How to Draw a Pterodactyl (Easy Video Lesson for Kids)
Draw this pterodactyl 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: Cartoon Dinosaurs.
- 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
Learn How to Draw a Pterodactyl with This Fun Video Tutorial!
Get ready for a prehistoric drawing adventure! In today's brand-new video tutorial, I'm showing you how to draw a pterodactyl, step by step. This isn't just any flying dinosaur—it's a cute, cartoon-style pterodactyl straight from the pages of my book, How to Draw: Cartoon Dinosaurs. If you're into dinosaurs and love creating silly, expressive characters, this one's for you.
This video is perfect for young artists, beginners, or anyone looking for a fun way to practice their drawing skills. All you need is a pencil, some paper, and your imagination. Follow along with me and learn how to draw a pterodactyl in just 9 minutes. You’ll be surprised how simple it is to bring this flying reptile to life!
About the Book: How to Draw: Cartoon Dinosaurs
The adorable pterodactyl in this video is just one of the 50 cartoon dinosaurs you’ll find inside How to Draw: Cartoon Dinosaurs. Each character in the book is broken down into six simple steps so that kids can follow along without getting overwhelmed. The book is designed for ages 5 and up, and it’s perfect for kids who want to draw fun, silly, expressive dinosaurs.
The pterodactyl featured in this video is one of my favorites because of how expressive you can make its wings and beak. In the book, you’ll also find a goofy T. rex, a cheerful stegosaurus, a silly triceratops, and tons more. Like all my books, every single character is hand-drawn by me with care to make sure it’s both fun and achievable for young artists.
If you loved learning how to draw a pterodactyl, you’ll absolutely love flipping through this book and discovering all the other prehistoric pals waiting inside.
Why Kids Love How to Draw: Cartoon Dinosaurs
✅ Step-by-step instructions make drawing accessible and stress-free.
✅ Silly, fun characters that kids actually want to draw.
✅ Perfect for beginners or any young artist who wants to build confidence.
✅ Encourages creativity while teaching structure and sequencing.
✅ Great screen-free activity for classrooms, road trips, or rainy days.
Whether your child is a total beginner or already fills sketchbooks with doodles, this book helps them learn to draw in a way that feels like play. And if they’re excited by today’s video on how to draw a pterodactyl, they’ll be thrilled to take on the other 49 characters in the book.
Part of the Art Books for Kids Series
How to Draw: Cartoon Dinosaurs is part of my growing Art Books for Kids series, which includes books on animals, robots, food monsters, fairies, and more. Every title in the series is focused on making drawing fun and frustration-free, with characters broken down into simple shapes and easy steps.
Each book includes 50 characters, each one unique and fun to draw. And just like this tutorial showing you how to draw a pterodactyl, all the books are designed to help kids build their skills while having a blast.
If your kids love drawing, collecting characters, or just need a fun activity to keep them busy and creative, this series is for them. And if they’ve mastered how to draw a pterodactyl, they’re well on their way to mastering every book in the lineup!
Free Video Drawing Tutorial:
Take Your Drawing Further
Now that you've followed the video and learned how to draw a pterodactyl, try creating your own versions. What happens if your pterodactyl is extra sleepy, or maybe super excited? Try giving it sunglasses, a backpack, or even roller skates. That’s part of the fun—making each character your own.
Drawing should never feel intimidating. My goal with every video and every book is to show kids that drawing is just another way to play. If your kids had fun learning how to draw a pterodactyl today, then this book (and this whole series) is going to keep them entertained for hours.
View All 70+ Art Books for Kids
Grab Your Copy Today
You can check out the free video tutorial to learn how to draw a pterodactyl, and when you're ready for more, How to Draw: Cartoon Dinosaurs is packed with characters just as fun and quirky. It's perfect for road trips, summer afternoons, classroom art time, or just a quiet drawing session at home.
Once you know how to draw a pterodactyl, you’ll be itching to learn how to draw all its dinosaur friends too. And with 50 total characters in the book, there’s no shortage of prehistoric fun.
Final Thoughts
I hope you and your kids had a blast learning how to draw a pterodactyl today. It’s one of my favorite characters in the book because it’s so expressive and fun to play around with. The whole How to Draw: Cartoon Dinosaurs book is built around that idea: drawing as play, creativity as a skill, and fun as the foundation.
Thanks for being part of this drawing adventure with me. Now grab those pencils and go draw some more dinosaurs!
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
Parasaurolophus Coloring PageSame theme · Ages 3+See all Trace Then Color books - Draw by Grid
How to Draw a Plesiosaur by GridSame theme · Ages 7+See all Draw by Grid books
Say it like a paleontologist
Pterodactyl say TAIR-uh-DACK-til (the P is silent)
The name means “winged finger.” It comes from Greek “pteron” (wing) and “daktylos” (finger), because its wing stretched from one very long finger.
A pterodactyl was not a dinosaur. It was a flying reptile that lived at the same time.
Write the name under your drawing, and the meaning underneath it. More dinosaurs on the dinosaur drawing page.
Fun facts about the real pterodactyl
- Pterodactyls were flying reptiles, not dinosaurs, though they lived at the same time.
- Their wings were made of skin stretched from a very long finger.
- Many flying reptiles caught fish to eat.
Draw your pterodactyl, 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 volcano puffing smoke and a few palm trees.
- Write one line under your picture to finish this story:
The ground started to shake, and then…
That’s a picture book page. Draw two more and you have a whole story.
Draw it, then write about it
Give your pterodactyl 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 neck and tail come out too short.
- Dinosaurs are long. Draw the body as a big oval first, then stretch the neck and tail well past it before adding the head.
- The legs look like sticks.
- Make dinosaur legs thick, like tree trunks, and give the feet a flat bottom so it can stand.
- The spikes or plates are all different sizes.
- Start with the biggest in the middle of the back and make them smaller toward the head and tail.
- 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.
- Would your dinosaur eat plants or meat? How can you tell from its teeth?
- Dinosaurs lived millions of years ago. How do scientists know what they looked like?
- What would you change if you drew it again tomorrow?
- Which part are you proudest of?
More ideas in 25 questions to ask kids about their art.
Questions about this drawing lesson
What age is this pterodactyl 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 pterodactyl 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 Dinosaur Drawing Pack
12 printable dinosaur 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.
How to Draw: Cartoon Dinosaurs
By Kevin Coulston
Explore this book →
How to Draw: Food Monsters
By Kevin Coulston
Explore this book →
Trace Then Color: Cartoon Food Monsters
By Kevin Coulston
Explore this book →More like this: all 18 free dinosaur drawing lessons and pages →
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