How to Plan Crafts and Coloring Sessions with Lil Doodle Friends

By Shop ARL: Online Stationery Store for Mindfulness Journaling | Published: 2026-11-02

Category: How-to Guides

Turn one coloring book into a calm, screen-free session: pick a scene, set up a simple station, and pace the crafts so kids finish proud, not bored.

Quick answer

Treat the Lil Doodle Friends Crafts & Coloring Book as a session kit, not a free-for-all: choose one coloring page or paper craft in advance, set out only the supplies it needs, and plan a clear finish so the activity ends on a good note.

Why one activity per session beats a whole-book marathon

A 20-activity book is easy to over-plan. If you hand over the whole book and a full art caddy, most kids flip pages, start three scenes, and finish none. Choosing one activity in advance keeps the session focused and makes cleanup predictable.

This matters more for the paper crafts than for the coloring pages. A coloring scene can be paused and resumed later; a craft that involves cutting and folding usually cannot. If your child tends to lose interest halfway through, schedule coloring on busy days and save the hands-on paper crafts for when you have uninterrupted time.

The trade-off: preparation time versus session length

A five-minute setup buys you a longer, calmer session, but it is not free. Decide how much prep you are willing to do before you start. If you are squeezing craft time between dinner and bedtime, pick a coloring page and skip the craft. If you have a rainy afternoon, the paper crafts are worth the extra setup.

The book does not specify a recommended age range or a per-activity time estimate, so use your child's attention span as the guide rather than a number on the cover. Start with one activity and add a second only if the first is finished with energy to spare.

When this approach does not fit

If you are planning for a group, a party, or a mixed-age crowd, one-activity-per-session planning is too slow. In that case, set out several coloring pages at once and keep the paper crafts as an optional station for older kids. Also skip the structured session entirely if your child uses coloring to unwind independently; some kids do better with open access to the book and no plan at all.

How to plan a Lil Doodle Friends session, step by step

Choose one activity before the session starts: Flip through the book yourself and pick a single coloring page or paper craft. Match it to the time available: coloring for short windows, paper crafts for longer ones. If you cannot decide in under a minute, default to a coloring page.
Set up a station with only the supplies that activity needs: Put out the book, the chosen page, and the specific tools for that activity. Keep the rest of the art supplies out of reach so the station stays tidy. Check that scissors, glue, or any craft tool are appropriate for your child before you sit down.
Preview the page or craft together: Spend a minute pointing out the scene or the craft steps so your child knows what finishing looks like. This is especially useful for paper crafts with folding or assembly. If the craft has steps your child cannot read yet, plan to read them aloud as you go.
Set a visible finish line: Agree on what done means for this session: one page colored, one craft assembled, or a set timer. A clear endpoint prevents the session from drifting into boredom or a mess. For coloring, done can mean the scene is colored, not fully shaded; decide this before starting.
Close with a two-minute cleanup and a place to store the work: Have your child cap markers, collect scraps, and put the finished page or craft in a folder or on a display spot. Return the book to its shelf so the next session starts fresh. If a page is unfinished, mark it with a sticky note so the next session can resume instead of restarting.

Product facts

Lil Doodle Friends Crafts & Coloring Book: The Lil Doodle Friends Crafts & Coloring Book contains 20 coloring pages and paper craft activities, a mix of colorable scenes and hands-on paper crafts. That mix lets you choose a low-mess coloring session or a more involved craft session from the same book, depending on the time you have.
Lil Doodle Friends Crafts & Coloring Book