Between the Lines
Guides on colouring, pens and paper, gift ideas and screen-free afternoons. The bits that usually go unsaid, said plainly.
What can a toddler make for their grandparents as a present?
A personalised colouring book of your photos, which your toddler helps make and colours with their grandparents, plus handprint and salt dough ideas.
Occasions4 min read
Gift for an older sibling when the new baby arrives: make them the main character
What to give the older child when the new baby arrives, from a personalised colouring book made from photos of them to a doll or a picture book.
Occasions3 min read
Calm Halloween activity for kids 2026: colour in last year's costumes
Turn last year's Halloween photos into a colouring book for a calm week before the big night, with which photos work best and how to choose a cover.
Occasions3 min read
Free pumpkin picking colouring pages
Four free pumpkin picking colouring pages, from the farm shop to the front step, outlines only and made for A4. No sign-up, print as many as you like.
Screen-free1 min read
The photos that make the best colouring pages
Photos with lots going on make detailed colouring pages and simple ones make quicker pages, so a personalised colouring book can have some of each.
Photos4 min read
What age do children colour inside the lines?
There's no official age. An NHS leaflet describes colouring as four stages and puts an age on none of them. Staying in the lines is one sign of pencil control.
By age3 min read
What thickness of paper stops felt tips bleeding through?
Paper from about 120gsm up stops most felt tips going through, and 140gsm has room for a child who presses hard. Printer paper is 80gsm. Toodaloo uses 140gsm.
Pens and paper4 min read