How to Draw a Baby Elephant (Easy Video Lesson for Kids)
Draw this baby elephant step by step with a pencil and eraser. It takes about 15 minutes and works for ages 5 and up. Follow the steps below, or draw along with the video. The page comes from Kevin Coulston’s book How to Draw: Baby Animals.

- Step-by-step drawing
- Ages 5+
- Grades K–2
- Easy
- About 15 min with the video
You’ll need
- Pencil and eraser
- Paper, or the printed page
- Crayons, markers or colored pencils
You’ll practice
- Breaking a drawing into simple shapes
- Following steps in order
- Adding your own details
How to Draw a Baby Elephant – Free Step-by-Step Video Tutorial
If you love drawing cute animals, today’s post is going to make you smile. I’m excited to share a brand-new YouTube drawing tutorial where I’ll show you exactly How to Draw a Baby Elephant in just a few easy steps. This adorable little elephant is one of my favorite characters from my book How to Draw: Baby Animals, and in the video, I walk you through the process from start to finish.
The character is a small blue elephant with oversized ears, a round body, and a diaper—because this is a true baby elephant! It’s simple, cute, and fun to draw, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced young artist looking for a relaxing art project.
The tutorial is about five minutes long, making it perfect for a quick drawing session at home or in the classroom. You can pause, rewind, or rewatch as many times as you need while learning How to Draw a Baby Elephant step-by-step.
About the Book: How to Draw: Baby Animals
This tutorial comes straight from my book How to Draw: Baby Animals, part of my How to Draw series. The book features 50 different baby animals, each one broken down into six easy-to-follow steps.
Every drawing in the book is completely hand-drawn by me—no stock art, no tracing from digital assets, and no AI assistance. I sketch everything myself with pencil and ink before turning them into the clean, easy-to-follow guides you see in the final book.
I think that’s an important detail to share, especially today when AI-generated art is so common. I want kids (and adults) who use my books to know that every character they draw started from a human imagination and hand. Each curve, shape, and expression is made to teach real drawing skills—not just to copy a computer image.
When you learn How to Draw a Baby Elephant from this book or video, you’re learning the same techniques I use when designing new characters. You’re getting a small piece of the creative process that goes into every book I make.
More Ways to Draw the Baby Elephant
If you enjoy the video tutorial, there are even more ways to practice drawing this character. In addition to the How to Draw version, the Baby Elephant also appears in my Trace Then Color and Draw by Grid editions of the same theme.
- Trace Then Color: Baby Animals – In this version, you can trace the outlines of the baby elephant before coloring it in. It’s a perfect option for younger artists who are just starting out or anyone who prefers a relaxing tracing activity.
- Draw by Grid: Baby Animals – This edition helps kids develop observation and proportion skills by using a simple grid system. You copy each part of the elephant square by square, which trains your eye for spacing and shape while keeping it fun.
All three versions—How to Draw, Trace Then Color, and Draw by Grid—feature the same 50 adorable baby animal designs, including the baby elephant, baby panda, baby lion, baby bunny, and more.
So, whether you’re learning How to Draw a Baby Elephant step by step, tracing it, or drawing it by grid, there’s a version that fits your favorite way to learn.

Why Kids Love Drawing Baby Animals
Baby animals are one of the most popular subjects in my books because they’re cute, expressive, and full of personality. They’re also great for helping kids develop creative confidence.
When kids learn How to Draw a Baby Elephant, they’re not just copying a picture—they’re learning to see shapes, build characters, and make creative decisions. That’s one of the reasons I design my tutorials and books to be simple enough to follow, but open-ended enough for creativity.
After drawing the elephant, many kids like to add accessories—like a little bow, a toy bottle, or a blanket. Others like to draw multiple elephants together as a family. These imaginative touches help turn a drawing lesson into a storytelling experience.
The Creative Process Behind My Books
People often ask how I come up with my designs, and the answer is: I start with an idea, then sketch by hand until it feels right. I don’t use AI tools or digital shortcuts. Every illustration you see in my books begins as a pencil sketch on paper.
Once I’m happy with the design, I refine it into clear, simple lines that work well for step-by-step teaching. The result is a series of fun, original characters that anyone can learn to draw.
When you learn How to Draw a Baby Elephant using my tutorial or books, you’re connecting with art that’s been drawn with real creativity and care—not generated by a machine. That’s part of what makes these books special.

Watch the Video: How to Draw a Baby Elephant
In the video, I take you through the full process of drawing this little elephant using basic shapes and smooth lines. You’ll start by sketching the large round head and floppy ears, then move on to the diaper and baby legs. The steps are simple enough for kids to follow, and by the end, you’ll have a cute finished drawing that’s ready to color.
I always make sure my tutorials are approachable for all ages—especially for kids who love animals and want to learn to draw them in a fun, cartoony style. The goal is to make drawing feel easy and rewarding.
If you’ve ever wanted to learn How to Draw a Baby Elephant, this video is a great place to start. You don’t need any special materials—just a pencil, eraser, and paper. And once you’ve drawn your elephant, you can color it however you like. I use blue in the video, but you can make yours pink, gray, or even purple!
Watch the tutorial here:
Why This Tutorial Is Perfect for Beginners
The baby elephant tutorial is designed with beginners in mind. The proportions are exaggerated and the lines are clean, making it easy to follow along. You’ll learn how to break complex shapes down into simple forms, which is one of the most important skills in drawing.
Even if you’ve never drawn an elephant before, you’ll be surprised by how quickly you can pick it up. And if you’re already familiar with my other tutorials—like the cute cartoon monsters or baby animals—you’ll find this lesson fits right in with your growing collection of drawings.
By the end of the video, you’ll not only know How to Draw a Baby Elephant, but you’ll also have a cute new character you can color, decorate, and share.
Try It Yourself
If you haven’t yet, go watch the full tutorial on YouTube and draw along with me. The video is about five minutes long—just the right length for a quick art break or a fun classroom project.
Once you’ve finished your elephant, try drawing it again from memory or adding your own twist. Maybe give it a hat, a pacifier, or a tiny toy to hold. The more you experiment, the more confident you’ll become as an artist.
And if you enjoy learning How to Draw a Baby Elephant, be sure to check out the full How to Draw: Baby Animals book for even more adorable characters to draw.

Final Thoughts
This new tutorial is one of my favorites because it captures everything I love about drawing—simplicity, creativity, and fun. Watching kids (and adults!) learn How to Draw a Baby Elephant and make it their own is always inspiring.
Whether you’re following the video, tracing from the Trace Then Color version, or using the Draw by Grid edition, you’ll find that this character is a joy to bring to life.
So grab your pencil and paper, press play on the video, and let’s draw together.
Draw it 3 ways
Every FirstArtBooks theme comes in three formats. Trace it, draw it step by step, or copy it square by square: the more ways kids draw a character, the better they know it.
- How to Draw
Draw it step by stepYou’re on this pageSee all How to Draw books - Trace Then Color
Trace & Color A Baby CapybaraSame theme · Ages 3+See all Trace Then Color books - Draw by Grid
How to Draw a Baby LobsterSame theme · Ages 7+See all Draw by Grid books
Fun facts about the real elephant
- Elephants are the largest land animals on Earth.
- An elephant's trunk is its nose and upper lip together, and it can pick up something as small as a peanut.
- Elephants flap their big ears to help keep cool.
Draw your elephant, then add one of these facts in a speech bubble or on the back of the page.
Finished? Draw the scene next
- Add a background: draw a snowy hill with a sled.
- Write one line under your picture to finish this story:
It had never seen snow before, so…
That’s a picture book page. Draw two more and you have a whole story.
Draw it, then write about it
Give your baby elephant a name. Where does it live, and what does it love to do? Write two or three sentences.
Print a draw-and-write sheet: a box for the drawing and lines for the story. Primary lines (K–2) · Regular lines (grades 2–5)
Want to make it a whole story? Try the comic story starter or fold a mini-book in Story Studio.
Common mistakes and quick fixes
- The head is too small for a cartoon look.
- Cartoon animals are cute because their heads are big. Make the head almost as big as the body.
- The eyes are too far apart.
- Keep the eyes close together near the middle of the face. Leave about one eye’s width between them.
- The legs don’t line up with the body.
- Draw the legs straight down from the bottom of the body, so the animal looks like it’s standing on the ground.
- Pressing hard from the very first step.
- Use light, sketchy lines first. You can erase them easily and go over the lines you keep at the end.
More in 10 common drawing mistakes kids make.
Talk about it
For the grown-up: ask one or two of these while your child draws. There are no wrong answers.
- Where does this animal live, and what does it eat?
- If this animal could talk, what would its voice sound like?
- Which part are you proudest of?
- What colors will you use, and why?
More ideas in 25 questions to ask kids about their art.
Questions about this drawing lesson
What age is this baby elephant drawing lesson for?
Ages 5 and up (about grades K to 2). Younger kids can follow along with a grown-up, one step at a time.
How long does it take?
About 15 minutes, including time to pause the video. Kids who add their own details or a background often keep going longer.
What supplies do you need?
Pencil and eraser; paper, or the printed page; crayons, markers or colored pencils.
What size does it print?
Nothing needs printing: draw along on any paper, Letter or A4.
Can kids draw the baby elephant without printing the page?
Yes. Draw on any paper and copy one step at a time from the screen, or pause the video after each step.
For teachers: grade, timing and standards
Grades K–2, about 15 minutes. Step-by-step drawing, easy level. The video does the teaching: press play and let students draw along.
National Core Arts Standards (visual arts)
- VA:Cr2 Organize and develop artistic ideas and work: students build drawing skills by following a sequence of steps.
- VA:Cr3 Refine and complete artistic work: students add their own details, expressions and color to finish the character.
See every lesson by standard, plus the math in grid drawing, on the arts standards map.
Copies: print as many as your class needs. More in the teacher resources, the Animals hub and our no-prep sub plans.
Get the free Animal Drawing Pack
12 printable animal pages to draw, trace and color, sent with your welcome email. After that, Kevin’s newsletter brings new free pages and book news.
Take the idea into a book
Want more characters to draw, trace or color? Explore these related books and see which approach fits your next creative session.

Trace Then Color: Baby Animals
By Kevin Coulston
Explore this book →
Draw by Grid: Baby Animals
By Kevin Coulston
Explore this book →
How to Draw: Baby Animals
By Kevin Coulston
Explore this book →More like this: all 55 free animal drawing lessons and pages →
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