How to Organize a Coloring Contest for Children

Colouring contests give children an exciting creative project while bringing families, schools and community groups together. They can be hosted at a school fete, neighbourhood gathering or local community centre without requiring a large budget.

A well-run contest should feel fun rather than overly competitive. Clear categories, simple rules and thoughtful prizes help children enjoy the activity while giving organisers a smooth process from preparation to announcement.

Present Contemporary Art offers free printable colouring pages across animals, nature, sport, cartoons, holidays and seasonal themes. These designs can provide the starting point for take-home entries or a supervised colouring session.

Set the Purpose and Format

Begin by deciding who the contest is for. Options include early-years children, primary school pupils, mixed-age families or every child attending a community event. Also choose between take-home sheets, a colouring session at a venue or an online submission system.

Set a realistic target for entries before selecting prizes and judges. A small neighbourhood event might suit 20–40 artworks, while a school contest could accommodate hundreds. Decide whether prizes will be awarded by age group, theme or category, and whether every child should receive a participation certificate.

Choose a Theme and Colouring Pages

Select a theme that children recognise and enjoy. Australia Day, Easter, sport, Australian animals or favourite cartoon characters all work well. Present Contemporary Art’s seasonal and holiday collections make it easy to match the subject to an event date, while its animal and sport pages suit year-round competitions.

Print the chosen design on standard A4 paper and check that it leaves enough space for young children to colour. Test several printer settings to ensure important details remain clear. Provide plain paper as an alternative for children who prefer drawing their own scene or using a different format.

Plan the Schedule, Venue and Budget

Work backwards from the closing date to allow enough time for promoting the contest, receiving entries and judging the work. School term dates vary between Australian states, so check local calendars before setting deadlines. Avoid the middle of the Christmas period and consider the Australian summer when planning an outdoor activity.

A school hall, council library, community centre or local church hall may provide a suitable venue at low cost. Ask about hire fees, tables, chairs, waste collection and insurance. Prepare an A4 budget covering printing, art supplies, refreshments, certificates and prizes.

Local Parent & Community Committees often support school fundraisers, while councils may offer small community grants. A nearby craft shop, bookstore or café could sponsor prizes or donate vouchers, helping families keep participation affordable.

Create Clear Rules and a Simple Entry Process

Keep the rules short and suitable for children. State the age groups, entry limit, theme, closing date and acceptable colouring materials. Explain whether entrants may use crayons, pencils, felt pens or paint, and whether help from an adult is permitted. Name or code the entries so judges can assess them without knowing who created them.

Parents can submit finished pages by email, upload a photograph or place them in a labelled collection box. A simple form should record the child’s first name or initials, age group and parent contact details. Ask separately for permission to display or publish photographs, especially when entries are submitted online.

Publish the rules before the contest opens and repeat the deadline in every reminder. Keep instructions consistent across posters, newsletters and social media so families do not receive conflicting details.

Prepare Judges and Prizes

Choose two or three judges who understand children’s artwork and can follow a shared scoring guide. Useful criteria include creativity, careful use of colour, completion of the theme and suitability for the age group. A short rubric helps judges disagree less and makes the result easier to explain.

Offer a mix of prizes so different kinds of creativity are recognised. Certificates, quality pencils, reusable art kits and modest vouchers from local businesses are often more useful than expensive prizes. Include participation certificates for every child and, where possible, award honourable mentions in each age group.

Keep the judging process fair and transparent. If judges cannot be available on the final day, hold a scheduled session shortly beforehand and record the scores. Announce the judging date so entrants know when results will be published.

Organise the Day and Manage Entries

Prepare labelled tables, colouring pencils, sharpeners, spare paper, glue sticks and child-safe scissors. Check that chairs and desks suit different heights, and offer a quieter area for children who become overwhelmed by a busy room. An arvo session may need extra water, sunscreen and air-conditioning in summer.

For an event-based contest, create a friendly check-in point where a volunteer records each entry. Explain the order of activities and remind children to put their name and code on the page before collection. Photograph the display only after confirming that every visible artwork has appropriate consent.

If the contest is take-home, package the printable pages with instructions, a return date and contact details. Keep digital copies organised by age group and remove unnecessary personal information before sharing results.

Promote the Contest and Manage Submissions

Advertise through school newsletters, council noticeboards, libraries, community centres and parent social-media groups. A colourful poster featuring the chosen theme will attract attention in shops, cafés and community businesses. Include the entry method, deadline, age categories and contact point, then send one reminder before closing.

Choose a submission method that suits the audience and available technology. Younger children may benefit from returning a physical page, while families with reliable internet access may prefer uploading a photograph. A combined approach usually gives the broadest participation.

Submission method	How it works	Best suited to	Practical consideration
Online	Parents complete a form and upload a clear photograph	Families comfortable using digital devices	Keep the file size simple and provide an alternative
Paper	Children return printed pages to school or a drop box	Early-years settings and community events	Label folders by age group and record each entry
Combined	Families choose either option	Larger contests with varied access	Give identical instructions and record both methods consistently

After closing, check every submission against the rules and resolve missing information with families where possible. Announce the winners and participation certificates at an assembly, fete or community gathering, and publish photographs only where consent has been given. Ending with a cheerful display of the artwork ensures every child feels included, not just the prize winners.