4 ms·
I actually hate for my kids to do ANY coloring books. A blank page is always better. Give them crayons, pencils and markers. Throw in scissors, tape and glue.
by baldfat 11y ago
I actually hate for my kids to do ANY coloring books. A blank page is always better. Give them crayons, pencils and markers. Throw in scissors, tape and glue.
It is against Head Start policy to give children coloring pages. There is quit a bit of research for this approach.
PDF Document on why coloring is not best practice with children. http://elf2.library.ca.gov/training/docs/WhatsWrongwithColoringBooks.pdf http://elf2.library.ca.gov/training/docs/WhatsWrongwithColor...
- clentaminator 11y agoNot intending this to sound snarky, but only on HN could I expect to read the phrases "best practice" and "children" in the same sentence.
- DanBC 11y agoWhat? Why?
- clentaminator 11y agoJust a humorous image I have in my head of a bunch of programmers with kids running around trying to apply "best practices" to everything in their households. Spouses, kids, not even the pets are safe from an agile methodology and microservices.
- mercer 11y agoWhile I don't immediately associate 'best practices' with 'agile methodology' and 'microservices' (although I can see how recent articles on HN might strengthen that association), I have noticed that the busier I am with programming, and the more 'best practices' and 'optimization' and 'DRY' are on my mind, the more it seems to seep into the rest of my life. I start timing my bicycle commute and optimizing my route to avoid traffic lights or catch green waves, I try to do the dishes at optimal speed, I make sure that every 'trip' to a place in the house is as efficient as possible (take something one way, another thing on the way back, etc.). I'm not sure it's healthy, but at least it's... odd/funny.
- baldfat 11y agoActually that is the verbiage. I work for Head Start in a Technology Lab. I live the best practice world.
- cphoover 11y agoColoring books are bad for kids now? Give me a break...
- baldfat 11y agoWell in terms of killing creativity. For what reason do we do coloring pages any ways? Could we do it another way that is better? > Give me a break... Read the pdf I posted and than come back and we can talk. PS I didn't down vote you, but there is data you can read and have a conversation.
- gknoy 11y agoBecause they enjoy it, and it helps develop hand-eye coordination and small hand muscles. :) edit: Also, I thought I'd read that coloring things as an adult helped release stress.
- p1esk 11y agoI looked at the PDF. All I see is someone's opinion. Where is the data?
- baldfat 11y agoWell here is the BIG position paper on developmentally appropriate practices. At the end of the document is all the cited works. So the words are there and the research and best practices in early education are covered over several courses in undergraduate and graduate level degrees and are in the cited works. http://www.naeyc.org/positionstatements/dap http://www.naeyc.org/positionstatements/dap So the philosophy is laid out and than the practice is sorted out much later sometimes. Other times there will be examples of where certain things to help clarify positional statements. Right now there is still a HUGE thing regarding "screen time" and does active and passive consumption equal the same thing? We have Interactive Screens with the day's activities, rules and other observations. Is that to be counted as "screen time?" The example is limit children to no more than 30 minutes of screen time a week. So does that mean we can't use daily activities? The short end of it all is, coloring pages fail the philosophy of children having open/creative activities that are student initiated and guided by teachers/parents/care takers. Position E > E. Teachers plan the environment, schedule, and daily activities to promote each child’s learning and development. > 1. Teachers arrange firsthand, meaningful experiences that are intellectually and creatively stimulating, invite exploration and investigation, and engage children’s active, sustained involvement. They do this by providing a rich variety of materials, challenges, and ideas that are worthy of children’s attention. Are coloring pages intellectually and creatively stimulating? If no, don't use them.
- prof_hobart 11y agoThe problem with that article, as with most of the "X is bad for kids, because Y is better" ones I've ever read, is that the two things aren't in any way exclusive. The article explains why giving kids a blank sheet of paper and a crayon is good. But as it's entirely possible to let them spend some time doing freehand and some time just colouring in, it's irrelevant whether blank sheets are good. The question is whether the time spent colouring is in itself bad.