I’m sure you’ve all been there. That one week where your head is just pounding from stress. It’s one thing after another: a work task, a doctor’s appointment, a commitment you can’t get out of… It’s just so much. And all you can do is wait for the weekend to get here, but it’s just crawling by. It’s Tuesday and you’re already thinking, “Okay, I need to breathe. I need to relax. Friday, where are you?!”
For those of us with a 9-to-5 or more, it feels like we’re just running on a treadmill all week, telling ourselves, “Friday is coming.” When you get home from work, all you want to do is sleep. You can’t even get through your favorite show or reply to blog comments. All you want is to eat, shower, brush your teeth, and crash. Then you wake up the next morning and do it all over again, just silently wishing for the weekend to arrive.
That was me all last week. Seriously, I could not wait for the weekend to come. It was just too much. But I found something that has helped me ease the stress, and the psychology behind it is actually pretty amazing. Mangatopia, illustrated by Liv Wan. It made me wonder: Why do children love coloring so much, and why do adults need it?
Coloring combines creativity, a sense of accomplishment, and a positive sensory experience—all things a child’s mind loves.
As we grow up, coloring continues to appeal to us, though the reasons shift a bit. For adults and even older kids, coloring is all about:
Essentially, coloring taps into creativity, enjoyment, and a feeling of control over a small task—which are things that appeal to us no matter how old we get.
Freeform vs. Structured Coloring: What’s Your Style?
The way we like to color often says a lot about our personality and even our mood.
Sometimes, what you choose depends on your mood. If you’re feeling restless, you might go for freeform. If you’re feeling stressed, you might find more comfort in a structured pattern. It’s a subtle but powerful way we express what we need at the moment.
The Power of coloring books for Adults
Coloring books and other repetitive patterns have become super popular in adult pre-drawn design coloring books, and there’s a good reason for it. They are great for:
- Mindfulness: The repeating patterns help you focus on the present moment, similar to how you would in meditation.
- Feeling of Control: They offer a sense of order in a chaotic world, which can be very soothing.
- Stress Relief: Filling in the shapes over and over creates a calm, rhythmic motion that can lower your heart rate and ease anxiety.
- Mental Balance: Engage both your logical brain (following the pattern) and your creative brain (choosing the colors), which gives your mind a nice workout and promotes harmony.
Coloring books combine calm, creativity, and control, making them a perfect tool for anyone looking to de-stress.
Coloring: A Different Benefit for Every Age
Coloring benefits our mental health in different ways throughout our lives because it meets our changing needs.
- For Young Children: It’s all about emotional expression, developing skills, and exploring. They use it to communicate feelings, improve their fine motor skills, and build self-esteem.
- For Older Children and Teens: It becomes a tool for stress reduction from school and social life. It helps with focus and patience, and it gives them a safe outlet for frustration.
- For Adults: We mostly use it for relaxation and mindfulness. It provides emotional well-being by giving us a sense of accomplishment and a moment of calm, and it brings a sense of comfort through nostalgia.
Coloring is a gentle activity that supports your mental health in a way that’s just right for your stage in life.
What Your Coloring Choices Say About You
It’s actually so cool how the colors you pick when you’re coloring can hint at your personality or how you’re feeling. It’s not like a total fact, but it’s a pretty interesting psychological thing.
How your mood shows up:
- Bright, warm colors like reds, yellows, and oranges often mean you’re feeling energetic, happy, or super enthusiastic. But, if you’re using a ton of them, maybe you’re a little stressed or frustrated.
- Cool colors, like blues, greens, and purples, usually mean you’re in a calm, relaxed, or thoughtful mood. If you’re using lots of these, you might just really want some peace or emotional balance.
- Dark colors like black or gray can sometimes show sadness or stress, but honestly, some people just love the way they make the other colors pop.
- Pastels and light colors are perfect for when you’re feeling content, sensitive, or just in a super gentle mood.
A peek into your personality:
- Red lovers are usually ambitious and assertive—definitely the kind of person who likes being noticed.
- Blue lovers are more on the calm, reliable side; they’re the thoughtful ones who value stability.
- Green lovers are so balanced and nurturing, always looking for harmony and appreciating nature.
- Yellow lovers are the most creative, cheerful, and spontaneous people ever.
- People who use lots of colors are flexible, open-minded, and love trying new things.
Why the situation matters:
The colors you choose might be about how you’re feeling right now, not who you are all the time. Like, if you’re normally a super energetic person, you might still grab the blue crayons when you’re stressed out. Also, the type of coloring you’re doing changes things—freeform stuff is more about what you’re feeling in the moment, while structured patterns can lead to more thoughtful choices.
Coloring as a way to process emotions:
Coloring with different colors is a great way to handle your feelings. It’s like, you can color a super angry thought in red or a sad memory in blue, and it just feels so good to get it out.
