16 Penguin Coloring Pages (Download Free Printable PDF)

Hey there, my friend! It’s James here, and today, I’ve got something extra special for you and your little ones. As a former private school teacher and a dad of two, I know how important it is to keep kids entertained while also helping them develop creativity and motor skills. That’s why I’m excited to share a wonderful collection of free printable penguin coloring pages in PDF format—you’ll find them right below!

A Fun Family Coloring Session

Last week, I sat down with my son Mike, who’s six, to color some of these adorable penguin pages. He went straight for his favorite red and green crayons—because, according to him, a Christmas penguin would look “way cooler” than a regular one! Lisa, my 11-year-old daughter, on the other hand, did something different. She carefully used light blue to shade the penguin’s belly and added a tiny scarf and snowflakes to make it look like it was winter.

This is what I love about coloring—it’s not just about staying inside the lines; it’s about creativity, storytelling, and making the activity your own.

Why Penguin Coloring Pages Are a Must-Try

Coloring isn’t just a fun pastime; it has real benefits for kids:

• Sparks your imagination—Penguins are mostly black and white, but on paper, they can be any color! Do you need a rainbow penguin? Do it!
• Helps with focus and fine motor skills—Kids can improve their hand strength and focus by holding crayons, carefully filling in small spaces, and picking out colors.
• An enjoyable chance to learn—You can talk about interesting penguin facts while you color. Did you know that emperor penguins can stay submerged for more than 20 minutes? Lisa thought that was unbelievable!

Genius Tip: Want to make coloring even more fun? Print the pages on cardstock and let your kids cut out their penguins to create a cute winter display. Mike and I did this last time, and he had so much fun placing his “penguin army” around the house!

Safety Tips for Stress-Free Coloring

As a parent, I always keep a few safety rules in mind to make sure coloring time is safe and enjoyable:

• Choose Non-Toxic Art Supplies—We love Crayola and Faber-Castell because they’re safe for kids and have vibrant colors.
• Create a Comfortable Coloring Space—Good lighting is essential! We usually set up near a window during the day, and at night, we use a soft desk lamp to avoid eye strain.
• Supervise Younger Kids—If your little one wants to add some craft elements like glue or scissors, be sure to keep an eye on them. Last month, Mike got a bit too excited with the glitter glue—our dining table sparkled for days!

Make It Even More Fun!

If your child loves penguins, why not turn coloring time into a mini penguin adventure? Here are some creative ideas:

• Watch a Penguin Documentary—“Penguins: Spy in the Huddle” is a great choice for kids, filled with cute and funny moments!
• Create a DIY Penguin Habitat—Use cotton balls for snow, blue paper for an icy lake, and let your child’s colored penguins live in their own little world.
• Penguin-Themed Snacks—Lisa and I once made “penguin sandwiches” using bread, cream cheese, and olives—it was a hit!

Time to Color!

Coloring has always been one of our favorite family activities. It’s a simple way to bond, relax, and boost creativity together. So what are you waiting for? Grab those crayons, print out your free penguin coloring pages, and let’s bring these adorable birds to life!

Let me know in the comments—what colors did your kids choose for their penguins? I’d love to hear about their creations!

Download Free Coloring Pages:

6 Crafts for Kids Using Penguin Coloring Pages

Penguins are adorable, and kids love them! If your little ones enjoy coloring, I’ve got some fun craft ideas to turn those cute penguin coloring pages into creative masterpieces. And guess what? I’ve already published 16 free printable penguin coloring pages in PDF above this article—so you can download them, print them, and dive into these crafts right away!

According to Scholastic, crafting improves children’s fine motor skills and creativity by strengthening hand-eye coordination.

1. Penguin Popsicle Stick Puppets

Materials Needed:

• Colored penguin coloring page (printed and colored)
• Popsicle sticks
• Glue
• Scissors
• Googly eyes (optional)

Steps:

1. To prevent ripping, help your child carefully cut out the colored penguin from the page, making sure to use the smooth edges. Working on one’s dexterity and patience in this way is beneficial.
2. Apply a thin layer of glue to the back of the penguin and firmly press it onto a popsicle stick. Let it dry for a few minutes.
3. If you have googly eyes, attach them to the penguin for extra character. Otherwise, use markers to draw expressions.
4. After it dries, you can play with the puppet! Get the kids to dress up as penguins and use them in a puppet show or story.

Why This Matters: Young children’s puppet play is an excellent way to foster creativity, self-assurance, and the ability to tell stories. After Mike created his penguin family, he gave each puppet a distinct personality. One was an astronaut, and the others were chefs. The penguins went on thrilling adventures together. Enchantment engulfed me as I watched him spin these tales.

