Free New Year Bookmarks for Kids to Color

The week between Christmas and New Year can feel a little wild, right? The routines are off, everyone is tired, and you may still want to keep the kids somewhat on “homeschool mode” without having to do a full lesson plan.

That is where coloring New Year bookmark printables for kids can help. You print them once, set out some markers, and suddenly you have a simple literacy activity that feels festive, not forced.

Keep reading – I’m going to share some tips for including these new year bookmarks for kids in your days and how something as small as a bookmark can gently support everyday reading in the new year…and beyond! Think of these bookmarks as the perfect low-prep, high-use, and kind to tired parents in late December – early January activity!

About the New Year Coloring Bookmark Printables for Kids

The New Year coloring bookmarks PDF comes complete with a ready-to-print page, with 4 different New Year-themed black and white bookmarks for your kids to color. You print the pages, cut along the lines, and you are done. No design work, no formatting, no tech skills needed.

Each page holds four New Year bookmarks for kids. They are sized to fit in chapter books, picture books, and even read aloud binders. The designs stay simple, so they are easy to color and quick to cut.

They are free, printer friendly, and made for a homeschool setting, where you want something cute that also supports reading. While you could totally “just” incorporate the New Year bookmarks into your own family, they’re also great for including in a homeschool co-op New Year celebration or study, handing out at your local library‘s homeschool event, and even as part of a neighborhood Free Little Library box!

Fun New Year Themes, Kid-Friendly Designs, and Positive Messages

These New Year coloring bookmark printables for kids include the following fun, but simple, themed designs:

• a fireworks bookmark
• a bookmark with a clock set to midnight and “Happy New Year” in text
• a bookmark with the “Happy New Year” text and part balloons
• a bookmark with a text countdown from ten to zero!

Younger kids enjoy the big shapes and simple outlines. Older kids like adding details, shading, and patterns in the background. Everyone gets to color at their own level without needing a “younger” or “older” version. Sweet, right?!

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Easy to Print, Cut, and Use With Just Basic Supplies

You really do not need anything fancy to use these printables. Most families already own what they need (and more) to make this printable activity happen. That is why they work so well for a last-minute activity!

Here’s what you’ll want to have on hand:

• Printer with black ink
• regular printer paper or light cardstock (I prefer cardstock for extra durability)
• scissors or a paper cutter
• colored pencils or markers (the kids could use crayons, but I would suggest avoiding them if you’ll be laminating the bookmarks since the heat of the machine could melt the crayon wax)
• Optional: laminator

Print as many pages as you like, in as many copies as you need. Cut the bookmarks in a few quick snips. Put them in a small tray with coloring supplies, and your kids can jump in right away while you refill your coffee (or microwave it for the third time that morning – been there!).

Simple Ways to Use New Year Coloring Bookmarks in Your Homeschool

Printable bookmarks can do way more than mark a page. With a tiny bit of intention, they can support reading habits without adding more to your plate.

Below are easy ideas that mix celebration, reading time, and gentle goal setting, all with the same stack of printed bookmarks.

Kick Off a New Year Reading Tradition With a Quick Coloring Session

Starting the homeschool routine after taking a break for the holidays can be…interesting. We’re all used to relaxing after all the Christmas festivities and it can be rough to get back in the routine.

How’s this for a way to get the kids (and you!) to ease back into the homeschool routine:

• print a set of New Year bookmarks for each child
• spread them out on a table with some markers or colored pencils
• put on some soft music, an audiobook, or just chat together while coloring

While the kids color, talk about favorite books from the past year. Ask questions like, “Which book made you laugh the most?” or “Which story had your favorite world?” This keeps things light, but you are still talking about reading in a real way.

At the end of your session, everyone chooses one bookmark to use in their current read and one to save for a future book.

Use Bookmarks to Set Gentle Reading Goals for the Year

New Year goals can feel heavy for kids, especially if they already struggle with reading. Bookmarks give you a small, friendly place to keep goals soft and personal.

Invite your kids to flip the bookmark over and write a short reading goal on the back. Keep it age appropriate and very doable. A few ideas:

• “I want to read 10 chapter books this year.”
• “I will try one new graphic novel series.”
• “I will read for 10 minutes most days.”
• “I want to listen to three audiobooks with my family.”

