5 Fun Ways to Teach Kids How to Draw

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Teaching kids how to draw doesn’t have to be complicated or overly structured—in fact, the most effective lessons are often the most fun. Children are naturally imaginative and expressive, and drawing gives them a powerful outlet to explore their creativity. However, to keep them engaged, it’s important to present art in a playful and encouraging way.

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or caregiver, here are five fun and creative ways to teach kids how to draw, making the experience joyful, educational, and inspiring.

1. Start with Shapes: The Building Blocks of Drawing

One of the easiest and most effective ways to teach drawing is to begin with basic shapes. Circles, squares, triangles, and ovals can form the foundation of almost any drawing. For instance, a snowman is just a stack of circles, a house starts with a square and triangle, and a cat’s face can begin with a circle and triangles for ears. A great example is Ellie Wants to Draw: A Doodle Dilemma (Ellie The Chick Book 5), where Ellie learns to create fun drawings starting with simple shapes—making it easy and exciting for young artists to follow along.

Activity Idea:
Have a “Shape Challenge” where you give your child a specific shape and ask them to turn it into something else. A circle could become a sun, a balloon, or a cookie. This approach encourages them to see the world in a more imaginative way while practicing control and coordination.

Why it works:
Shapes are non-intimidating and give children confidence. They start to understand proportions, spacing, and symmetry without realizing they’re learning art fundamentals.

2. Follow-the-Step Drawing Games

Kids love games—and when learning feels like a game, they’re more likely to stick with it. Step-by-step drawing tutorials can help children break down complex images into simple, manageable steps. Each step adds a new detail, and by the end, they’ve created something that looks great and makes them proud.

Activity Idea:
Create your own “Draw With Me” mini session. Sit beside your child and draw along with them step-by-step. For example, you can guide them through drawing a rocket ship, a puppy, or even a character like Ellie the Chick from the book Ellie Wants to Draw.

Use phrases like “Let’s add the eyes now,” or “Next, we draw a big smile,” to guide the process while keeping it light and supportive.

Why it works:
This builds patience, focus, and attention to detail. It also helps children learn how complex images are just a collection of simple parts.

3. Story-Based Drawing: Combine Art with Imagination

Drawing becomes even more engaging when it's part of a story. Kids love creating worlds and characters, so let them bring their stories to life with art. You can encourage them to draw scenes from their favorite fairy tale, an adventure they made up, or even a dream they had.

Activity Idea:
Tell a short story and pause after each sentence to let the child draw what happens next. For example: “Once upon a time, a little dragon lived in a treehouse. Can you draw the dragon?” Then continue: “One day, the dragon found a magical stone...” and so on.

Why it works:
This method strengthens both storytelling and artistic skills, encouraging kids to visualize and translate thoughts into pictures. It also fosters creativity and a love for narrative thinking.

4. Use Everyday Objects as Drawing Prompts

Sometimes, all it takes to spark a child’s creativity is looking at something ordinary in a new way. Encourage your child to look around and use real-world objects as drawing inspiration.

Activity Idea:
Try a “Draw What You See” game. Place a spoon, a toy car, or a pair of glasses on the table and ask your child to draw it. Or take a nature walk, pick a leaf or a flower, and have them draw what they find.

For an added twist, ask them to “transform” the object—like turning a banana into a boat or a sock into a monster.

Why it works:
This helps kids observe details, practice perspective, and stretch their imagination. It also shows them that inspiration is everywhere, not just in coloring books.

5. Digital Drawing and Apps

Many kids are naturally drawn to screens, so why not use that to your advantage? There are plenty of child-friendly drawing apps that offer interactive lessons, colorful tools, and instant results.

Activity Idea:
Download a drawing app like “Drawing for Kids” or “Tayasui Sketches.” Set aside screen time specifically for creative exploration. Let your child experiment with colors, tools, and brushes without the mess of physical supplies.

You can also encourage them to recreate their paper drawings digitally, or vice versa, building a bridge between tech and tactile creativity.

Why it works:
Digital platforms make drawing accessible and exciting. They allow for experimentation without fear of making mistakes, and kids can instantly see how different techniques affect their art.

Final Tips for Success

• Praise effort, not perfection. Focus on the joy of creation rather than the final result.

• Display their artwork. Show them that their drawings are valued by hanging them on the fridge or making a gallery wall.

• Keep supplies accessible. Whether it’s crayons and markers or a tablet and stylus, having tools within reach encourages spontaneous creativity.

• Join in the fun. When adults draw with kids, it becomes a shared experience. Children learn by watching and engaging with you.

Conclusion

Teaching kids how to draw doesn’t require expensive materials or formal classes—it just takes a bit of creativity, encouragement, and fun. Whether you’re turning shapes into animals, illustrating a magical story, or using a drawing app, the goal is to nurture your child’s imagination and confidence.

Art is not just about learning to draw straight lines or perfect circles. It’s about expressing ideas, building focus, and finding joy in the creative process. By making drawing fun and approachable, you’re helping shape not just young artists—but curious, imaginative thinkers for life.