Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Colour In Flower Dominoes
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Colour In Flower Dominoes is a free printable colouring and matching activity for children aged 3 and over. Children colour in flower designs to make their own set of dominoes, then use them to play. It comes with an easy step by step guide and is a gentle way to build fine motor skills.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games company. All you need is the printout and something to colour with. Scissors and thin card are useful if you want a sturdier set. Black and white printing works well, because the children add the colour.
What is on the sheet
Children make their own flower dominoes by colouring in the flowers. The sheet comes with a step by step guide, so a grown up can follow it with a young child. Colouring builds the small hand movements needed for early writing. The finished dominoes can then be used for matching games. Children choose their own colours, so every set looks different and nothing has to be perfect.
Making a set that lasts
Choose your colours
Lay out crayons, pencils or felt tips before you start. Crayons are easiest for the youngest children, because they are chunky and need little pressure. Let your child pick the colours, even if they are not realistic.
Strengthen the printout
If you want the dominoes to last, stick the printed sheet onto thin card before cutting. A glue stick works well. Cardboard from a cereal box is fine. Let it dry flat first so the edges do not curl.
Cut with care
Younger children may need a grown up to cut out the dominoes. Older children can practise with child safe scissors, cutting slowly along the lines. Keep the pieces in a small tray so none go missing.
Store the finished set
Keep the dominoes in an envelope, a small box or a zip bag. Your child can decorate the container with a flower. A set that is easy to tidy away is more likely to be played with again.
Why make your own dominoes?
Dominoes are flat tiles, each split into two halves. Players take turns to place a tile next to another so that the touching halves match. The game is simple, which makes it a good first game for young children. It teaches them to look closely, spot what is the same and wait for their turn.
Fine motor skills are the small, careful movements of the fingers and hands. Children use them to hold a crayon, turn a page, fasten a coat and later to write. Colouring in is a good way to practise, because the child has to grip, control and steer a pencil. Making the dominoes first gives the game a purpose.
Fun flower facts
- Bees and butterflies visit flowers to drink a sweet liquid called nectar.
- Many flowers grow from seeds, and some, like tulips and daffodils, grow from bulbs.
- Bright petals can help insects spot a flower.
- The word daisy comes from an old phrase meaning day's eye, because daisies open in daylight.
- Plants need light and water to grow.
Skills and curriculum link
- Fine motor control
- Pencil and crayon grip
- Colouring with care
- Matching
- Colour recognition
- Taking turns
Ideas to help your child get started
- Holding the crayonShow your child how to hold a crayon between thumb and first two fingers. A short crayon often makes this easier, because it encourages a small, steady grip.
- Colouring in stagesStart by colouring the middle of each flower, then the petals, then the stem or leaves. Small steps make a bigger picture feel manageable.
- Looking for what matchesWhen playing, ask your child to look at the end of a domino and then at the end of another. Saying what they see out loud helps them notice the same colours and shapes.
- Praise the effortComment on the care they take, such as slow strokes or colours chosen. Young children do not need neat results. They need to enjoy making something.
Key words
- DominoA flat tile split into two halves, used in a matching game.
- MatchTwo things that are the same.
- PetalOne of the soft, coloured parts around the middle of a flower.
- StemThe long part of a plant that holds up the flower.
- Fine motor skillsSmall movements of the fingers and hands, like holding a crayon.
- TurnYour go in a game. Then it is someone else's go.
How to use it
- Print the sheet and read the step by step guide together. Gather crayons, pencils or felt tips.
- Let your child choose their colours. Encourage slow, steady colouring, but accept any style.
- Colour in every flower. Take a break whenever your child's hand gets tired.
- If the sheet needs cutting, a grown up cuts for younger children. Older children can cut with child safe scissors.
- Use the finished dominoes to play a matching game. Take turns to add a domino and talk about what matches.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Choose chunky crayons and colour one flower at a time. Hold the paper steady with your other hand, or tape it to the table. Do a little, take a break, and come back later. Colouring over the lines is perfectly fine.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child to colour the flowers in a pattern, such as red, yellow, red, yellow. Or ask them to invent a rule for their set, like only using warm colours. They can then explain their colour choices to someone else.
Make it a game
Share the dominoes between players and take turns to place one next to another so the touching ends match. If you cannot match, miss a go. The first player to use all their dominoes wins. Play with all the tiles face up for little ones.
Talk about it
- Which flower did you enjoy colouring most, and why?
- What colours would you choose for a garden at night?
- Which flowers have you seen near your home or school?
- How can you tell when two dominoes match?
- What do you think bees like about flowers?
- If you invented a new flower, what would it look like?
Take it off the page
Flower hunt
Go for a walk and look for flowers. Count how many colours you can spot. Look without picking, so the flowers stay for the insects.
Playdough flowers
Roll small balls of playdough for petals and press them around a centre. Squeezing and rolling is great exercise for little hands.
Paper flower collage
Tear or cut coloured paper into petal shapes and stick them down to make a flower picture. Talk about the shapes and colours as you go.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first domino, then let them lead. Short sessions suit young children, so stop when interest fades and come back later. The finished set can be played with again and again.
Teachers
Use it as a fine motor station, a quiet choice during continuous provision or a spring topic activity. Children can colour in a group and then play in pairs, which gives you a natural chance to listen to their talk.
Home educators
The sheet suits mixed ages. Younger children can colour and match, while older children can help cut and invent their own rules. It is a calm activity for between lessons, and the dominoes make a handy game for the garden or a trip.
Where this fits in
Before this sheet, children usually enjoy scribbling and making marks, and start to hold a chunky crayon. Spotting colours and simple shapes also helps. Colour In Flower Dominoes builds on these early skills by asking for more control and a clear purpose.
After this sheet, children can move on to colouring within lines, drawing their own pictures and cutting along lines. They can also try matching games with shapes, numbers or patterns, and play a standard set of dominoes. Stronger hands and eyes are a good base for early writing.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Colour In Flower Dominoes for?
It is suitable for children aged 3 and over. Younger children can colour with a grown up's help. Older children can colour more carefully, help with cutting and make up their own game rules. The activity grows with the child.
- What do I need to use the sheet?
You need the printout and something to colour with, such as crayons, pencils or felt tips. Scissors and thin card are useful if you want a sturdier set. A glue stick helps if you stick the sheet to card first.
- Is it free to download and print?
Yes. It is a free resource from the Mini Minds Hub by Jaques of London. You can print it at home or school as many times as you need. Black and white printing works well, because the children add the colour.
- How does it help fine motor skills?
Colouring in makes children grip, control and steer a crayon, which strengthens the small muscles in the hand. Cutting and handling the finished dominoes add more practice. These skills help later with writing, dressing and using cutlery.
- Does a child need to stay inside the lines?
No. Staying inside the lines is a skill that comes with practice and age. For the youngest children, enjoying the colours and making marks matters most. Praise the effort and the colour choices rather than neatness.
- Who should do the cutting?
A grown up should cut for younger children. Older children can try with child safe scissors, going slowly along the lines. Always supervise, and stop if your child becomes frustrated. Many children enjoy cutting when they feel ready.
- How can we play once the dominoes are made?
Take turns to place a domino next to another so the touching ends match. Start with all the dominoes face up, so everyone can see them and talk about what matches. You can add your own rules as your child gets used to the game.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.