually developing the skill of drawing and colouring and getting incrementally better at it, he went from being indescribably shit at it (because holding the pen in his fist) to being surprisingly good and colouring within the lines (because finally worked out how to do a pincer grip) pretty much overnight, a month or so before he was four. The contrast between the before and after is very striking, especially if it's your first child and you are used to only seeing frustrated scribbles.

AddictAlice · 22/07/2025 12:24

I didn't notice the colouring in of the windows before. That's quite impressive for a 3.5 year old.

Calliopespa · 22/07/2025 15:07

BarnacleBeasley · 22/07/2025 11:28

My DS was like this so I can see why OP is excited and a bit taken aback. That is, instead of gradually developing the skill of drawing and colouring and getting incrementally better at it, he went from being indescribably shit at it (because holding the pen in his fist) to being surprisingly good and colouring within the lines (because finally worked out how to do a pincer grip) pretty much overnight, a month or so before he was four. The contrast between the before and after is very striking, especially if it's your first child and you are used to only seeing frustrated scribbles.

Yes, and as parents we also zone in on the little world our own dc are in and kind of lose perspective.

I remember some dungarees that were given to me for one of mine and they looked ridiculously enormous.

Saw them the other day: they look like they are for a kitten!

ajc1994 · 22/07/2025 15:43

I am super impressed he had the patience more than anything! My 3.5 YO probably could do this if she had any paitence at all but her colouring lasts 5 minutes at best! You should be proud x

Unsure4589 · 22/07/2025 16:05

I think that's very lovely for a 3.5 year old. My DD just turned 3 and atm her colouring is very... adventurous! I can't imagine she'll be colouring so neatly in 5 months time, but who knows if she decides she wants to concentrate on it!

SunnyDorset · 22/07/2025 17:47

Better than I could do...

QuirkyLurk · 22/07/2025 17:53

36?

jasminocereusbritannicus · 22/07/2025 18:09

I work with years 3 and 4… some of them are really not good colourers for age 7-9, whilst others can be very detailed. I would say that the coloured is about 4 in the picture, though.

RavenhairedRachel · 22/07/2025 18:13

8

ambienttemperature · 22/07/2025 18:14

Fearfulsaints · 21/07/2025 20:00

22

I thought 23 after some of my DS's efforts - so agree!

Cecemonkeylou · 22/07/2025 18:19

3 or 4

GiveDogBone · 22/07/2025 18:25

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Calliopespa · 22/07/2025 18:31

SunnyDorset · 22/07/2025 17:47

Better than I could do...

That cannot be true.

NaneePolly · 22/07/2025 18:33

About 4 years old

ViaRia01 · 22/07/2025 18:34

@GiveDogBone i know you’re not the only one to reply with a snarky comment but can you share why you felt the need to write this “Honestly, no one cares about your child, not like they’re Picasso”. Can you see that it is just not very a pleasant response?

Some people played the game, some people have been dicks. Its 24 hours later, we’ve all moved on.

Lots of people write about their lives on here and then some people are happy to engage in conversation. You don’t have to reply to any threads that don’t interest you. But why reply with that? Are you just a keyboard warrior? Have you had a bad day?

OP posts:
Calliopespa · 22/07/2025 18:40

ViaRia01 · 22/07/2025 18:34

@GiveDogBone i know you’re not the only one to reply with a snarky comment but can you share why you felt the need to write this “Honestly, no one cares about your child, not like they’re Picasso”. Can you see that it is just not very a pleasant response?

Some people played the game, some people have been dicks. Its 24 hours later, we’ve all moved on.

Lots of people write about their lives on here and then some people are happy to engage in conversation. You don’t have to reply to any threads that don’t interest you. But why reply with that? Are you just a keyboard warrior? Have you had a bad day?

Yes it was rude op.

It was just a question on your part.

As you've seen, children can leap forward suddenly then fall behind, or fall behind then leap forward. That pattern can continue over many years, with the broadest pattern being, imho, that the early starters often lose ground comparatively.

Its decent for 3.5 but not so I'd read much into it if you are wanting honest feedback - especially as I'm not sure colouring really feeds into academic success or even really artistic skills. Often the arty ones are a bit dismissive of staying in the lines! But it lays good groundwork for handwriting.

Looks like a happy, healthy child with a mum who is making all the right efforts to keep them occupied and developing. Which I think is what most of us want to hear ...

ETA a better way of saying this might be that if you worried he was behind, I think you can feel satisfied he has caught up with colouring.

janeandmarysmum · 22/07/2025 18:41

My grandson would colour like that. He's 3 next week.

JuniperJuly · 22/07/2025 18:46

ViaRia01 · 21/07/2025 19:46

I’ve seen these threads on here before and now I’m interested in hearing the replies for my own child.

I drew the aeroplane, my child did the rest - colouring in, extra squiggles on top, selecting the colours and where to put them. It’s felt tip.

How old so you think this child might have been?

Once we get a few replies I will come back and share the reasons I’m asking.

Definately 3 months old.