Coloring in the lines

[In A Silent Way]

My son does not like to color. His kindergarten teacher wants us to talk to him about "doing his best work" because whenever the worksheet says to color the pictures he hastily scribbles them over with whatever crayon is handy.

How important is this skill? He has basic reading, writing, math & computer skills, but he hates coloring.

[Mama Kel]

Not important - can he write his name, etc? If so forget about it. But I have seen other kindergarten teachers make a federal case out of this. :rolleyes:So you might just want to explain to your son that he needs to follow the rules of the classroom.

[syd_25]

Oh how this hits home.

When I was in kindergartner I was not able to color in the lines. When I tried it wasn't good enough so the more I was asked to do it the less I put in. My K teacher was concerned. She sent the outline of the letters we were coloring home with me to re do. So as a kindergartner I had homework. This started my dislike of homework. The short version is that I hated homework and did whatever to get out of it. I was one of those kids who got B+ or better on tests but never handed in homework.

Fast forward to 6th grade. My parents send me to a "learning center" type place. After tests and stuff I am told I have "Small motor neural disfunction". Basically bad eye hand cordination. Writing was always extremely fustrating (and still is.) After that I started typing homework when possible (book reports) instead of writing and things improved.

Of course this was me. Figured I'd share incase it helps.

[Wende]

He's just not interested. Which can lead to problems down the road if you promote his *disinterest*

I'm going through the product of it now (my son is going to be 14 in March) I wish I could go back and make him color in the lines. so-to-speak

[In A Silent Way]

*sigh*
I really don't want to smack his hand with a ruler but I guess I have no choice.
/Sister Mary Dave

[Mama Kel]

If he has a fine motor weakness, put everything either up on an easel or a 45 degree incline. Kids who have fine motor weakness do not have the ability to stabilize their arms & fingers when the paper is flat. By putting the paper on an easel or on a clipboard held at an angle, it helps to stabilize the arm & makes writing less difficult.

PS you can teach him to write without pencils/crayons. If you want ideas PM me :)

[In A Silent Way]

He can write & draw. He just doesn't care to color in the pictures on his worksheets.

[Wende]

all I can say is, you have an amazing little person on your hands that is going to be quite challenging in raising :lol: He must take after, perhaps you? Isn't that funny how that is? ;)

[In A Silent Way]

They're all challenging in their own ways. You are right--I do have to keep on him about completing assignments as expected, stupid as they may be.

[Wende]

My biggest mistake was letting him hear me say how stupid some of the shit was in school. It is a daily struggle now to do *simple-STUPID-babyish-homework assignments. Sometimes they are just too smart for coloring. Which in return, poor school career.

GOOD LUCK! :)

[Wende]

Now my second child I learned better and he does really well in school. My 3rd child, LOVES COLORING!! :lol:

The more children you have, the better chances.

[Joia]

you see... I'm a "color outside the lines" type of gal, but Rio has colored inside the lines since she was 2... it always freaked me out.

I honestly don't think it's a big deal and you should cultivate his individuality. :)

[Wende]

Doesn't fly in public schools though. If a teacher tells all to do something, they are expected to all do it. Idividuality doesn't exist anymore it seems, in schools today. Hence all the ADD medication being given, right?

I wish I could just pull my oldest out and homeschool him.

[In A Silent Way]

I gave him the pep talk: "Always hand in your best work, something that you are proud of. It also shows Mrs. ___ that you like her when you give her something that looks good."

His current fascination is the NYC subway, so he gets plenty of practice making letters & numbers for all the trains he draws. :cheesy:

[Beany]

Flowers are Red-Harry Chapin

The little boy went first day of school
He got some crayons and started to draw
He put colors all over the paper
For colors was what he saw
And the teacher said.. What you doin' young man
I'm paintin' flowers he said
She said... It's not the time for art young man
And anyway flowers are green and red
There's a time for everything young man
And a way it should be done
You've got to show concern for everyone else
For you're not the only one

And she said...
Flowers are red young man
Green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seen

But the little boy said...
There are so many colors in the rainbow
So many colors in the morning sun
So many colors in the flower and I see every one

Well the teacher said.. You're sassy
There's ways that things should be
And you'll paint flowers the way they are
So repeat after me.....

And she said...
Flowers are red young man
Green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seen

But the little boy said...
There are so many colors in the rainbow
So many colors in the morning sun
So many colors in the flower and I see every one

The teacher put him in a corner
She said.. It's for your own good..
And you won't come out 'til you get it right
And all responding like you should
Well finally he got lonely
Frightened thoughts filled his head
And he went up to the teacher
And this is what he said.. and he said

Flowers are red, green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seen

Time went by like it always does
And they moved to another town
And the little boy went to another school
And this is what he found
The teacher there was smilin'
She said...Painting should be fun
And there are so many colors in a flower
So let's use every one

But that little boy painted flowers
In neat rows of green and red
And when the teacher asked him why
This is what he said.. and he said

Flowers are red, green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seen.

