Draw Calming Mandala Art!

What can I use if I don't have a compass or a ruler?

Trace round objects like jars, cups, or lids to make concentric circles and use a book edge or a folded cereal-box piece as a straightedge for drawing radial lines from the center.

My concentric circles or radial lines look uneven—how can I fix that?

Lightly redraw guides using a thumbtack-and-string as a homemade compass, rotate the paper as you draw radial lines with your straightedge so they meet the center, and erase lightly to remove extra marks as instructed.

How can I adapt this mandala activity for different ages?

For preschoolers, pre-draw the concentric rings and have them stamp or color large repeating shapes, elementary kids can draw simple repeating shapes themselves, and older kids or teens can add intricate patterns, fine details, and try different coloring media when following the step-by-step rings.

How can we enhance or personalize our mandala beyond the instructions?

Personalize by incorporating meaningful symbols into each ring, experiment with watercolor washes or metallic pens when you color one ring at a time, add texture with collage materials, and then photograph your finished calming mandala to share on DIY.org as suggested.