A Story Starter on every page.
Each page has a question to read aloud while they color. There's no right or wrong answer.
No card, no calls. Downloads right away.
What a Story Starter is 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.
How to read one
Read the Story Starter once, slowly, then wait longer than feels comfortable.
Never correct a memory. If it's wrong, it's still theirs.
If the room is happy and quiet, skip it.
Ten from the library
Every drawing has its own question. Here are ten, each with the drawing it's printed under.
What the research says.
Talking about the past helped a little (Woods et al., a Cochrane review of 22 trials, 2018). Why every page has a Story Starter.
The effects are small to moderate. This is not a treatment.
Ten Story Starters
“Did you hang laundry on a line, or use a dryer?”
“What's the one dish that had to be on the Thanksgiving table?”
“What went on your front door for the holidays?”
“Would you rather be out on a boat or watching from shore?”
“What did you grow, or wish you'd grown, in a garden?”
“Was there a shed, garage, or workbench where you liked to putter?”
“How did your town celebrate the Fourth of July?”
“What's your favorite spot to get warm on a cold day?”
“Which patterns did you love: quilts, lace, tile, or wallpaper?”
“Are you a night owl or an early bird?”
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
What if someone won’t join?
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.
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."
When do new pages arrive?
On the 1st of each month, in time for next month's calendar. One email that morning lists what's new.