Colouring & Tea: A One-Hour Group Activity

Colouring gives restless hands something pleasant to do, and that makes conversation easier. People who would never join a discussion group will happily chat while choosing between two shades of blue. This plan is written for a table of about 6 to 10 people and takes one hour. Use as much or as little of it as suits your group.

Free pages to print: Five Quiet Moments, five large, relaxing colouring pages from Simple Joys. Enter $0 at checkout. Seniors' residences, community groups and libraries are welcome to print copies for their groups, free of charge.

What you'll need

• Colouring pages with large, simple shapes. Bigger spaces are easier on tired eyes and stiff hands. Print a few extras so people can choose.
• Chunky or triangular coloured pencils. They're easier to grip than thin ones. A few felt-tip markers are nice for bold colour, but keep caps handy.
• A sharpener and a small dish for shavings.
• Good light. Seat people near a window or under bright lamps. A magnifier or two helps anyone with low vision.
• Tea, coffee or juice, served in cups with handles on saucers or coasters, set to the side of the pages.
• Something simple to nibble, if your setting allows. Check for allergies and special diets first.
• Scrap paper for testing colours.

Set up the table

• Leave enough space for each person's page, a resting arm and a cup.
• Put pencils in shared jars in the middle so people can reach without stretching.
• Seat anyone who is hard of hearing near the person leading, and away from noisy doors.
• Keep music soft or off, so conversation stays easy.

The one-hour plan

1. Welcome and tea (10 minutes). Greet everyone by name, pour drinks and spread out the pages. Let each person choose one. Choosing between two or three pages is easier than choosing from a big pile.
2. Choose colours (10 minutes). Invite everyone to pick just two or three colours to start, then begin with one large shape. This keeps it relaxed and gets pencils moving.
3. Colour and chat (30 minutes). This is the heart of the hour. Use a conversation starter if things go quiet, or simply enjoy the peaceful sound of pencils.
4. Admire and tidy (10 minutes). Go round the table and let each person share one colour or corner they like. Nobody needs to finish. Pages can go home with their owners, on a display board or into a folder for next time.

Conversation starters

Pick one when there's a lull, and let it wander. There's no need to work through the list.

• What colour was the kitchen in the house you grew up in?
• What flowers did your mother or grandmother grow?
• What was your first job, and what did you buy with your first pay?
• What's the best cup of tea you've ever had, and where were you?
• If you could paint your front door any colour, what would it be?
• What did a perfect Sunday look like when you were young?
• Which season do you love most, and what colours does it bring to mind?

Making it work for everyone

• For shaky or stiff hands: chunky pencils, pages with big spaces, and the reassurance that going over the lines is perfectly fine.
• For low vision: bold outlines, bright light, a magnifier, and bright colours rather than pale ones.
• For memory loss: very simple pages, two colour choices at a time, short sessions and lots of warmth. The pleasure is in doing it, not finishing it.
• For people who don't want to colour: they're still welcome. They can chat, choose colours for a neighbour or simply enjoy the tea.

Avoid correcting anyone's work. “I love those two colours together” does far more good than a tip on technique. Always ask before photographing anyone or their page.

Make it a regular thing

A colouring and tea hour works beautifully as a weekly or monthly fixture. Keep a folder of unfinished pages for each person, change the page theme with the seasons, and hang a few finished pieces where families will see them. A small display often sparks the best conversations of all.