So yeah, coloring is this amazing mix of being creative and getting to know yourself better. It’s a total mood booster.
I always thought it was interesting that therapists use coloring, but it makes so much sense. It’s this cool combination of being creative and getting some psychological insight in a really safe, easy way.
Stress relief and feeling relaxed:
- Coloring things with structured patterns, like pre-drawn designs, helps you focus and get into a state that’s a lot like meditating.
- The repetitive motions and focusing on the picture can actually lower your anxiety and heart rate. It’s like an instant stress buster.
- Emotional expression and processing:
You can use colors and how you color to show feelings that are hard to put into words. Therapists can learn a lot from your color choices, how intensely you color, and your personal style. Structured coloring is great for thinking things through, while freeform can be more about letting things out.
Mental and behavioral perks:
- It’s a great way to improve your focus, patience, and those small motor skills you need for things like writing.
- It helps you practice mindfulness, which is all about staying in the present and not worrying so much about the past or the future.
Feeling good about yourself:
- Finishing a picture gives you a tangible sense of accomplishment, which is an instant confidence boost.
- Structured coloring can even help you practice making decisions and reaching goals.
It’s for everyone:
Coloring is so low-pressure because you don’t need to be an artist to do it. That makes it perfect for people of all ages and abilities. Therapists can use it in all kinds of settings, which is super convenient.
Basically, coloring in art therapy is way more than just a fun activity—it’s like a cool therapeutic bridge between expressing yourself and feeling mentally and emotionally balanced.
Coloring book are a total mindful vibe
It’s no surprise that mandalas are a favorite in art therapy for adults. Their whole design is perfect for mindfulness, focus, and finding your emotional center.
Symbolic stuff:
- Pre-drawn designs are these beautiful circular designs that stand for things like wholeness and harmony.
- Coloring one can totally make you feel more grounded and connected.
The best of both worlds:
- The symmetrical, repetitive patterns give you a feeling of control and order.
- But within that structure, you still get to pick your own colors and shading, so you can express yourself without feeling totally overwhelmed.
The “flow state”:
- The focused, rhythmic act of filling in the shapes is so absorbing that it can put you in a state of “flow,” which is amazing for reducing stress.
Helps with feelings:
- The mix of structure and creativity is great for exploring and releasing emotions in a safe way.
- The colors you choose and how you color can give your therapist clues about how you’re really feeling.
Accomplishment and empowerment:
- Finishing a mandala feels so good because you have this beautiful result that makes you feel proud and confident.
Super versatile:
- Since pre-drawn designs can be changed for any skill level, they’re perfect for all kinds of therapeutic goals.
So, pre-drawn designs are basically this incredible tool that balances control with creativity and mindfulness—which is perfect for adults who want to relax and get some emotional clarity.
Why Kids Are More into Freeform Coloring
It makes total sense that kids prefer freeform coloring over pre-drawn designs, right? It’s all about how their brains and emotions are developing.
Their brains are still growing:
- Little kids are still getting the hang of fine motor skills and spatial awareness. Pre-drawn designs can be a little too complicated with all those tiny lines.
- Freeform coloring lets them just explore and get creative without having to follow a bunch of rules.
Imagination is key:
- Kids’ natural way of playing is super open-ended and imaginative. Freeform coloring fits that perfectly because it gives them total creative freedom.
- Pre-drawn designs can feel a little too restrictive for them because of the whole symmetry thing.
Expressing their feelings:
- Kids use coloring to show how they feel in the moment. Freeform lets them be super bold and impulsive with their colors to reflect their moods.
- Pre-drawn designs might hold them back emotionally if they’re not ready to work inside those patterns yet.
Short attention spans:
- Pre-drawn designs need a lot of focus, which is tough for little kids. Freeform can be done in short bursts, so it’s a better fit.
Sensory exploration:
Kids love the feeling of coloring and mixing colors. Freeform lets them get the most sensory input without all the rules of a structured pattern.
Basically, kids love freeform coloring because it’s perfect for their developmental needs—it’s all about creativity, expression, exploration, and sensory fun. Pre-drawn designs are more of an adult thing for when you’re looking for structure and mindfulness.
The Coloring Journey from Childhood to Adulthood
It’s so cool how the way we color changes as we get older, totally reflecting where we’re at in life. It’s like a “coloring trajectory,” you know?
- Toddlers (1–3): It’s all about exploring colors, textures, and just the motion of it. They’re just scribbling with big crayons or finger painting. The whole point is to develop their hand-eye coordination and learn about their senses.
- Preschoolers (3–5): They start getting some control and recognizing shapes. They’re coloring simple outlines of things like animals. This helps them with early spatial thinking and connecting colors to objects.
