Christmas coloring pages

Which page for which age

We measured the print file of each page instead of guessing at “easy” and “hard”. The more spaces, and the smaller they are, the longer a page takes and the finer the tip it needs.

Spaces: closed white areas of at least 4 mm² on the US Letter PDF. Typical space: the side of a square with the median area of those spaces. Black ink: the share of the sheet printed black. The age ranges are our own judgment from these figures, not a test with children, and children vary.

The youngest group gets big, simple shapes for a reason. On the CDC’s milestone lists, most children can draw a circle when shown how by age 3, and hold a crayon between fingers and thumb instead of in a fist by age 4. The CDC defines “most” as 75% or more, so some children get there later.

Printing: size, paper and ink

Download the PDF that matches the paper in your printer, then print at 100% or “Actual size”. The drawing is already sized and centered, with room for the caption line.

Working: each PDF leaves 0.5 in at the left and right, so 8.5 − 1 = 7.5 in on Letter and 8.27 − 1 = 7.27 in on A4. PNG: 2048 ÷ 300 = 6.83 in.

Paper. Ordinary 20 to 24 lb copy paper (75 to 90 gsm) is enough for crayons and colored pencils. For felt tips, use 28 to 32 lb (105 to 120 gsm) and slide a scrap sheet underneath. For cards, use 65 lb cover (176 gsm) if your printer takes it. Weights are from Neenah’s chart, and our size and paper guide has the full table and what happens when A4 meets Letter.

Ink. Black coverage on a sheet runs from 2.3% (Little reindeer) to 11.6% (Stockings on the fireplace), about 5.0 times as much (11.6 ÷ 2.3). If you are copying for a whole class on a low cartridge, the pages at the low end of the table are the ones to choose.

Using them at home or in class

• A countdown to Christmas Day. 14 pages is one a day from December 12 to 25. Print the all-pages PDF and staple it, or print one each morning and tape the finished pages up in a row.
• The same subject at two levels. Siblings or a mixed-age table can share a theme: Gingerbread man (9 spaces) and Gingerbread house (245), or Teddy bear with a gift (28) and Pile of presents (131).
• A winter set for classrooms that avoid Christmas. Snowman with scarf, Little reindeer, Cozy winter cabin and Snowflake mandala show winter rather than the holiday. No page in this set has a religious scene. Copy as many as your class needs.
• Cards and gift tags. Print at 65% and the drawing is 4.9 in wide (7.5 × 0.65), which fits the 5.5 in front of a Letter sheet folded in half once you cut it out and glue it on. At 50% it is 3.75 in, about right for a large gift tag. Christmas ornaments is made for cutting up.