Coloring at the bedside, and with family.
A page, a pencil, and one question to talk about. There's no right or wrong answer.
No card, no calls. Downloads right away.
One to one
Hand pages out wherever people are, even at a bedside.
Leave a page and a pencil within reach, and read the Story Starter anyway. The question works without the page.
Some days it's a no, and that's fine.
Read it once, slowly
Read the Story Starter once, slowly, then wait longer than feels comfortable.
If the room is happy and quiet, skip it.
Never correct a memory. If it's wrong, it's still theirs.
The family visit
The same drawing twice: Regular for the visitor, Bold for the person they came to see. Something to do together, and a conversation at the same time.
Pages in the library can print with a keepsake back: lines to write down what was said, to give to family.
Finished pages belong to whoever colored them.
“What's a smell that makes you think of spring?”
Three steps, about an hour
- Print both versions of the same drawing, Regular and Bold, on plain letter paper.
- Hand out a page or two to each person, wherever they are: the table, a lounge chair, a bedside.
- Read the Story Starter aloud while they color. Then wait.
Bold has thicker lines and fewer tiny details, easier to see and easier to finish. Everyone colors the same picture.
Start with 6 free coloring pages
The First Pack: six hand-drawn pages, one in Bold too, with your organization’s name on the cover and a Story Starter on each.
No card, no calls. Downloads right away.
Good to know
Can volunteers and families use the pages?
Yes. Staff and volunteers can print pages for the people you serve, their families, and visitors. Families can color along, and finished pages belong to whoever colored them.
How do I run a coloring activity?
Print the same drawing in Regular and Bold, and hand pages out wherever people are, even at a bedside. Read the Story Starter once, slowly, then wait longer than feels comfortable. Never correct a memory. Sign and date the ones they're proud of.
Which version should each person get?
Choose by the person and the day. Regular suits a long, quiet sit. Bold has thicker, darker lines and fewer tiny details, so it's easier to see and finish. Same picture either way, so no one gets "the easy page."
What is a Story Starter for?
It's one question to read aloud while they color, so there's something to talk about. It's about their own life, never a quiz. If the room is happy and quiet, skip it.