Creating art is an essential skill for all kids. It can help them develop fine motor skills, develop their creativity, and it’s an important outlet for self-expression. However, some activities can get overly complicated for parents to set up (and clean up) for their kids. So we’ve created a list of some of our favorite easy drawing activities for kids.
Kids ages 3-4
When it comes to preschoolers, drawing activities are important as a prewriting skill for them to develop. Kids this age are working on fine motor skills, how to hold their pencil, and identifying colors. These are all essential skills for kids to develop. With these easy drawings activities, you can help encourage their creative side as well.
Coloring Pages
It seems too simple to work, but coloring pages are considered classic for a reason. So don’t worry about whether or not your child is coloring in the lines or not, just let them freestyle their art and have fun. There are some great examples of coloring pages for kids here. You can also find plenty of free, downloadable coloring pages online. In addition, you can find pages that cater to your child’s interest or any holidays you and your family celebrate.
Hand tracing
I love hand tracing because each handprint is an easy-to-make keepsake for mom or dad. Kids can use their handprint outline to draw pictures of turkeys, flowers, trees, butterflies, or even fish. The possibilities are endless, and it’s an easy way to draw with your kid.
Box fort coloring
I love this easy drawing activity because the child will be able to draw with more of their body. If you can find a big enough box, they can draw in motions larger than what a standard 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper has to offer. In addition, the sound of a crayon along the side of the cardboard will make a sound that small children can play with. This makes the activity engage more in textile learning possibilities than other table drawing activities. Plus, it stimulates more imaginative play when kids can design their box fort to be whatever they want.
Kids ages 5-6
Drawing activities at this age become more refined and easier for parents and caregivers to distinguish what their child is drawing. Their scribbles are becoming more discernable people with identifiable parts! As they begin to develop their drawing abilities, you can use these easy drawing activities to encourage your little artist.
Foil scribbles
This easy drawings activity requires some tin foil and sharpie markers. In my experience, this activity works best with sharpies because the ink holds onto the foil better than other markers. This is a great activity because the tin foil is more fun to work with than standard paper, and it’s an easy setup activity for anyone trying to keep it simple.
Scribble drawing
What is a scribble drawing? Make some big, loopy scribbles on a piece of paper and ask your child what they see, then have them add to the picture and complete the image. This is a creative activity that challenges their imagination and creative capacity. Plus, there is no wrong way to turn an ordinary scribble into more elaborate art.
Paper dolls
It’s so easy for parents to think they need to buy dolls with a variety of accessories when paper dolls are a simple solution for the kid who wants to stylize their doll their way. Paper dolls are inexpensive and give kids a chance to customize their dolls to their liking. There are plenty of paper doll downloadable examples and tutorials here. Suppose your little artist is especially attached to their paper doll and wants a more durable friend. In that case, there are Lottie Doll artist dolls that are sure to encourage them to develop their artistic abilities.
Kids ages 7-9
Their imaginative world continues to grow at this age. Their artwork becomes more detailed and continues to be a unique expression of themselves. Easy artwork at this age needs to engage their growing cognitive abilities, so thinking outside the box becomes more of a challenge. Luckily we have some ideas for you.
Envelope neighborhood
Never heard of an envelop neighborhood? It’s easy for parents to set up, and kids can help too! Tape or glue some envelopes to a poster board and soon you will notice the open envelope, with the flap up, looks vaguely like a house. A square or rectangle with a triangle on top? Definitely a house to any kid at this age. Make sure to use envelopes in various sizes, and your kid can create their own little envelop neighborhood. Bonus tip, you know those paper dolls we mentioned earlier? Now they have a place to live!
How to draw videos
If your child is looking to improve their art skills, how to draw videos are great at teaching young artists how to draw simple pictures. In this example here, an adult and child make a fox character together in real-time, and your child will be able to follow along at home, too! It’s an excellent way for children to work on following a step-by-step instruction guide while also learning how to make some cool art at the same time. There are thousands of how-to-draw videos on YouTube. My recommendation is to find a channel that your child likes and stick to those. Otherwise, you end up over searching for videos on YouTube. The Art For Kids Hub is great and kid-friendly. They have plenty of how-to-draw videos for your child to work through.
Still life drawing
A still life drawing is simply asking the artist to draw what they see in front of them. It’s a test of their observation skills and drawing abilities. It might sound too simple to work, but kids will draw what they like, so they may opt to draw the classic vase of flowers or possibly the controller to their game console. Regardless of what they chose to do a still life of, it can be a great way to both challenge their artistic abilities and engage them in observing the details of daily life.
Final Thoughts
Setting up engaging art activities doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive. Sometimes the best activities are the simplest ones. Kids will love these easy drawing activities. If you’re looking for more creative at-home activities, check out some of the other activities we have.
