Coloring is back! Surprisingly, coloring is not just beneficial for children, but also adults. There has been a rise in adult coloring books, filled with a variety of images, from simple characters to intricate patterns. Your loved one may be hesitant to get into the world of coloring as an older adult, but rest assured, they don’t need any special equipment to start their new hobby. Markers, crayons, paints, and colored pencils are all welcome in their coloring journey. With that, here are five benefits of coloring for seniors.
Improve your Motor Skills
With age, your loved one’s fine motor skills may deteriorate. That is perfectly normal! Coloring gives them the avenue to practice muscle control in their hands and arms. It can also help to develop better hand-eye coordination and strengthen fine motor skills. This can be carried into your loved one’s daily routines that require motor skills such as doing up buttons and writing letters. Try introducing your loved one to the different equipment they may use to color. By alternating between colored pencils, crayons, markers, and paint, they will be able to experience a more holistic approach to coloring and can even help to strengthen their fine motor skills even quicker.
Improve Sleep
Using electronic devices before bedtime can promote unhealthy sleeping habits. By introducing coloring to your loved one, they will be able to relax before going to bed and have a good night’s sleep. This can thus improve their health.
Bond with the Family
Coloring is a great way for your loved one to bond with the rest of the family, especially the young children. Consider making coloring a daily activity if possible, where both your loved one and your family get together after dinner to color for 30 minutes. This is a great way to promote intergenerational interactions, and also keep your loved one and kids engaged before bedtime. If daily coloring is not an option for you, don’t worry! Try making this a weekly or even monthly event for your family. Since coloring can be a solo or social activity for older adults, doing it in the presence of family or friends over Zoom is fun too!
Encourage Self-Expression
Coloring encourages your loved one to express themselves in whatever way they want to. Choosing their own colors and pictures enables older adults to exercise their creative freedom which in turn sparks happiness.
Ease Anxiety
Coloring is also a great way to focus on something enjoyable. It serves as a de-stressor and can help your loved one forget about their aches and pains for the day. By focusing on coloring, they can also practice mindfulness to lower stress levels. This can help maintain healthy blood pressure and heart rate levels, which in turn benefit their health greatly. Additionally, as coloring is an activity that has no rules or limitations, your loved ones can treat coloring as a way to transfer their emotions into a tangible art form.
So grab a coloring book, some colored pencils, and your family to enjoy this wonderful activity with your loved ones.
