How to Encourage Kids to Finish Their Coloring Books (Tips for Parents!)

Many parents buy coloring books for their kids, only to find them half-finished or abandoned after a few pages. While coloring is meant to be a fun and creative activity, some children lose interest before they complete a book.

Encouraging your child to finish their coloring book can help build patience, persistence, and a sense of accomplishment. Here are some simple and effective ways to motivate your child to complete their coloring book while keeping it fun and engaging.

1. Choose the Right Coloring Book for Your Child’s Age and Interests

One of the biggest reasons kids lose interest in a coloring book is that it doesn’t match their age, skill level, or interests.

✅ Look for:

Age-appropriate designs – Simple illustrations for younger kids, more detailed ones for older children.
Themes they love – If your child enjoys animals, dinosaurs, space, or fairy tales, pick a book that matches their passion.
Librisprout’s color-coded system – Our books are designed with age groups in mind, making it easy to find the perfect match.

When a coloring book excites your child, they’ll naturally be more eager to complete it.

2. Set Small, Achievable Goals

Instead of expecting your child to finish the entire book quickly, break it down into smaller, manageable goals.

Try this approach:

"Let’s finish one page today!" – Small daily goals feel doable.
"Pick three pages you want to color this week." – Giving them control keeps them motivated.
"Let’s complete this book by the end of the month!" – A longer-term goal keeps them working toward a finish line.

By setting goals, kids stay engaged without feeling overwhelmed.

3. Make Coloring a Fun and Interactive Experience

If a child gets bored while coloring alone, turn it into a shared or playful experience.

Fun ways to keep them engaged:

Color together – Sit beside them and color your own page.
Create a story – Ask them to describe the characters or scene they are coloring.
Use different coloring tools – Let them experiment with crayons, markers, gel pens, or watercolor pencils to make it more exciting.
Try themed coloring challenges – Example: “Let’s color only with warm colors today (reds, oranges, yellows)!”

Making coloring feel like an adventure rather than a task keeps kids interested.

4. Celebrate Progress with Rewards and Recognition

Kids love positive reinforcement, so celebrating their progress can keep them motivated.

Ways to reward their efforts:

Display their artwork – Put completed pages on the fridge or create a “coloring wall.”
Give small incentives – Stickers, extra playtime, or a special treat for finishing a section.
Use a reward chart – Each time they finish a page, they earn a sticker or star. After a certain number, they get a prize.
Librisprout’s Certificate of Completion – Our books include a certificate to celebrate their achievement, making finishing the book feel like a big accomplishment.

Seeing their work appreciated and rewarded gives kids the motivation to keep going.

5. Establish a Coloring Routine

Consistency helps children stay engaged with their coloring book over time. Instead of treating it as an occasional activity, incorporate it into their daily routine.

Ideas for a coloring routine:

Morning creativity – A quick 10-minute coloring session before school.
Screen-free afternoon break – Use coloring as a calm, hands-on activity.
Evening wind-down – Coloring before bed helps relax and prepare for sleep.

When coloring becomes part of daily life, kids are more likely to finish their books naturally.

6. Let Them Choose Their Favorite Pages First

Instead of coloring the book in order, let your child pick the pages that excite them most.

Why this works:

They start with the designs that spark their interest.
They feel a sense of control and independence.
They’re more likely to continue coloring once they build momentum.

Once they’ve colored their favorites, they’ll be more open to finishing the rest.

7. Create a “Coloring Party” with Friends or Family

Turning coloring into a social activity makes it more enjoyable and helps kids stay on track to finish their book.

Ways to make it social:

Sibling or family coloring sessions – A quiet bonding activity.
Playdates with a coloring theme – Friends color together and share their creations.
Coloring competitions – Friendly challenges like “Who can color a full page first?” or “Best rainbow-colored drawing.”

When kids see their peers coloring, they’ll feel more excited to keep going.

8. Make the Last Few Pages Feel Like an Achievement

If your child is close to finishing their book but losing motivation, build up excitement for the final stretch.

How to do this:

Countdown the pages – “Only five pages left! You’re so close!”
Plan a special reward – A fun outing, a new coloring book, or a special surprise.
Create a mini celebration – A small party, a proud moment with family, or a display of their best pages.

Making the final pages feel like a big milestone encourages kids to complete their books.

9. Introduce Themed Coloring Challenges

If your child needs an extra push, add new and creative ways to color.

Fun challenge ideas:

Speed challenge – Finish one page in 10 minutes.
Color swap – Use only two colors per page.
Rainbow challenge – Every section must have a different color.
Upside-down coloring – Color while turning the book upside-down.

Challenges keep coloring fresh and exciting, preventing boredom and keeping engagement high.

10. Lead by Example—Color with Them

Children are more likely to stay engaged if they see their parents participating and enjoying the activity too.

Sit down with your child and color alongside them.
Talk about the colors you’re choosing and encourage them to share their ideas.
Make it a relaxing and positive experience rather than a chore.

When parents show enthusiasm for coloring, kids will naturally feel more excited to finish their books.

Final Thoughts: Making Coloring a Fun and Rewarding Habit

Encouraging kids to finish their coloring books doesn’t have to be a struggle. By making it fun, interactive, and rewarding, children will stay engaged and feel motivated to complete their books.

By choosing the right book, setting goals, adding variety, and celebrating achievements, you can help your child develop patience, creativity, and a sense of accomplishment.

Looking for high-quality, engaging coloring books that kids will actually want to finish? Explore Librisprout’s collection and find the perfect book to keep them motivated.