We are all becoming more conscious of the importance of mental health and positive wellbeing. Children, as well as adults, benefit from having reduced stress and a healthy mind. As parents there is lots to consider to reduce children's stress such as managing screen time, ensuring play is educational and fun, and supporting development. Mindful colouring for kids is a fantastic way for parents to relax with children, and a great opportunity for children to practice mindfulness.
What is mindfulness?
Mindfulness is a type of meditation which allows you to concentrate on how you are feeling, regulate your emotions and experience calm. Being a child can be very chaotic. The whole world is new, and there are lots of things to explore. It is fantastic, but it can also lead to children becoming overstimulated. When a toddler or a pre-schooler becomes overstimulated you may see some changes in your child's behaviour. Your child may seem tired, upset, or irritable which then leads to tantrums, breakdowns and lots of tears. When this happens, it's a fantastic time to pull out a mindfulness colouring book to offer a moment of calm and some time for both you and your child to process your feelings.
What is mindful colouring?
When your child is using a mindfulness colouring book, they will be required to focus on the illustrations and the colours they are choosing. It helps to refocus the mind and bring it into the present moment. When your child is using colouring to calm down, it allows them to forget about whatever frustrated them and focus on what is happening in the now. It is a great tool to help manage toddler emotions.
Best mindfulness colouring books at a glance:
•Best mindful colouring book for younger children: Mindful Mandalas Colouring Book for Kids
•Best mindful colouring book for a busy mind: Mindful Colouring for Kids
•Best mindful colouring app: Tayasui Color
However, if you child doesn't have the patience for colouring, or it frustrates them when they can't colour perfectly, then there are some great wellbeing books for kids to enjoy at story time. Plus, even though you might try to limit screen time, sometimes, being allowed to use an iPad is beneficial for your little one. In fact, your child's iPad can turn into a colouring book too, and also provide a mindful experience, therefore we have looked at some great mindfulness colouring apps as well.
The best mindfulness colouring books for kids:
Best mindfulness activity book
Description
Although this is not purely a colouring book, this activity workbook is a fantastic way of encouraging your little one to work through their feelings. The child-friendly activities include colouring, word searches, dot to dot and more whilst subtly helping them understand their emotions.
Mother&Baby writer, Mother of Three, Hannah James said: "My eldest son is very shy. Often he will bottle up feelings and later explode with emotion. It has been difficult to see that a situation that happened a few days ago, may affect his behaviour later down the line. I found this workbook was a nice and easy way to explain how he was feeling. I think it is a fantastic conversation starter."
Best mindfulness colouring book with inspiring quotes
Description
This colouring book contains 35 illustrations containing positive and inspiring quotes. Art work includes magical creatures like unicorns and mermaids as well as animals and sports.
One reviewer said: "Bought these for a Christmas present for my friends daughter and she loves them. May have also bought them for myself just because I can and they’re fab. Nice quality paper too which is good if you’re a felt tip or inky pen user."
Best mindfulness colouring book for calming
Description
This is a really calming book, packed full of satisfying mindfulness colouring pages. With quirky patterns, animals, waves and lines, plus detailed mandalas this book will help both little ones and adults relax.
One reviewer said: "Satisfying and charming designs, for any age. A big hit with the grandchildren. And I'll order one for me."
Best mindfulness colouring book for younger children
Description
This colouring book contains 30 beautiful but simple mandalas which are ideal for younger children and will encourage mindfulness. It is also travel sized so great for using when out and about if your little one gets over stimulated.
One reviewer commented: "I was impressed with this colouring book for kids because the pages are smaller than a book for adults, the details are simpler, making for an attractive design without frustrating the age group. I think the young girls in my life will love it!"
Best mindfulness colouring book for building confidence
Description
This cute colouring book will help to boost your little one's confidence. It contains 25 pages of inspiring drawings and positive sentences and will give your child an opportunity to express themselves creatively.
One mum reviewer, Charlotte, said: "I can't recommend this product enough! Lovely quotes and positive affirmations that were just what my son needed."
Best mindfulness colouring book to help you unwind
Description
These calming patterns will help to keep any child nice and relaxed. It is the ideal book to wind down to after a day full of adventure. With beautiful illustrations the book contains a selection of perfectly patterned pictures to colour, with lots of intricate details. All designs are printed on a single side, with a blank page behind, to allow removal for framing or display and minimise bleed through.
One reviewer said: "Brilliant colouring book! Quality paper which doesn't go through on to the other design as there is just one design on one page and the back of the page is left blank so that nothing bleeds through from one pic to the other."
Best mindful colouring book for a busy mind
Description
If your little one has a busy mind and finds it hard to relax, this book might be the answer. With over 30 relaxing images and scenes to colour in, kids can dip in anytime. The images include chilled out sloths and meditating snow monkeys to soothing beach scenes and cosy jungle forts. Plus, it doubles as a wellbeing book with text that invites children to take a breath and find focus as they colour.
Best colouring app for relaxing
apps.apple.com
Description
This is great for kids and adults and lets you turn your iPad into a colouring book which is fun and also a great way to make screen time beneficial. With lots of hand drawn illustrations, your little one can explore colours and brushstrokes to create a picture. Great for relaxation and wellbeing.
One user said: "You’re given quite a few free drawings and one new one each day (bearing in mind I’ve had this app a few days and only tend to colour one image a day) and the colour selection is great. I’ve found a way to layer colours using the tapered brush and hold on top to select that as a colour to add some that are unavailable if you do not pay! I also love the journal feature that allows you to make daily colouring entries with FREE images. So so so much love for this app I’ve found that colouring in this app is a great for calming me down and making me feel relaxed."
Best mindfulness colouring app
apps.apple.com
Description
For an incredibly relaxing experience both at home and on the go, Tayasui Color, allows you to access mindfulness colouring on your iPad. If the day's adventure is a tad overwhelming for your little one, then this is a great way to find calm. There are 4 realistic drawing tools, gold and silver texture for a glittery finish and even better, the tools make sound, for a soothing and immersive experience.
One reviewer commented: "Of all the colouring in apps out there, this one is really lovely. It allows you to use the pencil and there are 4 different mediums to choose from. I love the sounds attached as it makes it all the more satisfying."
What are the benefits of mindful colouring for kids?
It gives them chance to unwind and focus on the moment. While colouring they can relax and concentrate on the task at hand, choosing colours and letting go of any anger, or frustration. Kids often struggle to process, or understand their emotions so giving them an activity which helps them move away or gain control of those emotions is beneficial. Plus, kids love being creative and there are so many benefits of crafting, colouring and letting them express themselves and use their imagination.
How is colouring developmentally appropriate?
Colouring is a great activity which is both engaging and yet also supports development. It can promote fine motor skills and also develop hand eye coordination. In younger children it is also a great way to develop colour recognition. While your little one will enjoy colouring in a traditional colouring book, they will also benefit from using fun and educational apps for colouring to encourage both development and mindfulness.
Laura Healy is a Commercial Content Writer for Mother&Baby. She is a mum-of-two girls and loves writing about all things parenting, she is particularly interested in the toddler years and eco-friendly baby products, as well as children’s literature. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and has published short stories in the UK and Ireland, as well as previously writing freelance for her local paper.