Rainy day at home: keep children busy with colouring pages instead of phone

Rainy day? 12 ideas to swap tablet for free printable colouring pages – afternoon plan and tips.

Has it been raining all day and are the children getting bored? The simplest reaction is usually mobile phone, tablet or television. It works in the short term, but after an hour the child is usually tired, irritable and always „wants something new“. Try a different approach: free printable colouring pages from colouringbookspredeti.eu – They take just a few minutes to prepare, cost nothing more than paper and paints, and help your child concentrate more calmly than when scrolling.

This article is about activities to do with children at home when it’s raining – specifically, on how to replace passive screen time with creative fun. Here you’ll find 12 practical ideas, a sample afternoon schedule and links to ready-made templates that you can print out straight away.

Why colouring books work better than a YouTube lesson

A video will „entertain“ a child, but the brain works differently during passive viewing than it does when drawing and colouring. With a colouring book:

  • child decides (colours, order, details),
  • is training grip and concentration,
  • has visible result, which he can show to his family,
  • is not subject to an algorithm that draws him towards the next video.

It doesn’t have to be a full-day screen ban – the point is to be prepared a high-quality alternative. We discuss the benefits of colouring in more detail in A comprehensive guide to colouring books.

12 ideas for a rainy day with colouring books

1. A competition on various topics

Each child is assigned a different category: one animals, second cars, third fairy tales. Once they have finished colouring, they show each other their results and try to guess what is in the picture.

2. A shared story to go with the picture

Print the character from fairy tales – for example Minecraft Steve or The Paw Patrol. The child colours it in and then makes up a story; you write it down.

3. Pair: parent + child

Print out the same colouring picture twice – the parent colours in one version, the child the other. Compare the colours and style.

4. „Secret“ colouring book

The older sibling chooses a theme for the younger one based on what they enjoy – unicorn, dinosaur or a character from the game.

5. Gallery in the corridor

Stick the finished pictures onto a noticeboard or a string with pegs. A new „picture“ will be added every rainy day.

6. Colouring book + audiobook

Play the story (audio) whilst your child colours in the character featured in it. Inspiration: our article Recommendations for children’s fairy tales.

7. The Colour Detective

You agree: „Find 5 blue spots and 3 yellow ones in the picture.“ It also helps to practise concentration when more complex drawings.

8. Online painting when you don’t have a printer

Is it raining and you’re staying with your grandparents without a newspaper? Why not try online painting on a tablet – still creative, but more engaging than a video.

9. Themed marathon

One topic all afternoon: the marine world, Nature or Sports. Three different pictures in a row.

10. A surprise from the favourites

Open most frequently printed – Children love it when you choose something that others are also pushing for.

11. Domestic competition in silence

Who can colour in the picture the most quietly and carefully? Ideal for bedtime, instead of using your mobile in bed.

12. A present for someone else

A colouring picture for a grandmother, a teacher or a friend – the child learns to give, not just to receive entertainment from a screen.

A sample plan for a rainy afternoon (2–3 hours)

  1. 0:00–0:15 – the child chooses 2–3 motifs from categories, the parent will print it out.
  2. 0:15–0:45 – first time colouring in, with some calm music playing in the background instead of the TV.
  3. 0:45–1:00 – break: water, fruit, physical activity (a few jumps, climbing).
  4. 1:00–1:30 – a second picture or online painting.
  5. 1:30–1:45 – the child tells a story based on the picture; you take a photo of the finished piece.
  6. 1:45–2:00 – add to favourites, get ready for another rainy day.

How to choose the right level of difficulty

An image that’s too simple is boring; one that’s too complex is frustrating. We have a separate article on age and difficulty: How to choose a colouring book based on your child’s age. In short: little children – big shapes made from Animals, pre-schoolers – characters, schoolchildren – games and a close-up.

Switching from a mobile to a colouring book without any tears

  • Do not cross suddenly – „Just 5 more minutes of the video, then a colouring book“ works better than switching it off straight away.
  • Let your child choose the design – A sense of control reduces resistance.
  • Sit down next to him – the first 5 minutes together; after that, it can work on its own.
  • Praise the process, not just a good result.
  • Have your paints ready – if you have to spend 10 minutes looking for coloured pencils, your child will go back to their mobile.

Which categories are best suited to a rainy day?

As confirmed by parents and in comments on the website:

Frequently Asked Questions

Will it really keep you occupied all afternoon?

For most children aged 4 and over, yes, for at least 1–2 hours, provided you give them a theme that interests them. Very young children (aged 2–3) won’t last as long – alternate between several shorter sessions.

What if I don't have a printer?

Use online painting or save the images and print them later. Find out more at Frequently Asked Questions.

Are the colouring pages free?

Yes – both printing and online colouring on our website are free of charge.

Conclusion

A rainy day at home doesn’t necessarily mean spending hours in front of a screen. S free printable colouring pages You can put together a creative programme in just a few minutes, support your child’s development and even save money on expensive activity kits. Choose a category, print it out with a single click and see if this afternoon goes a bit more smoothly. If you’d like to find out more, read our a guide for parents or print something straight away from the most popular colouring books.