Wheaton library offers adult coloring class

In a chaotic and noisy world, many adults have a difficult time finding an escape.

Oh, sure, there's always the stereotypical glass of red wine, a beach vacation or a deep tissue massage.

But the Wheaton Public Library this winter is offering another possible solution.

Coloring.

At a pair of "Calm Down and Color" events, organizers hope adults can find some serenity sitting at a table filled with photocopied pages and colored pencils in every shade of the rainbow.

Cheaper than a trip to Barbados, the "Calm Down and Color" program gives adults a chance to settle down for an hour and "shut out noise," in the words of Matt Binder.

Binder is a reference librarian who plans to create a tranquil environment using peaceful background melodies and a comforting environment that's free of stress. Binder says the simplistic nature of coloring can help tame even the most wound-up adult.

It's "a nice quiet little escape" that allows grown-ups to shut off their brains for an hour while they color in scenic landscapes and elaborate patterns.

The library has offered the program before, he said, and it seems to offer an opportunity for meditation and reflection.

And, it turns out, returning to a childhood pastime is fun, too.

The programs will run from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Fridays, Jan. 15 and Feb. 19, at the library, 225 N. Cross St. No registration is required and adults of all ages are welcome.

For details, call the library's reference desk at (630) 868-7520.