Free St. Patrick's Day Coloring Pages for Kids
Printable Shamrock Themed Pictures for Children to Color
Feb 9, 2009
Young children love holiday-themed coloring pages, and St. Patrick’s Day worksheets are particularly entertaining, with shamrocks, leprechauns, rainbows, and coins! Using crayons to color is one way to develop fine motor skills in children at school or at home and the activity also enhances color recognition. Another great reason to engage children in coloring is to identify potential color-blindness.
Leprechauns, Shamrocks, and Rainbows for Toddlers and Preschoolers
A great site for coloring pages that are appropriate for the younger set is First-School, where teachers and parents will find many St. Patrick’s Day coloring pages to print for free. The designs are thoughtful, with thick lines and simple concepts that keep in mind the blossoming skills of the intended audience. Additionally, there is also a useful rainbow worksheet that teaches recognition of the letter “R”, and a large unadorned shamrock that can be embellished.
St. Patrick’s Day Coloring Fun for Older Children
Visit ColoringBookFun to find printable St. Patrick’s Day images for bigger kids (elementary school and beyond), with more detailed artwork and thinner lines. Happy St. Patrick’s Day messages abound on many of the coloring worksheets, in printed letters as well as in cursive handwriting.
Another Online Site to Consider for Children
Turn the St. Patrick’s Day coloring activity into a true educational and cultural lesson. At the Apples4theTeacher website, one can find Irish symbols such as a multitude of artistic Celtic crosses, a Blarney Castle, the Irish flag, the map of Ireland, and the traditional Claddaugh symbol meaning friendship. This online location is a great teaching tool for educators.
Coloring Tips and Crayons for Different Ages
Always take into consideration the motor skills and coloring abilities of the children when selecting a coloring page for St. Patrick’s Day or any other time. Toddlers may struggle with intricate details on worksheets and get frustrated. Simple pictures with thick lines are best. A toddler will also enjoy the company of a parent when coloring. Print out two pictures and join her in a coloring session.
Older children may become bored with a coloring activity if it is too simple. Use more complicated color sheets, or encourage upper elementary kids to use their imaginations with a printed shamrock. Ideas may be to transform the shape into a face or animal, turn it into a nighttime picture, or use Irish flag colors.
The type of crayon one chooses will also make a difference to children. Larger crayons are appropriate for toddlers, whereas the smaller ones work better for older children when trying to fill in small details. There are many other exciting new choices of crayons as well, such as those that contain glitter, glow in the dark, and have a scent. Try using colored pencils or twistables too!
Grab a little luck of the Irish this St. Patrick’s Day with creative shamrock-themed printable coloring pages for free. Sharpen those green crayons, pencils, and markers and prepare to be blessed with busy, happy kids this March.
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