Drawing games are a brilliant way to get kids picking up a pencil and having fun while they do it. If your child ever stares at a blank page not knowing where to start, these simple drawing games to get kids creative are a great way to break the ice and get their imagination flowing.
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Sometimes kids get a bit stuck on what to draw, so drawing games are a fun way to get them inspired. These drawing games will hopefully get you started:
Simple Drawing Games To Get Kids Creative
#1. Scribble It
Take a piece of paper and a pencil. Scribble all over the paper. Look at your scribble and see what stands out. Once you’ve found something, outline it in marker then colour it in.
Or, colour your whole scribble in different colours.
#2. Five Dots
Take a sheet of paper and a pen or pencil. Draw five dots on the paper, spaced out, and then use those dots to start drawing a person.
One dot is where the head goes, two dots are the hands, and two dots are the feet. Draw your person’s outline, then add clothes and features and colour them in.
#3. Draw A Monster
Start with a long piece of paper, for example an A4 sheet cut in half lengthways. Fold the strip in half, then in half again, then in half again. Unfold it, and each person takes a turn adding to the monster.
The first person draws the head and neck, then folds it so the second person can only see the neck before continuing, and so on. Each time, fold it back so the next person can only see a small bit to continue from. Keep going until the sheet is filled, then unfold your monster for a big laugh!
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#4. Draw Your Hands
Draw outlines around your child’s hands on a sheet of paper. They then fill in the details, like rings, bracelets, nails and so on.
Take it a step further if you have a big roll of paper: draw around your child’s body while they lie on it, then let them finish the picture of themselves!
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#5. Can You Draw What You Can’t See?
One child draws something, then describes it out loud to another child (or children), who has to draw it based purely on the description. It’s a fun way to practise communication skills and get little heads working together. Try it out as a party game!
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#6. Blind Contour Drawing
This is a simple but powerful little exercise that artists of all ages use to train their eyes. It’s a fun one to try with kids, as the results are always amazing.
Blind contour drawing means drawing the outline of something you’re looking at without ever looking down at the paper. So you draw what you actually see, not what you think you see. Kids do this naturally early on in their development, and this exercise brings it back to the fore.
#7. Simple Shape Starter
Each person gets a piece of paper and a pen. Draw (or help your child draw) a simple shape to get them started. Each person then has to turn that starting shape into a whole picture.
Ideas for starter shapes:
- Triangle
- Circle or oval
- Zigzag line
- Wavy line
#8. Geometrees
Image courtesy of Craftwhack.com
Craftwhack, aka artist Jeanette Nyberg, has an excellent drawing game that also helps teach geometry. It’s called Geometrees. You build up a tree using lines and triangles, then colour it in.
She has a book called Tangle Art and Drawing Games for Kids: A Silly Book for Creative and Visual Thinking, available from Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com. (We get a small commission if you purchase through our links.)
#8. Wallpaper Art!
Image courtesy of Artfulparent
We love this idea from Artfulparent for making wallpaper art! Simply hang some sheets of drawing paper (ideally a roll of paper from an arts & crafts shop or stationers) and draw a selection of picture frames on it. Then encourage your child (or children) to fill it with their own gallery of favourite pictures, places or things.
Over to you! Have you got other suggestions for fun drawing games for kids? Share them with us in the comments box below.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age are these drawing games suitable for?
Most of these games work well from around preschool age right up to the tweens, with adults happily joining in too. Younger children may need a little help getting started, especially with games like Five Dots or Blind Contour Drawing.
Do I need any special art supplies?
No — plain paper and a pencil, pen or marker is all you need for most of these games. A few, like Wallpaper Art, work best with a larger roll of paper if you have one, but they can be adapted to whatever you have at home.
How can drawing games help my child’s development?
Drawing games like these encourage imagination, fine motor skills, communication and observation. They’re also a lovely screen-free way to fill a rainy afternoon, whether your child is drawing solo or playing along with siblings or friends.
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Save These Ideas For Your Next Rainy Day
Love these drawing games? Bookmark this page or save it to your favourite parenting board so you’ve got a ready-made list of screen-free activities the next time the kids need something creative to do.
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