You’ve likely never met a child who didn’t want to learn how to draw. Kids are innately creative and want to express their ideas for others to see. They can end up frustrated if their drawing ideas don’t turn out as planned, and they may look to you for help. Rather than drawing for them, offer to draw with them. Teaching your children how to draw will inspire their creativity and provide a lifelong opportunity for bonding.
Tips for Teaching Kids to Draw
Because every child is different, it can be hard to follow strict guidelines for how to draw. However, there are some universal tips to remember when teaching drawing to kids.
Step One: Fun
Artistic expression is, above all else, meant to be fun! Kids want to create the cute drawings they’ve seen in books or learn to draw a scene from their imagination. Keeping the context fun and lighthearted is the best way to introduce a skill that will benefit them in many ways. Let things get messy, let them make mistakes, and expect that projects will head in many different directions.
Step Two: Routine
Although the primary goal is fun, kids can learn to draw more easily when it’s part of their everyday routine. Set up a consistent time when you sit down to draw together. Establish conventions around this time; bring drawing ideas from simple how-to books, have a designated workspace, and agree to put distractions aside.
Step Three: Supplies
It’s vital to treat drawing with children as the real artistic endeavor that it is. Getting quality drawing supplies can help kids feel like they’re learning a lifelong skill. Just as you introduce them to the techniques associated with drawing, you can introduce them to the array of tools they’ll use as their skills progress. Head to Guiry’s to browse the aisles with your kids and watch their faces light up when they see all the choices. Try different tools that allow your kids to experiment as they learn to draw. Watercolor pencils and a dedicated sketchbook are supplies that can help even the most reticent artist blossom.
Step Four: Inspiration
Drawing ideas can come from anywhere. Many kids want to draw from their imagination, which can be a great starting point. As they become more comfortable with the process, start to introduce real-world objects for inspiration. Repetitive drawing of shapes and patterns helps children learn to see the world through an artistic lens. You can even find cute instructions for kids to follow step by step from YouTube channels and other video guides.
Step Five: Guidance
As kids learn how to draw simple ideas and get more comfortable with their tools, you can begin to offer more specific guidance. Ask them to describe their thought process in translating what they see to the page, then offer a follow-up tip: “Tell me how you decided what your flower would look like....Oh, you noticed the leaf but didn’t know quite how to draw it. Let’s try this together.” You can also casually model how to observe things like perspective and shadows: “Interesting, I see a shadow from that box on the table down to the right. I should leave room here on my paper for that. Which charcoal pencil will I use?”
Step Six: Freedom
Even if you’re drawing step by step with your kids, helping them refine their skills along the way,
the real goal is to give them the freedom to express their creativity on the page. Demonstrate techniques and help them find drawing ideas to copy with the purpose being their creative freedom. By leaving the process somewhat open-ended, you’ll encourage creative problem-solving, cognitive development, and artistic exploration.
Celebrate and Model Progress Over Perfection
One of the most critical parts when teaching children how to draw is to remember that art is not about perfection. Children can thrive in situations where they’re allowed to make mistakes if the adults around them model self-compassion, perseverance, and creativity. Celebrate progress over perfection when working with kids — both for yourself and them!
Expand Your Family Skills with a Class
If you’re ready to adventure beyond the dining room table with your art, try enrolling in a drawing class for kids in your Colorado area. Drawing lessons can help kids build confidence and learn from their peers and seasoned art teachers.
Drawing classes for kids in the Denver area are abundant. Try the Artistic Fox for classes that kids as young as 3 will enjoy. Young Rembrandts offers after-school drawing lessons in many Colorado districts as a way to expand on the existing art curriculum. Sunflower Art Studio is an excellent option for Boulder-area families to enroll in drawing classes for all ages, including more advanced siblings and parents who want to improve their skills alongside the younger crowd.
Whether you’re teaching your children how to draw as a seasoned artist or a novice yourself, spending time together on a creative endeavor will benefit everyone for years to come.
