Book excerpt: Mandalas have been used from ancient times to the present as an aid to meditation. The arrangement around a central point assists us in finding our inner centre and helps the spirit unwind in today's increasingly fast-paced, noisy world. Children can occupy themselves for hours with mandalas, and so many teachers and nursery nurses use them in kindergartens. The colouring-in process promotes patience, colour sense and concentration, and the finished mandalas give children a feeling of accomplishment. They enjoy the experience of seeing the effect as they colour them in!