Skin Tones and Storytime – Turning Coloring Pages Into Conversations About Love and Inclusion

Coloring time doesn’t have to be quiet and solitary—it can be an opportunity for meaningful conversations about diversity, kindness, and celebrating differences. When you pair diverse skin tone coloring pages with thoughtful discussion, you create powerful learning moments that shape how children see themselves and others.

Here’s how to turn coloring sessions into conversations about love, inclusion, and the beauty of all skin tones.

Why Pairing Stories and Coloring Works

Combining storytelling with coloring creates a multi-sensory learning experience that helps concepts stick.

When you read stories about diversity and inclusion, then follow up with related coloring activities:

• Children connect abstract ideas (“everyone is special”) to concrete images they can see and Color

• The hands-on activity reinforces the story’s message

• Kids have time to process and ask questions while their hands are busy

• The relaxed atmosphere of coloring makes complex topics feel safe and approachable

This combination engages both the creative and analytical parts of children’s brains, fostering a deeper understanding and longer-lasting lessons about inclusion.

How to Use Coloring Pages as Conversation Starters

Inclusive coloring pages naturally invite children to ask questions and make observations. Here’s how to guide those conversations in positive, affirming directions.

Start with Observations

Before diving into deeper topics, notice what’s on the page together:

• “What do you see in this picture?"

• “Tell me about these characters."

• “What colors do you think you'll use?"

Let children lead the conversation with their own observations. This tells you what they're noticing and thinking about.

Ask About Similarities and Differences

Help children recognize both what makes us unique and what connects us:

• “How are these kids alike?"

• “What’s different about them?"

• “Even though they look different, what might they all enjoy doing?"

• “Do you think they could all be friends? Why?"

These questions teach children to notice diversity without making it a source of division.

Celebrate All Skin Tones

Make positive, specific comments about the beauty of different skin tones:

• “Look at this beautiful deep brown skin—what colors could we use to show how rich and lovely it is?"

• “This character has such pretty tan skin with golden tones."

• “Every skin color is beautiful in its own way, just like every flower is beautiful even though they're different colors."

Connect to Personal Experience

Help children see themselves in the conversation:

• “Which character looks most like you?"

• “Which character looks like your friend [name]?"

• “What would you want to do if you were playing with these kids?"

• “How do you feel when you see pictures of kids who look like you?"

These personal connections help children develop a positive identity and empathy for others.

Activity: Coloring Compliment Circle

This activity combines coloring with social-emotional learning and is perfect for classrooms, playgroups, or siblings.

What You’ll Need:

• Diverse skin tone coloring pages from Color In Pretty (one per child)

• Coloring supplies

• A comfortable space where children can sit in a circle

How It Works:

1. Give each child a coloring page and ask them to Color a character that reminds them of themselves or someone they love

2. Encourage kids to choose skin tones, hair colors, and clothing that feel meaningful to them

3. While coloring, talk about what makes each person special and how we’re all different and all wonderful

4. When finished, gather in a circle and have each child share:

• Who their character represents

• One thing they love about their character

• One kind compliment about someone else’s artwork

5. Display all the artwork together to show the beautiful diversity of the group

This activity teaches children to appreciate their own uniqueness while celebrating others'—building both confidence and empathy.

Encouraging Inclusive Language

The words we use while children Color matter. Here are some ways to model inclusive, affirming language:

Instead of: “That’s the wrong color for skin."

Try: “Skin comes in so many colors! Tell me about the color you chose."

Instead of: “People don’t really look like that."

Try: “There are people all around the world with beautiful skin in many different shades."

Instead of: Staying silent when a child colors all characters with the same skin tone

Try: “I notice everyone in your picture has similar skin. In real life, we see people with lots of different skin colors. Would you like to try using some different shades?"

Instead of: "You colored that person too dark."

Try: “That’s a beautiful, deep brown! Some people have skin that rich color, and it's gorgeous."

Your language shapes how children think about diversity. Use words that celebrate, include, and normalize the full spectrum of human appearance.

Making Inclusion the Everyday Norm

The most powerful lesson happens when inclusive coloring pages aren’t a special “diversity lesson"—they’re just what you always use.

When diverse skin tones appear regularly:

• Children internalize that diversity is normal, not exceptional

• All kids see themselves reflected in everyday activities

• Representation becomes automatic rather than forced

• Inclusion becomes part of your family or classroom culture

At Color In Pretty, we design our coloring pages to feature diverse characters naturally—because real life is eclectic, and children’s art should reflect that reality.

Start Today

You don’t need special training or a formal curriculum to use coloring pages as springboards for conversations about inclusion and celebrating all skin tones. You need:

• Inclusive coloring pages that show diverse children

• A willingness to talk honestly and positively about differences

• The intention to celebrate every shade as beautiful

When children grow up coloring pictures of diverse friends and hearing positive messages about all skin tones, they develop the foundation for a more inclusive, compassionate worldview.

Explore our collection of conversation-starting, heart-opening coloring pages at Color In Pretty—where every shade is celebrated, and every child belongs.