2. Penguin-Themed Greeting Cards

Materials Needed:

• Penguin coloring pages
• Colored paper or cardstock
• Glue
• Markers or stickers

Steps:

1. To form the basis of your greeting card, fold a strong piece of cardstock in half. This easy exercise lets children discover the delight of creating their own handcrafted gifts.
2. From your coloring page, cut out a perfectly colored penguin.
3. Apply glue to the back and position it on the front of the card, pressing down gently.
4. Decorate around the penguin with stickers, glitter, or drawn snowflakes.
5. Write a message from the heart inside. Kiddos who are younger can use stickers or scribbles instead of writing.

Card making by hand makes memories last a lifetime. Lisa made a winter-themed card for her grandmother for Christmas last year. She added cotton to make it look like snow. The card made her grandmother cry with happiness when she opened it. I felt so good after doing this small act of kindness.

3. DIY Penguin Bookmarks

Materials Needed:

• Penguin coloring pages
• Scissors
• Laminating sheet or clear tape
• Ribbon (optional)

Steps:

1. Choose a colored penguin design. You can either keep the penguin’s outline or cut it into a long rectangle. For kids, this helps them get better at cutting precisely.
2. Put a laminating sheet or clear tape over it to make it last longer. Tape should be smooth and free of bubbles if you use it.
3. Punch a hole at the top and thread a ribbon through for a cute finishing touch.
4. Let kids personalize their bookmarks with glitter or stickers before using them in their favorite books.

Why It’s Great: Making personalized bookmarks is a great way to get people to read. Lisa loves putting these in her princess storybooks, and Mike even made one where the penguin has a superhero cape on it. They now look forward to reading every night!

For more examples of fun kids’ crafts, visit Michaels Craft Store.

4. Penguin Fridge Magnets

Materials Needed:

• Penguin coloring pages
• Small adhesive magnets
• Scissors
• Glue
• Cardstock (optional for sturdiness)

Steps:

1. To make a penguin shape, carefully cut it out.
2. Put the cutout on a piece of cardstock if the paper is thin to make it stronger.
3. Attach a small adhesive magnet to the back and press firmly.
4. Let it dry completely before sticking it to the fridge or any magnetic surface.
5. Make a family of penguins or a fun scene out of magnets to put on your fridge.

Educational Benefit: When your child sees their art every day, it will boost their confidence and help them value their creativity. Lisa likes putting the magnets on the fridge in the shape of little penguin families and telling stories about the fun things the penguins do.

5. Penguin Paper Plate Mask

Materials Needed:

• Paper plate
• Penguin coloring page
• Glue
• Scissors
• Elastic string or ribbon
• Black and white paint or markers
• Feathers (optional)
• Hole punch (for the string)

Steps:

1. Make two small holes in the paper plate for your eyes. To give them the appearance of a penguin’s face, make sure they’re big enough to see clearly while still leaving some room.
2. Let kids paint the plate black and white to match a penguin’s natural colors. If they prefer, they can use markers instead for a less messy experience.
3. From the coloring page, cut out a beak shape. If your coloring page has different penguin expressions, pick the most fun one! Glue the beak onto the center of the plate.
4. Add some texture and flair by gluing feathers around the edges for an extra creative touch. In the absence of real feathers, you can create the illusion of fluffy feathers or icy patterns with markers.
5. Use a hole punch to make small holes on each side of the plate. Thread an elastic string or ribbon through the holes and tie it securely to create a wearable mask.
6. Let kids try on their masks and encourage them to act out fun penguin scenes!

Last winter, Mike made a “penguin king” mask and spent the afternoon giving orders to his stuffed animal subjects. He even made a tiny crown for his mask! Seeing his imagination take flight was priceless.

For extra fun, pair this craft with a penguin-themed book or a short animated clip to inspire more storytelling!

6. Penguin Wall Art

Materials Needed:

• Penguin coloring pages
• Picture frame
• Glue
• Decorative items like cotton balls (for snow)
• Construction paper for a background
• Stickers, glitter, or small foam snowflakes (optional)

Steps:

1. Select a colored penguin and cut carefully.
2. Adhere it to a white or blue construction paper backdrop to complement the penguin’s winter theme, or add a playful touch with pink.
3. Add depth and texture by gluing cotton balls as snow or placing small foam snowflakes around the penguin.
4. Use markers or stickers to create a full scene—maybe the penguin is ice-skating, wearing a scarf, or holding a tiny fish!
5. Once the design is complete, place the artwork in a frame and hang it up.
6. Encourage kids to make different seasonal versions of their wall art, changing backgrounds and decorations to match different themes.

Why It’s Special: Personalized artwork makes any space feel special. Lisa made a penguin with glittery wings, and Mike added tiny fish swimming around his! Seeing their creations framed on the wall made them proud of their artistic efforts.

Penguin coloring pages aren’t just for coloring—they can be turned into fun crafts that inspire creativity and family bonding. Whether you make bookmarks, fridge magnets, or even a cute snow globe, your kids will love these activities.

Don’t forget—I’ve already published 16 free printable penguin coloring pages in PDF above this article, so grab them and start crafting today!

What’s your favorite penguin craft? Let me know in the comments!