[dorothy1]

I have been hearing the same complait about my kindergartener. She is also Labled as "Special needs" I just laugh at the teacher at this point. She can do it but chooses not to (I think because they make such a big deal out of it).
The other day she colored a picture (in the lines I might add) and took it into school...the response was..." the colors were random , the arms and legs were different colors" blah,blah blah
I'm more concerned now about all the negative reinforcement she getting from them than her fitting the mold.

[sarah b.]

http://www.coloring-pages-book-for-kids-boys.com/images/96_military_star-wars_at_coloring-pages-book-for-kids-boys.gif

[nan ce]

Not that I have a lot to add because my daughter is not at this age yet, but...

I read an article that said an 18 month old should start thinking about coloring in the lines at this age.

My daughter barely knows to meet the crayon with the paper.

Sooo...my opinion is, it's all crap. Your the parent and you know your son is fine. Take the rest with a grain of salt...

[Wende]

Ya know, i'm all for this way of thinking, but our children are our future and our future is quite iffy.... We have so many free thinkers out there that aren't focused enough to complete simple tasks. How do we expect them to change anything? Love and butterflies doesn't make the world go round. It's discipline and accountablity. My only suggestion, make your children accountable for what they are doing at the time, if they have to jump through the simple hoops of public school, then MAKE THEM!! If not, send them to some free thinking private school. The choice is yours.
Teach them that *jumping through hoops* is part of society. All we can do is make sure they know that that is all they are doing. They will grow up accomplishing amazing things. It may be crap, but don't let your children know you think that until they are old enough to understand.

The change we need to see comes from us, the parents of these kids. We can do it!

[In A Silent Way]

It's frustrating because it seems pointless, yet I also know he's learning work habits, and if I let him slide on this I'm teaching him that it's OK to cut corners. If I let him get away with incompetence now, he may grow up to be a government employee, or even worse, a Congressman.

[Wende]

CUT CORNERS???? Oh my god are you in our house? I am giving you some healthy advice. DO NOT LET HIM CUT CORNERS NOW. It is sooooo hard later to change that.

Just look at my son. Ask anyone that knows us. We live in hell, when it comes to school. The freaking kid is so damn receptive and so damn intelligent... but he does not understand that cutting corners only works later in life. He is failing English year after year after year due to cutting corners. UGH

Yea, nip it in the bud friend. Nip it in the bud. I try not to let him see any of our frustrations with the school systems. Jumping through hoops. It has to be done.

[Wende]

He's been to private schools. I worry about him in the real world. If everything is silly and stupid then why do anything. This is the way he thinks. And it all starts in Kindergarten. :lol:

Sorry, I got a little passionate for a second.

[In A Silent Way]

no no no read my post again...I'm trying to teach him not to cut corners

[Wende]

No I know, yes yes. I gotcha. I was just saying, YES, STAY ON HIM, DON'T LET HIM. Make sure he knows he has to jump through the hoops just to get there. You rock!!!! Our kids'll rule the world one day.

[In A Silent Way]

As I said, he reads, writes, does math, and draws. Not great with scissors yet, but he's learning. He likes Duplos, blocks, train tracks, etc. The coloring just doesn't do it for him, but I know he needs the discipline to complete the tedious tasks.

[KindGeeGirl]

Sooo...my opinion is, it's all crap. Your the parent and you know your son is fine. Take the rest with a grain of salt...

What she said :)

[Mama Kel]

Not that I have a lot to add because my daughter is not at this age yet, but...

I read an article that said an 18 month old should start thinking about coloring in the lines at this age.

My daughter barely knows to meet the crayon with the paper.

Sooo...my opinion is, it's all crap. Your the parent and you know your son is fine. Take the rest with a grain of salt...

It is not expected for a child to have an appropriate crayon grip until age 3 or 4 - so coloring within the lines at 18 mos is ridiculous!!!

Let her scribble or whatever. :heart:

[In A Silent Way]

Only five and already The Man got him down.

:sad:

[KindGeeGirl]

Only five and already The Man got him down.

:sad:

:lol: Tell him to get used to it :lol:

:wink:

[Wende]

yea, really.

Lets raise our kids to CHANGE THAT!!!

[Mama Kel]

This is why I'm seriously considering NOT sending my kids to public school.

Now if I could just hit the lotto...

[Wende]

2 Out of 3 of my kids go to private school

The other one (the one who wouldn't color between the lines) goes to public school because he is going to do *what he wants* * when he wants* * where he wants to do it* So, why pay for it? :(:(:(

[Jwhiskeycat]

I'm an art teacher (actually, looking for work). And for a kindergartener not coloring in the lines when the rest of the class does, makes me think of:
does not understand the task - to color the page following specific directions?
Is too easy...? Kidergarteners love to color, most of them.
does not like the the medium (crayon, marker, pencil, etc.)?
is upset and acting out because of outside factors?
I would be concered perhaps about fine motor abilities and maybe watch that?
Its ok to use different colors, unless it REQUIRES specific colors (ex. American flag, Ital. flag). Or a "color by number assignment" (purpose is to follow directions).

If you've seen him color other stuff on his own. Don't worry. Keep an eye on the fine motor skills and maybe a little talk about cooporating could help.:rose: