How to Draw a Robot Pterodactyl (Easy Video Lesson for Kids)
Draw this robot 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: Robot 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
New Video Tutorial: How to Draw a Robot Pterodactyl!
If you’ve got a kid who loves dinosaurs and robots (and honestly, who doesn’t?), then they’re going to love the latest free video tutorial I just released: How to Draw a Robot Pterodactyl. This new video is packed with easy-to-follow steps that break down exactly how to draw this high-tech flying dino from start to finish.
The robot pterodactyl featured in the video is actually one of the 50 original characters from my book How to Draw: Robot Dinosaurs. So, if you enjoyed the tutorial or if your kid breezed through it and is ready for more, that book is filled with even more robot-dino mashups just like it.
Learn to Draw 50 Robot Dinosaurs
Let’s Talk About the Video: How to Draw a Robot Pterodactyl
In this video tutorial, I walk kids through the full process of how to draw a robot pterodactyl from scratch. Like all my drawing tutorials, it's paced for younger artists, with every step broken down in a way that's approachable and not overwhelming. I make sure to show each line, each shape, and how everything comes together into a cool, complete drawing.
This particular robot pterodactyl has all the iconic elements you’d expect from a prehistoric flyer — wings, a beak, claws — but they’re all given a robotic twist. Think metal plates, bolts, and wires to really sell the tech-meets-dino aesthetic. The result is something totally unique and a ton of fun to draw.
And because this is a character right out of the How to Draw: Robot Dinosaurs book, it gives a perfect preview of the kind of creatures you'll find inside the book.
About the Book: How to Draw: Robot Dinosaurs
How to Draw: Robot Dinosaurs is one of my personal favorite drawing books I’ve ever created. It features 50 original robot dinosaur mashups, each broken down into six easy-to-follow steps. That means kids can start with basic shapes and build up to a full robot dinosaur without getting frustrated or stuck.
From classic dinos like the T. rex and triceratops to lesser-known ones like the iguanodon or parasaurolophus, each page is filled with fun and imagination. And of course, every single character in the book has a mechanical twist — gears, wires, rocket boosters, mechanical arms, you name it.
And yes, the robot pterodactyl from the new video is included in the book! So if your child enjoys learning how to draw a robot pterodactyl with me in the tutorial, the book gives them a chance to trace back over it, color it, and keep learning with more characters just like it.
All Art Is Hand Drawn, No AI
Every single drawing in How to Draw: Robot Dinosaurs (and all my other books) is hand drawn by me. I don’t use AI art tools or auto-generators. I believe kids deserve to learn from real artwork, made by an artist who actually cares about drawing and teaching.
My goal has always been to create books that make drawing fun, not frustrating. The characters I design aren’t just something to copy — they’re a way for kids to discover their own style and build confidence in their art skills. And that’s why tutorials like how to draw a robot pterodactyl can be so helpful. They let kids get a feel for the process in real-time.
Part of a Bigger Series
How to Draw: Robot Dinosaurs is just one book in my full Art Books for Kids series. I’ve created over 75 books (and counting!), each one focused on fun, imaginative themes that inspire kids to draw. That includes everything from silly monsters and food with faces, to cute animals, baby robots, magical creatures, and more.
Browse All 75+ Art Books for Kids
And many of these titles are also available in Trace Then Color and Draw by Grid formats, making it even easier for kids of different skill levels to join in the fun. Whether your child is just starting out or already doodling in their free time, there’s something in the series for them.
Watch the Video, Get Inspired
If you haven’t already, check out the new video and learn how to draw a robot pterodactyl. It’s a great screen-time alternative that still keeps kids engaged and entertained. You can pause, rewind, and draw along at your own pace.
Drawing is a skill that gets better with practice, and my hope is that this video helps kids build confidence in a way that feels playful and creative. Whether they're brand-new to drawing or they’ve already filled a sketchbook or two, learning how to draw a robot pterodactyl is just plain fun.
Free Video Drawing Tutorial:
Final Thoughts
If your kid loves dinosaurs, robots, or just drawing cool stuff, they’re going to love this tutorial and the How to Draw: Robot Dinosaurs book. It’s full of characters designed to stretch the imagination and teach drawing at the same time.
So go ahead and give the video a watch. Follow along, have fun, and discover how to draw a robot pterodactyl together. Then, if your kid wants more, the book is ready and waiting with 49 more robot dinosaurs to dive into.
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
A Robot Dinosaur Coloring PageSame theme · Ages 3+See all Trace Then Color books - Draw by Grid
How to Draw a Robot Triceratops 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.
Finished? Draw the scene next
- Add a background: draw a robot friend built from leftover parts.
- Write one line under your picture to finish this story:
Together they decided to…
That’s a picture book page. Draw two more and you have a whole story.
Draw it, then write about it
Give your robot pterodactyl a name and a job. What makes it happy, and what makes it grumpy? 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 lines wobble.
- Robots are made of straight lines. Draw slowly, or use the edge of a book or ruler for long lines.
- The arms and legs are different lengths.
- Draw one arm, then count how long it is compared to the body and copy that for the other side.
- It looks flat.
- Add bolts, buttons, a little screen or an antenna. Small details make a robot look built.
- 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.
- What job was this robot built to do?
- If you had a robot helper, what chore would you give it first?
- 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 robot 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 robot 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 Robots 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: Robot Dinosaurs
By Kevin Coulston
Explore this book →
Trace Then Color: Robot Dinosaurs
By Kevin Coulston
Explore this book →
Draw by Grid: Robot Dinosaurs
By Kevin Coulston
Explore this book →More like this: all 21 free robot drawing lessons and pages →
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