On this page
Six hearts sit one inside the other on this rainbow heart coloring page, with a tiny smiling heart at the very center. Each band has a letter at the top of both lobes, so a child can see which color goes where: R, O, Y, G, B and P. A sun peeks in from the top corner. Two clouds drop rain over a low green hill at the bottom of the sheet.
It works well for ages 3 to 8. The bands are wide at the top and narrow near the point, so plan on about 15 minutes, and expect a little wobble toward the bottom.
A color lesson hiding in a heart
The letter key turns the page into an easy reading game. Your child finds the R, says the sound and picks up the red crayon. For kids just learning letters, that first link between a letter and a real word is a big deal. Older kids can use it as a quick spelling check.
The order matters too. Going from the outside in, the colors run just like they do on a real rainbow. Say them out loud as you go, and most children will know the order by the second band.
Rainbow heart coloring page color ideas
Follow the key for the classic look. Press firmly with crayons, since a rainbow wants strong color. A pale blue sky behind the heart will let it glow, and white clouds finish the scene.
After that, feel free to bend the rules. Print a second copy and try one of these:
- A sunset rainbow of red, orange, pink and gold
- An ocean rainbow in six shades of blue and green
- Pastels only, for a soft candy look
Leave the center heart a light color so its face stands out. Pale yellow or pink is perfect, and a touch of pink on the cheeks brings the smile to life.
Staying inside the bands
Start with the outside band and work your way in. That way your hand rests on clean paper, and the wax will not smear. Turn the sheet as you go. Coloring around a curve is much easier when the paper moves and your arm stays still.
Near the point, the lines get close together. Switch to a sharper crayon or a colored pencil for that part. If colors overlap a little, call it blending. Real rainbows have soft edges anyway.
Crayons laid side by side can also be a neat trick. Line up all six on the table in order before you begin, and your child will not have to hunt for the next one.
How a real rainbow works
A rainbow needs sunlight and drops of water. Light bends as it enters a raindrop, bounces off the back and bends again on its way out. Along the way the colors spread apart. That is why you see one only when the sun is behind you.
In the main bow, red sits on the outside and violet on the inside, just as this heart has red on its outer edge. Isaac Newton listed seven colors, partly to match the notes in a musical scale. Our heart leaves out indigo, so ask older kids where they would put it.
Try this with water
On a sunny day, stand with your back to the sun and spray a fine mist from a garden hose. Look into the spray, and you may catch a small rainbow of your own. Bring the colored sheet along and compare the order of the colors.
In class, cut the finished heart into its six bands and ask kids to put them back in order. The pieces fit inside each other, so it works as a simple puzzle.
More rainbows to print
The rainbow coloring page has a classic arch to color. For a horse with a rainbow mane, try the rainbow unicorn coloring page. Very small kids may like the plain shape on the simple heart coloring page first.
Questions
What do the letters mean?
They are a color key. R is red, O is orange, Y is yellow, G is green, B is blue and P is purple. Each letter sits in the band it belongs to.
Why are there only six bands?
Six is a good number for small hands, and it matches the way most kids name a rainbow. Older kids can split one band to add indigo.
Do I have to follow the letters?
No. They are just a helper. A child who wants a pink and purple rainbow should go right ahead.
