Kintaro and the Forest Animals Coloring Page — Free Printable for Kids

A coloring page of Kintaro sitting in a meadow with five animal friends — among them a bear, a panda, a rabbit and a fox. Kintaro, the Golden Boy, is a folk hero every Japanese child knows: a boy of extraordinary strength raised on Mount Ashigara, who wrestled the animals of the mountain as playmates. Families set out Kintaro dolls for Children’s Day on 5 May, wishing for children to grow up as strong and as kind-hearted as he was, and the single character on his red bib reads kin, meaning gold, which is how he is recognised at a glance. Free to download and print, no registration needed.

Free download — no registration required

Is coloring animals good for the mind?

Recalling an animal’s colors and shapes as you work brings memory and sustained attention into play, and a familiar animal is one of the easiest prompts for conversation there is. Coloring is widely used as a recreational activity in Japanese care homes for that reason — though the evidence that it prevents dementia is limited, and it is better thought of as something people enjoy together.

What other animal-themed activities work well in care settings?

Animal karuta — the Japanese picture-card matching game — animal quizzes, folding origami animals and guessing animal calls all go down well. Supervised visits from animals, known as animal-assisted activities, are used too, and are reported to lift mood and get people smiling.

Which materials suit an animal coloring page?

Colored pencils with strong pigment are the easiest place to start. A softer lead handles fur and feathers better, and watercolor pencils blended with a damp brush give a soft coat. For hands that tire quickly, choose light barrels that do not have to be pressed hard to leave color.