Coloring is my favorite new quarantine hobby. My 4 year-old spent the end of March coloring an old book of Christmas wreaths and stockings, when I realized.. I can probably do better.
Now YOU don’t have to scour the black hole of free online coloring pages for kids like I did. I’ve got you covered!
So sharpen those crayons and get ready. Here is my favorite collection of feminist-inspired coloring pages for kids. Most are completely free to download, with a few that cost only a few dollars.
First, why is coloring so great?
Don’t get me wrong, I love art with no boundaries – a huge piece of white paper across the table with some paints or markers for my kid. This artistic freedom is essential to support our child’s creativity.
But sometimes the pre-set lines and shapes let your mind wander a bit more. The hard work is done, so you can zone out and de-stress. According to the Cleveland Clinic, coloring relaxes adults because 1) attention flows away from ourselves; 2) simple activities relax our brain; and 3) low stakes make it pleasurable it’s okay if you mess up!
It has the same effect on my otherwise talkative preschooler – when coloring, she’s able to sink into the “zone” a bit more and decompress. In the mornings when she colors, we throw on the Molly of Denali podcast and I get 30 minutes of work done. (Everybody’s happy!)
In the afternoons, I color with her for my own relaxation, as we listen to classical guitar mixes. (Seriously, try it.)
The surprise benefit is that coloring has inspired some awesome parent-child conversations. You know how experts suggest talking with your teens about tough topics in the car because everyone can avoid eye contact but there’s nowhere to go? I’ve witnessed a similar benefit for my young child – she seems to feel safe posing tricky questions while we color, including some about color-coding and gender stereotypes.
Since school ended in mid-March, my 4 year-old continues to process things she heard from other children at preschool. While coloring, she told me that two girls at school said that black is not “for girls.”
Huh?
This was a new one for me! But it gave us the opportunity to discuss whether certain colors are for certain genders (uhh…no), which led her to mention a few other gender rules that children at school enforced. For example, are unicorns for everyone? Can only boys do the balance beam?
Okay, so I guess coloring isn’t ALWAYS relaxing, but aren’t you always excited when your child feels they can confide in you and ask the tough questions?
Plus, now she has language to confirm that “colors are for everyone.”
Our Favorite Feminist Coloring Pages for Kids
And adults can enjoy them, too! Believe me, this has turned into my afternoon therapy.
(This post contains affiliate links, meaning if you purchase anything I may earn a commission but it doesn’t change the price up or down for you – thanks for supporting our work to end gender stereotypes at Think or Blue!)
1.MDLM Hot Air Balloon Adventure series coloring pages
We love MDLM’s series of books about a set of three cousins with racial diversity who go on adventures together and foster healthy risk-taking and independent-thinking skills. There’s zero focus on appearance, with a feisty, adventurous Grandma to boot!
MDLM colouring pages here (free).
Bonus idea: email these coloring pages to your child’s favorite friend have a coloring FaceTime date – we do that and love it!
2. Wire and Honey #KidsforChange coloring book
We love to support this small business, which is deeply committed to social justice and change. The owners recently discounted the #KidsforChange coloring book from $5 to $0.01 – grab this deal while it lasts.
Kids for Change printable coloring book.
3. Serena Williams
Super Coloring pages has printable pages of this legendary American tennis athlete. Download it free here.
4. Yes Means Yes
Begin to teach your kids early about consent and the control they have over their bodies with this coloring page from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. Download it free here.
5. Like a Girl
Ayelet Keshet has both a coloring book and free printable pages of girls and women doing active and exciting professions and skills. From a fire fighter and an astronaut to a soccer player and veterinarian, there’s something for everyone.
And remember, just because these pages feature women doesn’t mean they’re not for boys! Be sure to print these out for your boys, too, to remind them that women are often the “lead” and that girls do cool things, too.
Free Like a Girl coloring pages.
6. Michelle Obama
I love former First Lady Michelle Obama for many reasons – one is her shared stories about infertility and miscarriage – topics that we don’t discuss enough. Becoming was an excellent memoir and I’m excited to see the documentary on Netflix.
The Feminist Coloring shop on Etsy has a beautiful coloring page for Michelle Obama – buy here for $2.00.
7. Art by Tyler Feder, Roaring Softly
Both calming and gorgeous, this coloring pack features Tyler Feder’s art work, including quotes and proverbs, such as “They tried to bury us. They did not know we were seeds.”
Buy Roaring Softly printable pack on Etsy.
8. Dr. Jane Goodall
My child recently learned about scientist and researcher, Jane Goodall and her work with chimpanzees. So she was thrilled to see this coloring page and remember what she learned.
Dr. Goodall is also the founder of the Jane Goodall Institute, a United Nations Messenger of Peace, and a leading voice in wildlife conservation and environmentalism. Goodall says when she began her work studying chimpanzees, “girls were not scientists” and that her methods were “absolutely contrary to scientific norms” at the time.
If you have a budding scientist or a child who needs more inspiration about failure, pivoting, and trying again, introduce them to this role model.
“Every individual makes a difference every single day,” Goodall said.
Also find Amelia Earhart coloring page at Education.com.
9. Feminist Icons
Teach your child about current figures as well as feminist icons in history, such as Katherine Johnson, a NASA mathematician, Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, Rosa Parks, civil rights activist, Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Prize laureate, and more.
10. Quarantine-inspired art
We all know to wash our hands and try to stay healthy, but kids can still use reminders. Positively Delighted has free coloring pages to put some fun into staying home.
Do you have other favorites? Share them below.
In the meantime, give your child (and yourself) the gift of a few minutes to relax and fill your world with bright colors. Maybe you’ll even squeeze in a couple meaningful conversations like we did. Or just enjoy a cup of tea.
P.S. Remember to tell your children that they can draw outside the lines – both in coloring and in life.
For 20 Independent Play Activities for Kids, get your free guide here:
Love this! Finding unexpected ways to trach lessons is the best!
It sure is! These helped us have great conversations about women and space and all kinds of things!
I love these resources, especially because they are free! We also have been rocking a Christmas coloring book over quarantine, how funny! I will be printing some of these ASAP!
How funny about the Christmas books! Hope you enjoy these.
I really love this! Nearly every kid loves to color, so why not be mindful about the coloring pages we provide them? It’s such a great opportunity to teach and reinforce values and life lessons.
Definitely! Hopefully they can help kids see the possibilities within!