- Early school age (5–8): They’re getting better at it and their imaginations are taking off. They’re into simple coloring books and drawing their own imaginative scenes. This boosts their concentration and creativity and helps them learn to finish a project.
- Older children (8–12): This is when it gets more detailed and they mix structure with creativity. They start using more intricate coloring books or even comics. This helps them with planning and paying attention to detail.
- Teenagers (13–18): It becomes a tool for personal expression and handling stress. They might get into adult-style coloring books, like pre-drawn designs, or just do freeform art. It’s a mindful break from all the stress of school and life.
Adults: We use coloring for mindfulness, relaxation, and creative satisfaction. We’re into intricate patterns and pre-drawn designs. It’s all about reducing stress and just giving our brains a nice little workout.
The biggest takeaway is that coloring starts as a sensory activity and then turns into a tool for skill-building and, finally, a therapeutic or mindful activity for adults. The core benefits—like creativity and focus—are always there, but how we use it totally changes with age.
The Right Tools for the Job
I never thought about it, but the tools you use for coloring totally depend on your age and what you’re trying to get out of it.
- Toddlers (1–3): They need big, soft crayons and washable markers that are easy to hold. It’s all about developing their grip and just exploring.
- Preschoolers (3–5): Regular crayons and chunky pencils are great. They’re a little more precise but still forgiving. This helps them learn to control their movements.
- Early school age (5–8): They can use crayons, colored pencils, and fine-tip markers. They’re getting better at hand control and can start experimenting with blending colors.
- Older children (8–12): Now they’re using colored pencils, gel pens, and fine-tip markers for all those detailed pictures. This helps with precision and patience.
- Teenagers (13–18): They love colored pencils, pens, markers, or even digital apps. They need tools that let them do detailed work and really express themselves.
- Adults: We’re into fine-tip markers, gel pens, and professional art stuff. We need precision and control for all the intricate patterns we like to color. It’s all about relaxing and getting that perfect finish.
So, as you get older, the tools you use go from being big and forgiving to precise instruments that help you create detailed, expressive art. It just makes so much sense!
The Power of Pressure and Texture
Okay, this part is so interesting—even the texture of the paper and how hard you press down can affect you. It’s all connected to our development.
Toddlers (1–3): They love rough, textured paper because they use broad, heavy strokes. This helps them build up their hand muscles and gets their brain used to the sense of touch.
Preschoolers (3–5): They use moderate pressure on smooth paper. This helps them learn fine motor control and understand how pressure changes the color’s intensity.
Early school age (5–8): They start playing with variable pressure to create shading. They’re learning to express their feelings through how they color—bold for strong feelings, light for calm ones.
Older children (8–12): They use deliberate pressure for precision and shading, which helps them with focus and planning. It’s also a subtle way to let out emotions.
Teenagers (13–18): They use controlled pressure for artistic effects. It’s a way for them to express themselves and practice mindfulness.
Adults: We use super controlled, deliberate strokes to get a precise look. It’s all about regulating stress and focusing on the moment.
It’s pretty wild how something as simple as pressure and texture goes from being a basic sensory thing for toddlers to an expressive tool for adults. It’s like a whole journey of self-discovery!
Coloring: The Connection Between Body and Mind
I never really thought about it this way, but coloring is an amazing bridge between your fine motor skills and your emotional regulation. The physical act of coloring is so closely tied to your mental and emotional state.
Fine motor skills:
- Coloring is all about hand-eye coordination and controlling those tiny muscles in your hands and fingers.
- For kids, it’s so important for learning how to write and do other daily tasks.
As you get better, you can start doing more intricate stuff like shading and layering colors, which makes your hands even more coordinated.
Cognitive stuff:
- Picking colors and staying in the lines makes you focus, solve problems, and plan things out.
- It’s a great way to build up your patience and concentration, which is so helpful in school and with personal projects.
Emotional regulation:
- The repetitive nature of coloring is super calming and meditative. It’s a great way to lower your stress and anxiety.
- Making choices about color and patterns gives you a safe way to express feelings that you can’t put into words.
- Changing the pressure of your strokes can give you a subtle way to let out tension or calm yourself down.
It’s so cool that coloring helps both kids and adults work on their hand control while also processing their feelings and lowering their stress. It’s a simple activity with so many benefits.
Combining Structured and Freeform Coloring in Therapy
This is such a smart idea for therapy—using both structured and freeform coloring. It’s like you get the best of both worlds for your brain and emotions.
Structured stuff:
- These are great for helping you with fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
- They help you focus and get into a mindful state, plus you get a sense of control and accomplishment.
Freeform stuff:
- This is just open-ended coloring on a blank page.
- It’s perfect for letting your emotions and creativity just run wild without any rules.
- It’s a super safe way to let out feelings like joy or frustration and can be really cathartic.
