Christmas Color by Number

Color by number is a perfect December activity: quiet enough for the countdown days, festive enough for a Christmas party. Younger children can start with the candy cane or the gift, which use only a few colors; the Christmas tree with its ornaments and the gingerbread man take a little longer. Finished pages make easy homemade cards or decorations.

For a class party, print one picture per child and hang the finished set as a Christmas window. At home, the mandalas are a relaxing break for adults during the busy season, and seniors in care homes or senior centers enjoy the large, clear numbers. Online coloring works on a tablet, so grandparents and grandchildren can take turns on the same picture.

1. Print page 1 of the PDF at 100% (“actual size”). The colors and their names are listed under the picture, so a black and white printer works too.
2. Gather your colors. Colored pencils, crayons or felt-tip pens all work. If you do not have the exact shade, any similar color is fine.
3. Color one number at a time. Fill every 1, then every 2, and so on. It is quicker than hunting for each color and the picture appears gradually.
4. Check with page 2, which shows the finished picture in color.

Press Color online under any picture. The colors appear as numbered circles: pick a number and every space with that number is softly highlighted, so they are easy to find. Tap a space to fill it. If you tap a space with a different number, nothing is lost: the hint tells you which number it needs. Undo takes back the last fill, Save picture keeps your finished page on your device, and when every numbered space is colored, a small celebration appears. It works on computers, tablets and phones, with nothing to install and no sign-up.