You can offer simple prompts like:

• “This year, reading will feel fun when…”
• “I am curious to read more about…”
• “One kind of book I want to try is…”

If a child is not writing yet, you can write their words for them or use a small sticker to mark their goal. The bookmark becomes a quiet reminder tucked inside their book, not a loud chart on the wall.

Turn Bookmark Coloring Into a Quiet Time or Morning Basket Activity

Some days you just need a calm minute or two. Coloring bookmarks fits so well into that need.

You can slip a printed bookmark page into your morning basket or quiet time bin. When you call kids to the table, (or sofa!) they know they can start with coloring while you handle younger siblings or set up the next lesson.

Try pairing bookmark coloring with:

• An audiobook (did you know your library card likely comes with access to many free audiobooks?!)
• A family read aloud from your couch
• Poetry tea time with snacks and short poems

Kids keep their hands busy while still listening to rich language. You get a peaceful start or reset to the day, and everyone walks away with a useful bookmark at the end. That’s a win-win situation if you ask me!

Make Reading Feel Special With Simple Rewards and Routines

You do not need charts, stickers, or fancy prizes to motivate readers. Small, thoughtful routines can do a lot.

Here are a few easy ideas:

• Keep a small basket of finished bookmarks by your reading nook
• Let kids choose a “special bookmark” each time they finish a book
• Invite siblings or friends to trade bookmarks after a shared read
• Match the bookmark theme to the book type, like animal bookmarks for animal stories

When kids have a say in which bookmark they use, reading feels more personal. They start to see themselves as readers with their own style and taste, which matters far more than any big reward system.

Tips for Encouraging a Love of Reading All Year Using Printable Bookmarks

Once New Year has passed, the bookmarks do not need to disappear. What a waste that would be! You can keep using them as simple tools to support reading all year long.

Let Kids Personalize Bookmarks to Match Their Interests

Give your kids freedom with the designs. If one child loves space, hand them the bookmarks with stars, rockets, and moons. If another adores animals, point them to the owls and foxes.

Encourage them to:

• Add their name in bubble letters
• Draw tiny doodles from their favorite stories
• Write down book titles they have finished along the edge

When kids see their interests on the bookmark, the book in their hands feels more like “their” world. That small sense of ownership can nudge them to pick up a book more often.

Pair Bookmarks With Library Trips, Read Alouds, and Book Clubs

Printable bookmarks slip into almost any reading routine you already have.

A few simple ways to pair them with what you do:

• Bring a freshly colored bookmark on your next library trip, then “assign” it to a new library book
• Use matching bookmarks for a sibling book club or co-op group that reads the same title
• Choose a new bookmark every time you start a family read aloud, then keep it in that book until you finish

You are not adding big projects or extra planning. You are just adding a small, fun detail that reminds kids, “We are a reading family.”

Protect and Reuse Favorite Bookmarks for Ongoing Motivation

Some bookmarks will become favorites. You will see the same one show up in book after book, and that is a good thing.

If you want to keep them from getting lost or ripped, you can:

• Laminate them, if you own a laminator
• Cover both sides with clear packing tape, then trim the edges
• Store favorites in a small box, jar, or pencil pouch near your books

Reusing favorite bookmarks reminds kids of stories they already loved. That warm feeling carries over into the next book they open.

Get the New Year Bookmarks for Kids!

I can’t wait for you to start using these New Year bookmarks in your homeschool!

You have two easy ways to get the PDF with the printable bookmarks:

• Fill out the form below. After you hit submit, check your email for a confirmation message. Click the link in that email to confirm, and the PDF with your New Year bookmarks will arrive in your inbox within a few minutes.
• Join the Printable Playground. I’ll send you the monthly password, and you can log in to access my full library of free educational printables. There are already more than 200 options waiting for you, and I keep adding new ones all the time.

Happy New Year!

Coloring New Year bookmarks gives homeschool parents a simple, low-prep way to mark the new year and support reading at the same time. You print them once, set out some crayons, and you have an easy activity that your kids can enjoy across ages.

Use them to kick off a new reading tradition, set gentle goals, add calm to your morning basket, or make library trips feel a little more special. Then keep them nearby all year as quiet reminders that your home is a place where books matter.

When you have a spare moment, print a set, try one or two of the ideas from this post, and see how your kids respond. Small habits grow over time, and a simple bookmark can be one more nudge toward a year filled with good stories.

Until next time, stay safe, & enjoy quality time with your family,