Nutcracker Coloring Page

This nutcracker coloring page shows a tall wooden soldier on a theater stage, standing to attention on a small stand. He wears a high hat with a gold star and a white plume, a jacket with gold braid and a wide belt, and he holds a star scepter. A thick white beard and a big toothy smile give him the classic toy face. Red curtains, a painted snowy forest and a checkered floor fill the stage around him.

It is a medium page for ages 6 to 12, and it takes about forty minutes. There are lots of small sections on the jacket, so sharp pencils help. Younger kids can get help with the buttons and the belt buckle.

Dressing your soldier

Red is the traditional jacket color. Pair it with white trousers and a red hat, and use gold for the star, buttons and buckle. Black boots and a black belt finish the look.

Do not feel tied to red, though. A green and gold soldier looks very smart. Purple with silver is a fun change, and it matches the feel of a stage show. Pick two main colors and one shiny color. That simple rule keeps the toy looking neat.

Leave the beard white. Add a few gray lines to show the hair. His cheeks can get a touch of pink, and his nose can be a soft red.

Tips for this nutcracker coloring page

• Start at the top and work down, so your hand does not smudge the color.
• Use a yellow crayon for the gold parts, then add a little orange at the edges.
• Color the gold braid on the jacket in a shade that matches the buckle.
• Color the stage curtains last, and press harder in the folds for soft shadows.

Metallic gel pens look great on the buttons. Wait until the rest of the page is dry before you add them.

A toy with a long history

Wooden nutcrackers became famous in the Erzgebirge mountains of Germany, where craftsmen carved them as toys and gifts. You can read about the nutcracker and how the soldier style became popular. The toy later became even better known through the ballet by Tchaikovsky, first staged in Russia in 1892.

Many theaters still perform the ballet each December. A child who has seen the show may want to color the soldier in the costume from that stage.

Fun ideas for this page

Play the music while you color. The ballet's most famous tunes are short and easy to find, and they make a lovely background for a quiet hour.

Older kids can turn the page into a character sheet. Give the soldier a name, a rank and one brave story. What is he guarding? Who gave him that star?

You can also cut him out and glue a craft stick to his back. Make two or three, and put on a small puppet show for the family.

Parts of the toy to look for

Look closely and you will find more than a soldier. His hat has a wide gold band near the bottom. Rows of gold braid cross his chest, and four round buttons run down the middle. The belt has a big square buckle, and his white gloves are round shapes at the ends of his long sleeves. Point out each part and let your child name it. This small game builds new words, such as jaw, plume, buckle and boots. Kids tend to remember them better when they color each one by hand.

How to print it

If you plan to make puppets, print on card stock, because thin paper bends at the neck. The page prints best at 100 percent scale, or Fit to page on A4.

More holiday characters

This nutcracker coloring page joins the rest of our Christmas coloring pages. Next, try the elf or Santa Claus to build a small holiday cast.

Questions