Growing up wa so much fun..especially when it was  time to colour and paint, no rule no guidelines no restrictions..pure artistic expression without limits…that was fun. A blue here, a red there, how about orange?..why not…I miss those days. Let us bring back those simple days when colouring was colouring and art was artistic. 

Jumping back into the present day, majority of us adults have lost the abiity to freely express ourselves through the awesome power of colours. Looking around us there are less colours than the 1980s. it is mostly black, white and grey to be honest. What happened to all the spectrum of colours? ..let us dicsuss

The abolute honest truth is that colouring has been around since the beginning of time (whenever that was). Some estimate 1.4 billlion years as the age of the universe. I will work with that.

In the beginning was the spectrum of colours created, formed by the mighty ones and formally laid down so that man and his offspring can utilise and emulate with grace, power and wisodm.

The history of colouring spans over 1.4 billion years, from way efoe the antidelluvian ages to the invention of synthetic colors in the 19th century. Coloring is and always will be a tool for storytelling, symbolism, and social status . 

History of Colouring Books

• Origin: The first coloring books, originally called “painting books” and often using watercolors, emerged in the 1850s and 1880s as tools for education, popularized by McLoughlin Brothers.
• Purpose: They were designed to foster creativity, motor skills, and cognitive development in children.
• Mass Production: By the early 20th century, companies like Crayola (founded in 1902) made crayons mainstream, transforming the “painting book” into the coloring book. 

Yes i see the history and the beginning  through to mass production but whats that got to do with me? How in the world will colouring fix my relationship or help pay my bills?

Absolutely right. let me address the elephant in the room

Along with the aesthetic attractiveness of a location, colors may also have an effect on a person’s mood, mental health, productivity, instruction, and behavior. Color has an important role in many aspects of our lives, including interactions, psychology, marketing, and art. Read more

Key Benefits of Colouring include:

• Physical Development: Enhances dexterity, strengthens hand muscles, and improves pencil grip for better handwriting.

• Mental & Emotional Health: Acts as a therapeutic, meditative, and calming activity that reduces stress, anxiety, and boosts mood.
• Cognitive Skills: Promotes color recognition, awareness of boundaries, spatial awareness, and problem-solving abilities.
• Creativity & Expression: Allows for free artistic expression and encourages imagination.
• Confidence Building: Provides a sense of accomplishment, fostering self-esteem and resilience when finishing a project.

For children, it serves as a foundational skill for writing, while for adults, it acts as a “digital detox” and a relaxing, non-judgmental way to unwind. 

Coloring can help you be more mindful. Mindfulness is the ability to focus and stay in the moment. While coloring, you use the parts of your brain that enhance focus and concentration. It gives you the opportunity to disconnect from stressful thoughts.

Relieving stress

Coloring is a healthy way to relieve stress. It calms the brain and helps your body relax. This can improve sleep and fatigue while decreasing body aches, heart rate, respiration, and feelings of depression and anxiety. Read More

Colouring is an activity that engages both hemispheres of the brain. It turns out that when colouring, the brain emits waves that are characteristic of relaxation. By using colouring pages we can reduce anxiety and manage stress. Colouring helps with what the contemporary adult really cannot. It helps us relax. (Vrtierone)

Coloring helps kids develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and spatial awareness necessary for writing. It promotes cognitive growth through color recognition, pattern, and, in some cases, geometric understanding. Additionally, it builds patience, focus, confidence, and self-expression, allowing children to relax and process emotions. 

SUMMARY

In summary Colouring is a versatile, low-cost activity that offers a calming, screen-free break while supporting essential developmental milestones. 

References

For further reading and references used in this article check out this resources and links

• Venktron DMCC https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/importance-color-venktron-dmcc/
• Vrtierone https://vrtierone.com/colouring-as-a-therapeutic-activity/
• Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/coloring-is-good-for-your-health
• chapter1daycare https://chapter1daycare.com/benefits-of-colouring-for-kids