Kids have a lot ahead of them that the future has in store. As young and naive as they are, they are continuously learning; making mistakes; developing; and growing as a person–they go through a process of self-discovery. One of the many things that the future holds for them that they have yet to discover is their career.

Although childhood is a stage where kids are supposed to be carefree and have fun, it doesn’t hurt to also let them explore the many different careers and allow them to dream of their future career. The Zentangle Designs Careers Coloring Book by Elizabeth Shelby can enable them to get the best of both worlds.

In the Zentangle Designs Careers Coloring Book, kids can take pleasure in the delightful activity of coloring, while they can get to know different careers in Zentangle style! The coloring book contains age-appropriate Zentangle designs for kids aged 8 to 12 years old.

If you’re curious about the Zentangle art form and Elizabeth Shelby’s Zentangle Designs Careers Coloring Book, read further, and you can find out more.

What Is Zentangle and What Is Its Difference From a Doodle?

We all know what a doodle looks like, and we’ve all doodled once in our lives, right? Zentangle is a form of art that has a close resemblance to the doodle. This is a trendy form of art that’s popular for those who are fond of or like to make artistic designs done with ink and paper as well as for those who like to color illustrations.

But if you’re new to this form of art or confused between the doodle and the Zentangle, this article can help enlighten you.

Although one can easily find similarities between the Zentangle and doodle at a glance, specifically the incorporation of abstract style along with the use of black ink on paper, each have distinct characteristics that make them distinguishable from one another.

Earlier, we’ve mentioned that the doodle incorporates abstract style in its design. This is noticeable from the random and abstract lines present in it. But apart from this, a doodle can also have a concrete representational meaning.

And so, here is where we start to draw the line between the Zentangle and doodle. While the doodle may have a concrete representational meaning, the Zentangle is a non-representational form of art that is composed of structured patterns that form tangles.

Another aspect that can set both apart is the manner of how they are done. The doodle is created while occupied with something else, usually out of boredom like how a kid would in the margin of his notebook at school. The Zentangle, on the other hand, entails more focus with its systematic method consisting of a format and a library of patterns that when used, can result in varying aesthetic arrangements.

According to the inventors of Zentangle, as one focuses on the creation of tangles upon tangles of structured patterns, one can find the self in moments of mindfulness, thus bringing forth a therapeutic and meditative effect, hence it is named Zentangle.

Moreover, this is actually taught in schools and in hospitals in aid of recovery from physical and psychiatric issues. Also, this kind of art has gained many fans for its aesthetic and advantageous effects.

A Beautiful Presentation of Careers With Zentangle Designs

A Zentangle design’s intricate tangles of structured patterns spread all over paper make an appealing visual. When Zentangle designs are compiled in a kids’ coloring book with the inclusion of a career in each design, the designs can also appeal to the minds of kids in a way that can engage their thoughts on careers, while they’re coloring. Elizabeth Shelby took this unique, artistic approach with her Zentangle Designs Careers Coloring Book for kids aged 8 to 12 years old.

The Zentangle Designs Careers Coloring Book can serve as a beacon for kids on the many different careers and also for deciding what they can be in the future, especially that there is a tendency for some kids to grow up not really knowing what career to have in the future until they’ve come of age still clueless of what career to pursue. This coloring book is actually one of two careers coloring books by Elizabeth Shelby.

Apart from this one, Elizabeth Shelby also came up with one for kids aged 4 to 8 years old, entitled I Can Be Anything I Want to Be. It had two separate versions for girls and boys showcasing traditional careers, which are occupations typically associated with one’s gender and non-traditional careers, which are occupations typically associated with the opposite gender. The said coloring book encourages kids to also think outside the box and empowers them to dream to be anything regardless of their gender.

While the aforementioned coloring book had different versions for girls and boys aged 4 to 8 years old, the Zentangle Designs Careers Coloring Book is a gender-neutral coloring book designed for 8 to 12 year-olds. This coloring book both girls and boys can enjoy can also open kids’ minds to both traditional careers and non-traditional careers with the wide, varying scope of careers it provides.

Children are, indeed, our future, so it is good to instill in them a sense of ambition even at a young age. Though there may be some kids who tend to be fickle and may shift from one dream to another, ranging from doctor to veterinarian to engineer to pilot to whatever comes to their mind, at least they have the inspiration to be whatever they want until they finally come to the time and a final decision of pursuing a particular career that they truly are passionate about. Even better for kids who can easily set their minds on a dream job of theirs, as they can already envision a direction to take in life.

With such impressionable minds they have, children can be easily influenced by what they witness. The things they’re exposed to can affect who they are and what they can become. Elizabeth Shelby’s careers coloring books can have a positive influence on kids and possibly contribute to what they may become in the future.

In the Zentangle Designs Careers Coloring Book, kids can experience a lot of fun and excitement in coloring and exploring careers in over 50 pages. Each career is presented in big, bold letters with a beautiful Zentangle design. Along with its wide scope of careers is a wide area for enjoyably and artistically coloring to match with its large design format measuring 8.5″ x 11″.

Another desirable feature of this coloring book is the single-sided printing on its pages, preventing bleed-through of colors.

The dreamers in kids would be delighted if this coloring book was gifted to them. It’s perfect for gifting on a birthday, Christmas, or simply as a kind gesture.

The Benefits of Coloring

Coloring is immensely beneficial in the early stages of the development of children. This enjoyable activity that children love to do is more than just a pastime. The happy times little kids spend pouring out their creativity and bringing pictures to life in coloring books can result in their improvement in a broad range of physical, mental, and psychological aspects.

Coloring stimulates creativity. Kids’ imaginations play in their minds as they think of what colors to use for the images. Even if their tiny; weak hands may exceed the lines when coloring, at least their creativity is practiced and further enhanced.

And as they choose the colors for a picture, color recognition is being developed in them. When coloring a picture, their grip and the movement of their hands help strengthen finger; hand; and wrist muscles, thus enhancing motor skills. This can also enhance their writing ability and prepare them for school activities.

In addition to toning the hands, coloring also improves the hands’ coordination with the eyes. The actions involved in coloring, such as choosing a color from the set of crayons; holding a crayon; applying colors to the spaces in the illustration; and etc utilizes both the hands and eyes at the same time. So coloring trains children’s hand and eye coordination.

Coloring takes time and attention. As children fill in every detail of a picture with color, it imparts in them the value of patience and develops their focus.

Focusing on coloring can actually help with stress relief. Coloring has a therapeutic effect, wherein children can just color away their unpleasant emotions and negative thoughts, so they end up feeling calm and relaxed.

When they finally finish coloring a picture, it gives them a rewarding feeling of fulfillment from having an accomplishment, which they can be proud of, which also makes them proud of themselves. As a result, their confidence and self-esteem are increased. It’s their completion of tasks like this that boosts their morale and pushes them to give their best in whatever they do.

The Zentangle Designs Careers Coloring Book is an excellent combination of an art of mindfulness and careers for kids’ awareness and inspiration. It’s a one-of-a-kind means of teaching kids about careers, and they can have a lot of fun with it too. On top of that, even just the activity of coloring, itself, already has several benefits for the kids, to begin with.