Your Kid Hates Coloring Books—And That Might Be a Really Good Sign

olena shmanko
Jan 12
2 min read

My friend called last week, frustrated. "I bought Mia all these coloring books and fancy markers. She won't touch them. Is something wrong with her?"

Nothing's wrong with her kid.

Here's what I've learned: some kids hate coloring books. And that's actually a good sign.

The Kids Who Need to Build, Not Color

Some kids walk into our studio, see the paints and paper, and immediately ask, "Can I use the cardboard boxes?"

They don't want to fill in someone else's lines. They want to construct. Engineer. Problem-solve.

One kid spent an entire hour building a castle from recycled materials. Didn't draw a single thing. His dad looked embarrassed.

But that kid was calculating angles, testing materials, figuring out balance. Spatial reasoning most adults struggle with.

If your kid would rather build than draw:

Cardboard boxes and tape
Clay or playdough
Pipe cleaners and popsicle sticks

Stop trying to make them sit still with a coloring book.

The Perfectionist Who Won't Start

"She stares at blank paper. Won't make a mark."

These kids aren't lacking ideas. They're terrified of making the wrong choice.

What works:

Give prompts, not blank paper. "Draw something underwater" beats "draw whatever"
Try "ugly art day"—make something deliberately bad
Timed challenges. "60 seconds to draw a dog." No time to overthink.

Why Boys Quit Art Around Age 8

Someone made fun of their drawing. Or told them art is for girls. Just like that, they shut down.

What helps:

Connect art to what they love—game characters, comics, skate park designs
Call it "maker time" instead of "art class"
Keep materials available, never force it

What Art Actually Teaches

Decision-making. Red or blue? Big or small?

Frustration tolerance. The paint drips. The clay cracks. Keep going anyway.

Self-trust. No answer key. Trust your own judgment.

Starting over. Flip the paper. Try again.

When to Worry (And When Not To)

Don't worry if:

They only use one color
They draw the same thing repeatedly
Work looks "too simple"
They lose interest quickly

Check in if:

They refuse ANY creative activity
Meltdowns over imperfection
Fear of making any marks

Try This Week

Pick one:

Builder: Give them a cardboard box. Nothing else.

Perfectionist: 5-minute timer. Make art together. Stop when it rings.

Bored kid: Random materials. Make something useful.

Stop worrying about whether they're "good at art."

Ask instead: Are they trying? Making choices? Okay with mess?

That's what matters.

January workshops: space to experiment, no judgment, no templates.