On this page
This color by number car hides a little red car on a patch of green grass. Spaces on the page carry a number, and the key at the bottom matches each one to a color. By the end, your child has a car with blue windows, a yellow stripe and black tires under a sunny sky.
The puzzle has six colors and about 20 spaces. It is a good fit for ages 4 to 8, and most kids take about 15 minutes. Car fans tend to stick with it right to the end.
Reading the key
On this sheet, 1 means blue, 2 means red, 3 means yellow, 4 means sky blue, 5 means green and 6 means black. Each number in the key sits next to a dot of the right color, so a child who cannot read yet can still follow along.
Red covers the most of the car, and sky blue fills the top half of the page. That second one will wear down your crayon. Keep a spare nearby.
A good puzzle for number practice
Kids need to know the numbers 1 to 6. If your child is still learning, read each number aloud and let them find it. Ask them to trace the shape of the number with a finger first. It helps it stick.
You can also turn it into a car game. Say "red light" and have your child stop. Say "green light" and let them color again. It is silly, and it keeps young kids going when their interest starts to slip.
Notice how the tires have two parts. The outer ring is 6 and the middle is 3. This is the tricky spot on the sheet, so point it out before they begin.
Tips for this color by number car
- Start with the windows, because they are small and easy to finish.
- Color the tires next. Black crayon smears, so keep your hand clear of it.
- Save the sky for last and use long, side to side strokes.
- Add a driver in the window once the puzzle is done.
Use crayons or pencils instead of markers on the first try. If a dark color goes on too early, the number will vanish and your child will need to guess.
Cars and counting
Numbers and cars go together well. Look for license plates on your next walk, and ask your child to find a 3 or a 6. That small game takes this sheet off the table and out into the street. Many kids learn their numbers faster when they are hunting for them.
Paint by number art has been around since the 1950s, when kits sold by the million in the United States. Children's puzzle sheets use the same simple idea. There is more on Wikipedia.
Classroom ideas
A color by number car makes a tidy math center. Students work alone, and you can check the result with one look. For a class on transport, hang them along a paper road and ask each child to add a license plate with their age on it.
Older students can make their own version. Give them a plain drawing of a car and ask them to write numbers and a key. Swapping with a partner shows them right away if their directions are clear.
Printing notes
Plain paper works well. The sheet is built for Letter paper, so print it as it is. On A4, switch on fit to page. Draft mode is fine, as the numbers stay dark. Print more than one if you can, because the second try is often the neatest, and kids like to give one away.
More to print
See all of our car coloring pages for more vehicles without numbers. For another number puzzle, try our color by number pages to print with a sailboat.
Questions
Which colors do I need?
Blue, red, yellow, sky blue, green and black. A dark gray works if you have no black.
Are the spaces big enough for young kids?
Yes, most are. The tires and the headlight are the smallest spaces, and a sharp crayon handles them well.
Can I print copies for my class or group?
Yes. Print as many as you need for home, school or library use. Please do not sell the pages.
