Adult Coloring Books?? What is with this???

[jebartle]

Adult coloring books topping bestseller lists - CNN.com (http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/21/living/feat-adult-coloring-books/)

[rubicon]

I am still puzzled about adult cartoons It strikes me as an oxymoron

[dewilson58]

My bride and adult children love them.
They say it's relaxing.

[Villager Joyce]

It is supposed to keep your brain active.

[spring_chicken]

I have a question about these, if anyone knows. I'm thinking of getting some for my mother who is in early stages of dementia/alzheimers. She does have trouble seeing, even with her glasses. I noticed her using a magnifying glass to read the paper. All of the coloring books I see on Amazon seem to have very intricate, small areas that I'm afraid she'd have trouble seeing. Do you think she would struggle with this? Do they have books with larger designs?
Also, do you use crayons, colored pencils, gel pens...?

[dewilson58]

I have a question about these, if anyone knows. I'm thinking of getting some for my mother who is in early stages of dementia/alzheimers. She does have trouble seeing, even with her glasses. I noticed her using a magnifying glass to read the paper. All of the coloring books I see on Amazon seem to have very intricate, small areas that I'm afraid she'd have trouble seeing. Do you think she would struggle with this? Do they have books with larger designs?
Also, do you use crayons, colored pencils, gel pens...?

Just me: Avoid the new adult coloring books. As you noted, very intricate......I think that's part of the adult attraction. Without being offensive, I would look for children coloring books with larger coloring sections and I would also do pencils, crayons might be too blunt.

[spring_chicken]

Just me: Avoid the new adult coloring books. As you noted, very intricate......I think that's part of the adult attraction. Without being offensive, I would look for children coloring books with larger coloring sections and I would also do pencils, crayons might be too blunt.

Thanks, I'm still trying to figure out how to give her coloring books without her thinking I'm treating her like a child. I can't imagine the struggles of losing your faculties, and I can understand why it might seem demeaning to her. I thought I would tell her about the club down here so she'd know that it's perfectly normal.

[graciegirl]

Thanks, I'm still trying to figure out how to give her coloring books without her thinking I'm treating her like a child. I can't imagine the struggles of losing your faculties, and I can understand why it might seem demeaning to her. I thought I would tell her about the club down here so she'd know that it's perfectly normal.



Even coloring in children's coloring books is completely normal. My daughter always puts them out for everyone during the Christmas season and we sit around coloring. Nothing wrong with coloring in children's coloring books at all. The youngest in our family at present is 23.

[Villager Joyce]

I have a question about these, if anyone knows. I'm thinking of getting some for my mother who is in early stages of dementia/alzheimers. She does have trouble seeing, even with her glasses. I noticed her using a magnifying glass to read the paper. All of the coloring books I see on Amazon seem to have very intricate, small areas that I'm afraid she'd have trouble seeing. Do you think she would struggle with this? Do they have books with larger designs?
Also, do you use crayons, colored pencils, gel pens...?

Is it possible to enlarge the pages to 11 by 14? It would still be intricate, but enlarged.

[Cedwards38]

My 22 year old daughter is really into these. The adult books are very intricate and when completed provide some beautiful art. It's just a way for her to relax and be creative.

[dewilson58]

Thanks, I'm still trying to figure out how to give her coloring books without her thinking I'm treating her like a child. I can't imagine the struggles of losing your faculties, and I can understand why it might seem demeaning to her. I thought I would tell her about the club down here so she'd know that it's perfectly normal.

Books are cheap, buy one for you and one for her

and

"mom, i've been reading how the adult coloring books are the new thing. i got one for each of us."

and

share some time together.

[graciegirl]

Books are cheap, buy one for you and one for her

and

"mom, i've been reading how the adult coloring books are the new thing. i got one for each of us."

and

share some time together.



You are a good person, dewilson58.

[Pointer]

Studies show that coloring books are very meditative and relaxing. I would suggest that if you get the smooth paper type that you get some markers, new paper type might be best with crayons. Also there has been some success in having things that they remember from their childhood to calm. I would imagine not being able to remember things is very frightening so kids coloring books with pictures from things in the past might be of benefit. Caregivers can certainly use some relaxation too so doing them together or alone might be just what the doctor ordered. Have fun.:smiley:

[gomoho]

Thanks, I'm still trying to figure out how to give her coloring books without her thinking I'm treating her like a child. I can't imagine the struggles of losing your faculties, and I can understand why it might seem demeaning to her. I thought I would tell her about the club down here so she'd know that it's perfectly normal.

