AI for Play: How Generative AI is Changing the Coloring Book
Results from a variety of generative AI models
Betweened is expertly-curated, family-friendly entertainment available on iOS and Android from Dr. Carla Engelbrecht, an expert in educational technology products and content. For more more thoughts on parenting thoughtfully with technology, sign up for our weekly(ish) newsletter.
Coloring sheets have always been a favorite pastime for kids, but what if you could create highly personalized pages that cater precisely to your child's interests? That's where generative AI comes in. My daughter, who had long outgrown traditional coloring books, found a renewed interest when I introduced her to the world of generative AI through DALL-E. It's not just her; friends have reported similar excitement about creating unique pages that perfectly fit their children's preferences.
Generative AI is a branch of artificial intelligence that can create new content, such as images, text, or music, based on patterns it learns from data. It's like having an artist or writer assistant that can produce works based on a set of instructions or prompts.
Using generative AI for coloring sheets provided us with a bonus opportunity to delve into discussions about generative AI, exploring its potential benefits and drawbacks. It's fascinating to see how technology can spark creativity and learning in unexpected ways.
Make Your Own Coloring Pages
Choose a Model: Most platforms require an account, even the free ones. Some options include:
Adobe Firefly (free and premium versions)
Canva Magic Media App (limited credits)
DALL-E 3 (available via ChatGPT-4 subscription)
Midjourney (limited credits)
Dreamstudio.ai (limited credits)
Craft Your Prompt: Start with "coloring page of" and add your specific subject, like "an aggressive llama playing piano" (a fun suggestion from my daughter). You can also specify the style, such as "black and white line art," and tailor it to your child's age and skill level.
Review and Discuss: Look at the output together. Is it the right difficulty level? Are there any errors? How does it compare to your expectations? If you try different generative AI models, how does the output compare?
Revise and Experiment: Don't be afraid to tweak your prompt and try different platforms to see how the results vary.
Print and Color: Once you're happy with the output, print your personalized coloring sheets and enjoy some coloring time!
Questions you might discuss
What is generative AI? Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence that can create new content, such as images, text, or music, based on the input it receives.
Why does it take time to generate? Generative AI models need to process a lot of data and run complex algorithms to create content, which can take some time.
Why do different models output different items? Each model is trained on different data sets and uses different algorithms, leading to variations in the output.
Why do some sites have content creation warnings? These warnings are in place to prevent the creation of inappropriate or harmful content, as generative AI can potentially produce such material.
Why can't I make a coloring page of [celebrity]? Most models have content policies that restrict the creation of images featuring specific individuals, especially celebrities, to respect privacy and copyright laws.
Bonus: When you get bored of pages for the kiddo, you can generate some to keep you amused, like a mandala or appendectomy surgery!
Dr. Carla Engelbrecht is a highly-selective mom, product leader, and internationally recognized expert on children’s education and entertainment technology. As founder of Betweened, she's on a mission to transform social entertainment for kids and their families. If you haven’t already, sign up for the newsletter to get more articles like this or enjoy our free 60 minute video on how to manage when technology goes sideways.
Correction: Midjourney does not display ads.
