Ocean coloring pages for toddlers and preschoolers

Gentle animals from under the sea

Many children meet sea animals in bath books, songs and aquarium visits, even if they live far from the coast. A whale or an octopus looks like nothing else on land, which makes it easy to recognize and fun to name.

Our sea animals are calm and friendly, with round faces and soft smiles. We left out the parts that make ocean pictures busy: no suction cups on the octopus, no coral reef and no crowd of fish. What's left are big, smooth shapes with thick outlines and plenty of white space.

The friendly octopus with a bubble is marked Very simple, for children of 2 and 3. The whale and the sea turtle are marked Simple. They add waves, a water spout, shell plates and a little fish for children of 4 and 5.

Ideas while you color

• Count the arms

  Count the octopus's curly arms together, then color each arm a different color or make them all the same.

• Any color of sea

  A pink whale or a purple turtle is fine. If your child wants some blue, the waves under the whale are a good place for it.

• Piece by piece

  The sea turtle's shell is split into seven big plates. Older children can give each plate its own color, like a patchwork.

• Where are they going?

  Ask where the sea turtle and the little fish are swimming to. The answer can become a short story to tell while you color.