Spring Chicken - your concern is valid. My mother was in memory care and one of the main activities was to color - kept the residents busy with little interaction required of staff. She would get so angry and ask "why are they treating me like a child"? She could care less if it was hipster, cool, or the new rage - coloring in her world and mind was for children. So present the idea slowly to feel her out and not offend her.

[Barefoot]

Books are cheap, buy one for you and one for her and

"mom, i've been reading how the adult coloring books are the new thing. i got one for each of us."

and share some time together.

You are a real sweetheart to suggest this approach. :angel:

[graciegirl]

Just look at the beautiful array;


Amazon.com: adult color books (http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=adult+color+books&tag=mh0b-20&index=aps&hvadid=3527635026&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_4r04p47kws_e)

[Barefoot]

Just look at the beautiful array;
Amazon.com: adult color books (http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=adult+color+books&tag=mh0b-20&index=aps&hvadid=3527635026&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_4r04p47kws_e)

Quite a variety, I'm impressed.
I see Amazon offers both new and used coloring books.
Tomwed or Kayaker, you could insert funny comment here.

[Boomer]

Books are cheap, buy one for you and one for her

and

"mom, i've been reading how the adult coloring books are the new thing. i got one for each of us."

and

share some time together.


Thank you for posting this.

Your idea is so kind and intuitive and truly beautiful.

[Nucky]

This coloring book thing definitely soothes the savage beast. Of course that is if you are married to a savage beast. Thankfully for me I'm not but let me ask Mrs. Nucky if that's accurate information. She just growled and said don't bother me while I'm coloring.

[Sable99]

Books are cheap, buy one for you and one for her

and

"mom, i've been reading how the adult coloring books are the new thing. i got one for each of us."

and

share some time together.

Great idea!

[Sable99]

My 91 year old mother is, luckily for me, pretty sharp. She remembers everyone's phone numbers and license plate numbers! However, she couldn't tell you the make and model of the car or if a woman is 9 months pregnant! That has always been a joke between us! A lot of her friends have dementia or Alzheimer's and it really concerns her.

Mom likes to keep her brain active so she does word search puzzles. She also loves her iPad. (She uses her laptop too but her iPad is always nearby!) She has a ton of game apps on her iPad and, of course, Facebook to keep in touch with others.

I'll have to see if what she thinks of the coloring books!

[spk7951]

One of our niece's thought a couple of these books would be good for my 89 year old mother as a Christmas present. But that is not what my mother thought. She felt insulted, was upset with my niece and then got upset with my wife & I when we tried to explain the purpose of the books to her. Kept telling us that she is not ready for this yet.

[graciegirl]

I think these adult coloring books are a wonderful idea.

The only complaint I have is that I have three colored pencil pictures inspired by Alphonse Mucha that I spent many hours drawing hanging in our front hall. One of my recent guests said, "Oh look. You framed your coloring book pages!"

[Double Bogie]

Has anyone heard of any new classes? (I haven't been here for two weeks to view The Recreation News insert). I heard a while ago that classes were full. Also, are the classes combined with Zentangle? Thank You!

[Madelaine Amee]

Has anyone heard of any new classes? (I haven't been here for two weeks to view The Recreation News insert). I heard a while ago that classes were full. Also, are the classes combined with Zentangle? Thank You!

The Lifelong Learning College offers a class on Tangle which runs one day a week for four weeks. It is not called Zentangle because the instructor does not have the Zen certification, but she is excellent. I took it because I needed some knowledge of what "doodling" really is, then I researched the computer and found loads of YouTube videos and other sites where some really talented people are doing Tangle on line. There are various ways of using tangle and they are very different art forms. This class is on page 7 of the catalog, called Tangle Art, at the bottom of the right hand column.

It would seem to be very easy to just sit and doodle, but it is not, this class gives you ideas to start this art form and you grow from there. It is super relaxing.

If you need any information pm me and I'll send you the sites I use for inspiration.