String Ideas for Little Kids

My experience with kids is that they have trouble with the string part of the Zentangle. I print out very simple shapes from coloring books - like a house or a big flower or a kite with partitions - and let the kids tangle in the spaces, instead of coloring them. I always make the shapes larger than traditional tiles but, depending on the ages, smaller than a regular coloring book page.

With my 4 yr old grandson, I wrote out his name in large bubble letters, and he was happy for an hour. Every time he finished tangling inside his name - it was, "Nana, my name again, please!" (I insisted on that last word!)

Of course, I don't start with Rick's Paradox with 4 yr olds, but they can do lots of other designs. And just like us older tanglers, they become progressively better and proud of their creations.

Lura Mathews, CZT4,  Pen + Paper = Happiness