How it works in therapy:
Therapists often start with structured stuff to help you calm down and focus. Then, once you’re in a good headspace, they’ll introduce freeform coloring to help you express your deeper emotions. This back-and-forth helps you practice moving between control and freedom, which is a great skill for real life. The combination is perfect because it takes care of both your physical and psychological needs.
The Magic of a Quick Coloring Session
It’s amazing that you can get real benefits from coloring in just 5 to 10 minutes! It just goes to show how powerful it is.
Instant focus and mindfulness:
- Even for a few minutes, coloring forces you to pay attention to details and colors. This pulls your mind away from whatever’s stressing you out.
- It’s like a mini-meditation that helps you be present in the moment.
Calming your body:
- The repetitive motions of coloring can actually calm your nervous system, which brings down your heart rate and blood pressure. You feel more relaxed in just a few minutes.
Quick emotional boost:
- Making expressive choices with colors and patterns gives you a fast and safe way to let out tension or just lift your mood.
- Finishing even a tiny section gives you an immediate feeling of accomplishment.
A mental “reset”:
- Short coloring sessions are perfect for breaking a cycle of negative thoughts. It’s a quick mental break that can totally improve your focus for whatever you’re doing next.
I love that something so quick and easy can have such a big impact on your mood and stress levels.
Why a Quick Coloring Session Works So Well
It’s pretty cool how just a little bit of coloring can do so much. It’s because the combo of color choice, patterns, and pressure all work together to help your brain and body at the same time.
Color choice:
- Picking colors is a creative and emotional process. Choosing bright colors can give you a burst of energy, while cool colors can calm you down. It’s all about instant emotional expression.
Patterns:
- If you’re coloring a structured pattern, it helps you focus and stay in the moment. It keeps your mind from wandering.
- If you’re doing freeform, it’s all about letting go and expressing yourself spontaneously. Both are great for lowering stress.
Pressure and touch:
- The pressure you use with your pencil or crayon is about controlling your movements.
- Pressing harder can release frustration, while a light touch can make you feel more calm. It’s a physical way to regulate your feelings.
When all these things come together, even in a short time, they create this amazing multi-sensory experience that boosts your creativity, helps with your motor skills, and totally impacts your emotions. It’s a full-on brain and body workout in just a few minutes!
Coloring as a Mini-Meditation
I totally see why so many adults are into coloring. It’s the perfect little self-care tool or micro-meditation. It’s easy, fast, and so effective.
Mindfulness:
- Coloring makes you focus on the little details, which keeps your mind from overthinking.
- Just 5-10 minutes is enough to break that cycle of stress and anxiety.
It’s so accessible:
- You don’t need any special skills to color, so it’s a super approachable way to take a break.
- It’s low-pressure, which is exactly what you need when you’re feeling overwhelmed.
Creative release:
- Choosing your colors and putting them on paper is a great way to let out some emotional steam.
- The balance between structured and freeform is like a little lesson in emotional processing.
Physical and mental perks:
- The physical act of coloring is really calming.
- And when you finish a section, you get that satisfying feeling of accomplishment, which is an instant mood booster.
It’s so easy to fit into my daily life. I can do it on my lunch break or before bed. It’s just a great, flexible way to chill out and clear my head.
Why Liv Wan’s Mangatopia Books Are the Best.
I received Liv Wan’s Mangatopia series and it looks amazing. It includes three books: Adorable Aliens (a cosmically cute colouring book), Little Monsters (a ferociously cute colouring book), and Spoopy Fun (cute and creepy colouring book) of anime and manga. They have this cute kawaii and chibi art style that I enjoyed colouring , and they’re perfect for all ages.
They’re so good for your brain:
- The detailed designs are so good for mindfulness and helping to reduce stress and anxiety.
- Coloring all those tiny details is great for your hand-eye coordination and motor skills.
- The cute, whimsical themes let you be super creative and feel a sense of accomplishment when you’re done.
Perfect gift idea.
- Honestly, these would make the cutest holiday gifts. The art is so charming that anyone would love them, from your friends to your family.
- They’re also super affordable, which is a total plus.
- It’s a great way to get people to spend some quality time together and relax during the holidays.
About the author:
Liv Wan is a designer and illustrator from West London who travels the world and just loves to make happy, joyful art. When she’s not working, she’s gardening and cooking. It’s so sweet that she wants to share her positive vibes through her art.
The themes sound so fun:
- Adorable Aliens is all about cute space creatures and UFOs. I love anything cosmic.
- Little Monsters has these super sweet creatures doing everyday stuff, like giggling goblins. It sounds so charming.
- Spoopy Fun is the best of both worlds—it’s a little creepy but also super cute, with ghosts and bats.
It’s clear these books are more than just coloring pages; they’re a whole therapeutic experience that helps you be more mindful, creative, and emotionally balanced. I’m definitely adding them to my wish list.
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