With the entire buzz lately around Adult Coloring this year, we felt it was a great time to address the benefits of coloring, doodling and drawing for all ages.
Coloring is Good for You!
When coloring, we are focused on the paper and tools in front of us. The result is less stress, as we are not focusing on our worries. Coloring is a very simple activity that assists with relaxation, boosts creativity, helps improve sleep and attention spans, and boosts cognitive development. And don’t forget how fun it is!
If you’re not sure where to start, perhaps some of these great coloring resources will help:
- Crayola® has a wide variety of Free Coloring Pages and activities for people of all ages, from basic coloring pages for younger kids to intricate coloring pages for adults.
- Mr. Sketch offers several online “Scentivities”, including the free How The Marker Got Its Smell coloring book.
- Dixon Ticonderoga Company has a wide variety of downloadable coloring pages (and even entire books)!
Doodling may actually help our brains process certain kinds of information. It is also possible that encouraging students to doodle may actually increase their engagement and interest in educational subject matter.
If you’re not sure where to begin, or need a little jump-start to get your noodle ready to doodle, Classroom Direct has some great resources:
- Zentangle books and cards to help relax the mind and boost creative confidence. The books also include tips on how to relate Zentangle to learn spelling, math, social studies, geometry and art.
- Draw inspiration from doodles and designs, including freehand and templates, in the Oodles of Doodles book from Design Originals.
Communicate Through Drawing
Because younger children generally struggle to articulate their thoughts or feelings, drawing is a great way to help them get their thoughts across to adults. In turn, drawing plays a part in increasing emotional intelligence.
Drawing also enhances children’s fine motor skills, develops problem solving skills, and boosts children’s confidence and self-esteem. Drawing may seem natural to some, but others may need a little nudge; for those who need more motivation, perhaps some “How to Draw” materials will get the creative juices flowing.
Coloring, doodling and drawing are excellent activities for people of all ages. So pull out the paper, colored pencils, crayons and markers and see where they take you – and display the resulting masterpieces proudly in your classroom, hallway, and even your refrigerator at home!
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