By Kathy Laurenhue, M.A., CHP
Why Adult Coloring Is a Wellness Tool
Remember when coloring was just about picking the perfect crayon? As children, we were building eye-hand coordination, dexterity, and fine motor skills – benefits that remain important for older adults. If you are an older adult, those skills might have been compromised by arthritis, strokes, or other conditions, and coloring is back as a fun and relaxing way to tune them up again.
According to healthline.com, coloring offers many mental and physical health benefits for older adults, including:
- Gives your brain a gentle workout
- Relieving stress and reducing anxiety
- Encourages mindfulness and being present
- Providing a distraction from pain
- Promoting playfulness – on your own, with your peers, or with other generations
- For some, it’s also a nostalgic experience
What to Color: More Options Than Blank Paper
Even if you know coloring is good for you, staring at a blank sheet of paper can be intimidating. How then, do we make coloring a crowd-pleaser?
- Nature lovers – Flowers, gardens, landscapes, forests, and single blooms
- Transportation fans – Trains, planes, vintage cars
- Pet people – Exotic animals, dogs, cats, birds, or sea creatures
- Foodies – Food items, displays, or culinary scenes
- Travel lovers – Postcards, iconic landmarks, travel posters
- Faith-focused participants – Religious coloring books for major faiths
- Pop culture fans – Celebrities, movie scenes, or shows like Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Wizard of Oz, and Muhammad Ali
- Family portraits – Using ChatGPT, submit a picture and ask to create a coloring page using the photo
- Pattern enthusiasts – Mandalas, repetitive designs, geometric patterns, decorative fans or flags
Famed psychologist Carl Jung gave his patients mandalas to color because they reported feeling calm, safe, and at ease doing so. Repetitive patterns and symmetrical designs appeal to many.
“A mandala is the psychological expression of the totality of the self.” ~ Carl Jung
The Social Side of Coloring
Coloring can be just as social as it is creative.
- Embrace intergenerational opportunities. Pair residents with visiting children or grandchildren — a realistic undersea scene for one, a cartoon dinosaur for the other, or even unicorns.
- Social space. Create “color-and-chat” afternoons where participants relax, color, and connect.
- Encourage group projects. Find a large mural where multiple people color sections of it.
- Hosting a bazaar or craft fair: Turn colored designs into bookmarks, notecards, or gift tags.
Think Outside the Coloring Book
For variety, try these creative twists:
- Cut out a bunch of black and white cartoons from newspapers or magazines and let participants choose one to give a colorful life.
- Fill in words and inspirational phrases.
- Write a grandchild’s name in large block lettering and color.
- Color a picture on a post card.
- Color a design on adhesive paper and make your own stickers.
- Paint on fabric like shoes, a tote bag, or a cover on a notebook.
Maximize Your Activity Connection Subscription
Subscribers have access to monthly art projects — including adult coloring pages that match the monthly theme. Each design is available in two versions: one more detailed, one simplified for those living with dementia.
This flexibility ensures every participant can experience the creative, therapeutic benefits of coloring — no matter their ability level.
Ready to try? Check out our monthly set of coloring pages.
Kathy Laurenhue, M.A., CHP, the creator of WiserNow.com, is a prolific, award-winning writer, publisher, and a frequent contributor to Activity Connection. Kathy Laurenhue, M.A., CHP, the creator of WiserNow.com, is a prolific, award-winning writer, publisher, and a frequent contributor to Activity Connection.
Leave a Reply