Snowman Face Coloring Page

This snowman face coloring page fills the sheet with one giant, cheeky grin. We moved in close, so you see only his head, his hat and the top of his scarf. He winks with one eye and looks right at you with the other. One eyebrow is up, a big carrot pokes out to the side, and nine lumps of coal curve into a wide smile. A few freckles sit above his rosy cheeks.

The knit hat on top has a fluffy pompom, a row of diamonds, stripes and a thick ribbed cuff. Across the bottom runs a red scarf with a white band of 13 small hearts.

A good page for young kids

Because there is no busy scene behind him, this page works well for ages 3 to 8. A close up face is also easy for little ones to connect with, since they already know where the eyes and nose go. Young kids can finish it in about 15 minutes. If a child takes extra care with the hat pattern, it can stretch to half an hour.

Snowman face coloring page color ideas

The hat holds most of the color on this page. Pick three colors you like and repeat them in order, the way a real knit pattern would. We used purple, yellow and teal. Red, white and navy would look smart. So would two shades of blue with a little silver.

The big white head needs help or it will look empty. Try this: use a pale blue pencil along the outer edge, then fade it toward the middle. Two curved lines inside the head show you where the shadow goes. Keep the center white. That one trick makes the head look like a ball and not a flat circle.

Orange is the obvious choice for the nose, but add a darker orange on the lower side to make it look round. Color the cheeks pink, and leave the coal black, since it is already solid.

Tips for this big close up

• A large open shape shows every marker streak, so crayons or pencils are better for the head.
• Color the diamonds on the hat first. They are the smallest part, and it is easier to work around them.
• Follow the ribs on the hat cuff from top to bottom. Your strokes will look like real knitting.
• Use white crayon on the blue sky for extra snowflakes before you color over it.

Why snow looks white

Here is a good question to ask at the table: what color is snow, really? The National Snow and Ice Data Center says clean snow reflects most of the sunlight that hits it, and that is why we see white. The same page says snow can fall as six-sided flakes and that most flakes are under half an inch across. Look at the small flakes around the hat on this page and count their arms. Each one has six.

Crafts and classroom ideas

Make a mask. Print on card stock, cut around the head, hat and pompom, then glue a craft stick to the back. Kids can hold it up and act out how the snowman feels. Happy is easy. Now ask for sleepy, then surprised. Older kids can draw a new face in pencil on a blank circle, changing the eyes and mouth to show a new mood.

Teachers can use the page for a feelings talk in January. A wink is a nice way to start. Ask your class what a wink means and when a person might do it.

For a door decoration, color two copies and hang them side by side, one with a blue hat and one with a red hat. Then ask a visitor to spot the differences.

More pages for the same table

The snowflake coloring page gives your child a closer look at those six arms. For another bold shape with a knit pattern, try the mitten coloring page.

Questions