If you noticed more and more adults taking out their crayolas for the coloring books, you’re not the only one. This hot new trend seems to be everywhere right now, from online to real-life color books with intricate patterns and tiny shapes that require coordination and attention to detail to fill in.
Part of the reasons why adults rediscovered their passion for coloring books has to do with nostalgia and feel-good feeling that reminds us of more careless childhood days. Those feelings bring us back to a time of peace and clarity – and make it possible for us to use this as fuel to recreate less stressful times. This turned out to be a particularly useful coping mechanism in the uncertain times we live in right now.
Moreover, the cost of living crisis can further fuel people’s passion for coloring. Wayne Bell, CEO of St. Louis, MO-based Really Big Coloring Books, who has been in the business since before the internet, says that during bad economic times, coloring books always rise in sales.
“All the expensive electronic toys go out the window as families try to save money, and a lot of people turn to that family table time with kiddos and grandkids and coloring books,” he explained.
A recent body of research showed that there is a link between coloring and mindfulness. This is because coloring allows us to switch off our brains from other thoughts and focus on the moment. Moreover, concentrating solely on coloring an image may facilitate the replacement of negative thoughts and images with pleasant ones.
It’s not just adult coloring books that are selling well as more states issue stay-at-home orders. Coloring Book manufactures have also seen an increased demand for their large-print puzzle books, especially in the senior market.
Scott Ward, national sales manager of Coloring Book Solutions in Ashland, OH explained this new buzz among the elderly: "These are primarily elderly folks living in retirement communities or facilities where no outside visitors are currently allowed." War argues that puzzle books allow them the opportunity to engage in an activity that will help stimulate their brain in addition to passing the time.
