Kids’ drawing FAQ
30 short answers to the questions parents and teachers ask most about kids and drawing, each with a guide to read next.
Getting started
What age should kids start drawing?
Kids start scribbling around 18 months. Most can trace a simple outline at 3 and follow easy step-by-step drawings at 5. There is no wrong age to start: tracing pages suit preschoolers and grid drawing suits older kids.
Read more: Drawing milestones by age
How do I teach my child to draw if I can’t draw?
You don’t need to draw well. Pick a step-by-step lesson or video, sit down and draw it together, and talk about the shapes you see. Kids learn from watching you try.
Read more: Homeschool art for parents who can’t draw
What is the easiest thing for a kid to draw?
Round characters built from a few circles and ovals: a cartoon cat, a baby animal, a smiley monster or a snowman. Start with something your child already loves.
Read more: Drawing with shapes
How often should kids draw?
Ten minutes a day helps more than an hour once a week. A short daily routine builds skill and confidence fast.
Read more: How often should kids draw?
Is drawing a talent or a skill?
Mostly a skill. Kids who draw often get better, and step-by-step practice shows them how drawings are built.
Read more: Is drawing a talent or a skill?
Ages and stages
What can a 3-year-old draw?
Circles, lines and scribbles that they name. Tracing thick outlines and coloring big shapes are great practice at this age.
Read more: Teach a preschooler to draw
What should a 5-year-old be able to draw?
Many 5-year-olds draw people with a head, body, arms and legs, and simple houses and animals. They can follow an easy step-by-step drawing with a grown-up.
Read more: Teach a kindergartner to draw
What are good drawing ideas for 8 to 10-year-olds?
Longer step-by-step lessons, grid drawings, comics, invented creatures and drawing from life. Kids this age like a real challenge.
Read more: Drawing ideas for 8 to 10-year-olds
How do I keep a tween interested in drawing?
Give them harder projects: grid drawing, character design, comics and their own sketchbook. Let them choose the subjects.
Read more: Drawing for tweens
My child only draws one thing. Is that okay?
Yes. Drawing the same subject over and over builds skill. Add a small twist each time, like a new setting or a new feeling.
Read more: My child only draws one thing
Tracing, step-by-step and grid drawing
Is tracing bad for kids?
No. Tracing builds pencil control and shows how a drawing is put together. When it feels easy, kids can draw the character again without tracing.
Read more: Is tracing cheating?
Is step-by-step drawing good for kids?
Yes. It breaks a drawing into small shapes, builds confidence and teaches kids to plan. Afterwards they can change the character to make it their own.
Read more: Why step-by-step drawing works
How does a How to Draw page work?
Every step shows the whole finished drawing as a light gray outline. Kids draw the black lines for each step, so they can always see where the drawing is going.
Read more: How a How to Draw page works
What is grid drawing?
Kids copy a picture one square at a time onto a blank grid. Square by square, the whole drawing comes out the right shape and size.
Read more: What is grid drawing?
Which is better: tracing, step-by-step or grid drawing?
Each fits a stage: tracing for ages 3 to 5, step-by-step for 5 and up, and grid drawing from about 7. Many kids enjoy all three with the same character.
Read more: Trace, step or grid?
Helping and encouraging
What do I say when my child says “I can’t draw”?
Agree that it’s hard, then make the task smaller: one shape, one step, or a tracing page. Praise the effort and the choices, not just the result.
Read more: When kids say “I can’t draw”
How should I praise my child’s drawing?
Be specific about what you see: “You used three colors in the sky” or “Tell me about this part.” Specific praise means more than “That’s beautiful.”
Read more: How to praise a child’s drawing
What if my child gets frustrated and gives up?
Take a break, then come back to an easier version. Tracing, a short lesson or drawing alongside them helps. Perfectionists do better when mistakes are part of the plan.
Read more: Perfectionist child and drawing
How do I help a left-handed child draw?
Tilt the paper the other way, work from right to left to avoid smudging, and use quick-drying pens or pencils.
Read more: Left-handed drawing tips
Are drawing activities good for kids with ADHD?
Short drawing tasks with a clear finish line work well. Step-by-step lessons and grids give structure, and each step is a quick win.
Read more: Drawing activities for kids with ADHD
Supplies and printing
What art supplies does a beginner need?
A pencil, an eraser, plain paper and crayons or markers. Add colored pencils and a sketchbook when kids draw often.
Read more: Best art supplies for kids
What paper size are the free pages?
US Letter (8.5 by 11 inches). On A4 paper, choose “Fit to page” in the print settings.
Read more: Free activity pages
Can I print the free pages for my class?
Yes. Print as many copies as you need for your family, class or homeschool group. Please don’t sell them or upload them to another website.
Read more: Free for home and classroom use
How do I show a lesson to a whole class?
Open the lesson and press Classroom mode. It shows one step at a time, full screen, so the whole class can draw along from the board.
Read more: Directed drawing for a class
How do I get new free pages?
Join the FirstArtBooks newsletter: new free pages and drawing ideas arrive by email.
Read more: Join the newsletter
FirstArtBooks books
Who makes FirstArtBooks?
Cartoonist Kevin Coulston writes and draws every book and free page. He has published 100 books since his first one came out over 15 years ago.
Read more: About Kevin Coulston
What is the difference between the three book series?
Trace Then Color (ages 3+) is tracing and coloring. How to Draw (ages 5+) teaches step by step with a gray outline. Draw by Grid (ages 5+, best from 7) copies pictures square by square. Most themes come in all three.
Read more: Compare the series
Which drawing book should we start with?
For ages 3 to 5, a Trace Then Color book. For 5 and up, a How to Draw book in a theme your child loves, like animals, dinosaurs, robots or monsters.
Read more: Best drawing books by age
Where can I buy the books?
All FirstArtBooks books are sold on Amazon as paperbacks. Each book page on this site links to it.
Read more: All the books
Do drawing books make good gifts?
Yes. A drawing book keeps kids busy for weeks and costs about the same as a toy. They also make good party favors and classroom gifts.
Read more: Gifts for kids who love to draw
Still have a question? The drawing guides go deeper on every topic, and the free activity pages are ready to print.