colouring in

[redcaryellowcar]

Ds (4.5) is in reception and isn't terribly keen on colouring in, his teacher seems to produce daily colouring in tasks, from a variety of printable websites (I think the pancake day one said 'keeping kids busy' which is probably what has irritated me as I don't want him 'kept busy' colouring in)
I'm not a primary specialist (I taught secondary pre DCs) so I'm not fully aware of the 'benefits' of colouring in, from what I understand it will help develop strength in hands, fingers, wrists ready for writing, and apparently is a 'calming' activity. Please can you tell me if I'm missing any other benefits, and is it usual to do this much colouring in?
In order to give you the full picture, his colouring in is half hearted and rarely 'finished' so even if strengthening is the aim, I'm not sure there is much strengthening going on?
I imagine or hope that there are other, better, more exciting and engaging ways of developing hand strength, any suggestions very welcome.

I would expect colouring in to be part of continuous provision (ones children can choose if they wish) or as a targeted task for children with fine motor difficulties rather than a task every child is expected to complete.

My ds loves colouring even now in YR3. At my ds's school, I think it was normally given after child has finished their task and quietly waiting all the others to finish, as a one of choice to do in KS1.

He has always loved colouring and done lots of colouring books at home too. His pencil control is very good, and it has made him really artistic as well.

As Mrz said I often have it out as a option that children can do if they wish.
I never make a child do it but pictures that are relevant are available.

Agree with others. Ours always have the option and my DD does quite a bit. Always related to current topic e.g Chinese New Year, pancakes. I wish my DS would do more as he might be better at writing then lol The pictures are not always finished

I'm fairly sure my Dd doesn't do colouring in every day. It's not something she's ever particularly enjoyed. She would much rather draw a picture instead.

It seems to be used only as something that children can choose to do if they wish.

The only time I've seen evidence of it being a set activity was very early on in the year when they had a go at a colour-by-numbers picture. I think it was aimed more at number recognition than the actual colouring though.

Thank you for your feedback so far, I had assumed (from spending a bit of time 'helping/ playing' at nursery that it would be optional. I appreciate it might help with writing, but I fear he's finding it so tedious that it'll put him off pencils for good!

My ds uses felt tip/ gel pen, glitter etc. to make colouring in into a quite beautiful art work. Does he have to colour using only colouring pencils?

DS hated colouring in during nursery and reception and avoided colouring whenever possible

A year later we discovered he was severely colourblind and preferred to just draw in pencil because colour confused him

He had masked the problem well because he was a huge Thomas the tank fan and so learnt his colours by trains so had a palette based on James, percy etc, but it was his eventual downfall when he insisted that Culdee was blue not purple

I think we need to start sending homework back coloured with pens, glitter etc, I assume that the reason for colouring is to build pencil grip strength, so I assume pencils are preferred.
Thank you for the suggestion the cloud confusion, he does seem a bit of whelmed by many things, maybe colour is one of them?

I think using pens and outlining or covering small spaces with glue precisely then glittering needs a lot of control! And it's more fun. Sorry for stupid suggestion.

Sorry I hadn't meant your suggestion was at all stupid, I think it's very creative and might inspire his teacher a bit. I'm hunting out the glitter glue this evening. I really want him to enjoy learning and I fear death by colouring!