Kawaii Mermaid Coloring Page

Big head, tiny arms, huge shiny eyes. This kawaii mermaid coloring page shows a chubby baby mermaid floating just above the sand, with both hands stretched out as if she wants a hug. Two round hair puffs sit on top of her head, each one tied with a yellow bow. Her fat tail curls up on the right and ends in a two part fin.

Every shape on the page is large, so it works well for kids from about 3 to 7 with thick crayons. Plan on 15 to 20 minutes. A child who likes small jobs can stay longer and give each tail scale its own color.

What your child will find in the picture

Start with the mermaid. She has a heart on her top, a petal belt around her waist and a wide open smile. Small coil marks in her hair show that it is springy and soft. Then look around her. A yellow fish and a pink fish swim near her ears, two tall kelp plants sway at the sides, and bubbles float up to two little stars.

The sand has its own surprises. One starfish on the left is smiling, and a smaller one on the right is smiling too. A scallop shell sits between them. Young kids love to find faces, so ask yours to point at each one before coloring.

Kawaii mermaid coloring page color ideas

We colored our sample with warm brown skin, dark brown puffs and a pink tail, but this is your child's mermaid. Let them choose. Kawaii art tends to look best in soft colors, so pastel crayons are a good pick for the tail.

• Pink and pale pink scales, with a purple fin
• Mint scales with a yellow fin and a yellow belt
• Lilac scales and a sky blue top
• One rainbow row at a time, starting at the belt

Her hair puffs are the biggest spaces on the page. Have your child color them with the side of a crayon instead of the tip. The job goes faster, and little hands get less tired.

Small tips for small hands

Do the tail last. The scales take the longest, and a tired child may give up if they come first. Color the big parts first: hair, face, top. That way the picture looks nearly done early on, and the scales feel like a treat.

Each hand has separate fingers, and they are the hardest part here. A sharp colored pencil works better than a crayon for those. If your child is only 3, a grown up can do the fingers while your child does the sand. Working on one page together is half the fun anyway.

Put a second sheet under the page if you use markers. Thin printer paper lets ink soak through to the table.

Where the word kawaii comes from

Kawaii is a Japanese word that means cute or adorable. Kawaii style took off in Japan in the 1970s, through youth culture and cute characters in comics, cartoons and shop goods. The look is known for round shapes, big eyes and small mouths, often in soft colors. Check this mermaid against that list with your child. She has all three.

Play with it afterward

Counting works well here. Ask how many bubbles are in the water, then how many stars are in the sky above them. Older preschoolers can count the fingers on one hand and check that the other hand matches.

Next, cut out the mermaid and tape a craft stick to her back. She makes a fine puppet. Your child can give her a name, then tell you where she is swimming and who she is waving at. Teachers can run this as a short story circle, with each child adding one line.

More cute pages to print

For another round little character, try the kawaii unicorn coloring page. The baby mermaid coloring page is just as simple, and the kawaii cat coloring page has the same soft, happy style.

Questions