Is Adult Colouring Childish?
Let's address the elephant in the room. You've seen adult colouring books in the shops. Maybe you've even picked one up, looked around nervously, and put it back down again.
Because somewhere in the back of your mind, a little voice said: "That's for children."
It isn't. And here's why.
Where did that idea come from?
Colouring books were marketed at children for decades, so naturally we grew up associating them with childhood. But the activity itself? Completely ageless. In fact, some of the most complex and intricate colouring designs are specifically created for adults, mandalas, botanical illustrations, architectural patterns, things a child would find far too detailed.
The stigma is a marketing hangover. Not a fact.
What does the science say?
Research into art therapy and mindfulness consistently shows that repetitive creative activities, like colouring, reduce cortisol levels. That's the stress hormone your body produces when you're overwhelmed, anxious or running on empty.
In other words, colouring doesn't just feel calming. It chemically calms you.
Adults, especially busy women, parents, and healthcare workers, often carry the most stress. So who needs colouring more than anyone? Adults.
But I'm not creative...
You don't need to be. Colouring within pre-drawn lines requires no artistic skill. You are simply choosing colours and filling space. There is no wrong answer. No one is judging your work.
In fact, that freedom, the absence of expectation, is part of what makes it so therapeutic. For many women who spend their days being judged, evaluated, and performing, colouring offers something rare: a space where you simply cannot fail.
What do other adults say?
Here's what they tell us:
What do our customers say?
"My 6-year-old daughter loves her 'I Can Do This' colouring book so much. Every night she quietly colours through her book, and sometimes I join her with my adult colouring book, Daily Affirmations. Colouring keeps her calm and quiet! She also loves the affirming words in the book. I also love my colouring book as I use it to relax after a long day at work. I highly recommend both colouring books! Thank you, Ruthy, for creating them." Dets Amure.
"Bought a colouring book for my sister and she absolutely loves it. Honestly, the house has never been quieter because of how invested she is in that colouring book." M. Benyon.
So is adult colouring childish?
Only if sleeping, eating and breathing are childish to, because like those things, the need to rest, create and decompress doesn't disappear when you turn eighteen.
If anything, adulthood is exactly when you need it most.
Ready to try it for yourself?
Browse our range of adult colouring books at Ruthy Michaels ā designed specifically for busy women who deserve a moment of calm.
š Shop at www.ruthymichaels.com
Not ready to commit yet? That's fine ā grab your FREE calm colouring page first and see how it feels šš bit.ly/4tFKPNL
Lola Olajide is a registered nurse, mum, and the founder of Ruthy Michaels ā a self-care book brand based in Mossley, Greater Manchester. She created the brand after her own experience with burnout, and believes that self-care does not have to be expensive or complicated.š Want to try before you buy? Grab your FREE calm colouring page here, no strings attached š š bit.ly/4tFKPNL
š Ready to explore our full range? Shop self-care books at www.ruthymichaels.com
