Months of the year coloring pages

Free printable months of the year coloring pages follow the calendar from snowmen to fireworks.

These free printable months of the year coloring pages give each month its own set of sheets, from January snowmen to December ornaments. Toddlers get one big, smiling picture per month, and some show the month's name in outline letters. Kids get the holidays and weather of each month. Adults get a detailed mandala for each month, and seniors get bold seasonal scenes. There is also the story behind the month names, from Etymonline, and a season-by-season color guide.

The simplest monthly pictures come first.

Months of the year coloring pages for toddlers give each month one happy picture.

January has a Snowman under the word JANUARY in fat outline letters. The Umbrella does the same for APRIL, and the Spring Flower spells out MAY. Tracing and coloring those letters is a gentle first brush with reading the calendar.

Other months use one bold symbol with a face. February has a Big Valentine Heart, and March has a Big Shamrock. June brings a Smiling Summer Sun, July a Watermelon Slice and December a round Ornament. Hung in a row on the wall, they make a picture calendar a small child can follow.

Month coloring pages for kids follow the holidays and weather of the year.

Each month page gathers the days kids look forward to. January has New Year parties and snow days. February has Valentine's Day and Groundhog Day, and March has St. Patrick's Day. April brings Easter eggs and Earth Day, and May brings Mother's Day and spring flowers.

June opens summer with Father's Day and beach trips. July has Fourth of July parades and fireworks. December holds Christmas trees and Hanukkah candles. For the autumn months, our fall coloring pages and Halloween coloring pages cover leaves, pumpkins and costumes. Older colorers often want something slower for each month.

Monthly coloring pages for adults pair each month with a detailed mandala.

The Winter Forest Mandala circles a deer with snowy pines and a small cabin. The Ornate Lovebirds Mandala sets two birds among roses, hearts and tiny envelopes. In the Irish Countryside Cottage Mandala, sheep graze outside a small stone home. The Decorated Eggs Mandala mixes patterned eggs with tulips and umbrellas.

Spring and summer continue with the Butterflies Mandala, the Lighthouse by the Sea Mandala and the Seashells and Starfish Mandala. December closes with the Holly Wreath Mandala, full of pinecones and ornaments. Coloring one each month becomes a quiet yearly habit, and our mandala coloring pages hold many more. For seniors, the Little Church in the Snow and the Pool Party keep bold lines and simple scenes. Every one of these months also carries a name with a long history.

Where do the names of the months come from?

Most month names come from ancient Rome. Etymonline, the Online Etymology Dictionary, traces January to Janus, the Roman guardian god of doors and gates. His month opened the year. February comes from a Latin word meaning "month of purification," after a Roman feast held that month.

June was probably "sacred to Juno," a Roman goddess. July was renamed to honor Julius Caesar, who was born in that month. Before that it was Quintilis, meaning "fifth." December comes from decem, Latin for "ten," because the old Roman calendar began with March. April is still a puzzle, and Etymonline lists its origin as uncertain.

Kids can write a month's story on the back of its sheet: January for the god of doors, December for the number ten. Knowing where a month comes from is fun, and knowing how it looks outside helps with the colors.

How do you color months of the year pages so each season looks different?

Match the colors to the weather of the month. Winter months look cold in pale blue, lavender and silver, with plenty of white paper left bare for snow. Spring months suit soft pinks, yellows and fresh leaf greens.

Summer months take strong, warm colors: sunny yellow, watermelon red and deep ocean blue. December looks festive in deep red, pine green and a touch of gold. On the mandalas, pick one season palette and repeat it ring by ring, so a whole year of pages still looks like a set.

From a January snowman to a December holly wreath, these free printable months of the year coloring pages keep a picture for every season. Pick this month's page, and let the weather outside choose the colors.