How to Draw a Stegosaurus (Easy Video Lesson for Kids)
Draw this stegosaurus step by step with a pencil and eraser. It takes about 16 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 16 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 Stegosaurus — New Video Drawing Tutorial from My Cartoon Dinosaurs Book
If your kids love dinosaurs and enjoy step-by-step drawing lessons, I’m excited to share a brand-new video drawing tutorial where I walk them through How to Draw A Stegosaurus. This cute, cartoon-style stegosaurus is a character straight from my book How to Draw: Cartoon Dinosaurs, and in the video I show the full process from the very first shapes all the way to the finished character. Whether your young artist is already familiar with this series or is brand new to drawing dinosaurs, this tutorial makes learning How to Draw A Stegosaurus simple, fun, and confidence-building.
The stegosaurus in the video is playful, expressive, and friendly—exactly the style kids love learning to draw. With rounded shapes, oversized plates, and a simple happy smile, this character is designed to help kids learn How to Draw A Stegosaurus in a way that feels manageable for beginners but still rewarding for more experienced young artists.
About the Book: How to Draw: Cartoon Dinosaurs
This adorable stegosaurus is just one of 50 cartoon dinosaurs featured in How to Draw: Cartoon Dinosaurs, a book I created specifically for young artists who want to learn how to draw dinosaurs in a fun, stylized way. The goal of the book is to help kids learn everything from T-Rex to triceratops to pterodactyls—with simple 6-step instructions for every single one.
Of course, learning How to Draw A Stegosaurus is a highlight because it’s one of the most recognizable—and kid-favorite—dinosaurs. But the book also includes:
- Raptors
- Ankylosaurs
- Sauropods
- Flying dinosaurs
- T-Rex
- And plenty of silly cartoon variations
Each character was hand-drawn by me, Kevin Coulston. I don’t use AI for any part of my artwork—every character goes from pencil sketch to ink by hand, which makes each drawing feel consistent and warm across the entire book.
Inside this book you’ll find:
- 50 step-by-step dinosaur characters
- Clean, kid-friendly layouts
- Easy instructions for ages 5+
- Fun and expressive dinosaur designs
- A process that builds confidence and drawing skills
Everything in the book is designed to help kids learn How to Draw A Stegosaurus, a T-Rex, or any other dinosaur in the exact same approachable style.
Why Kids Love Learning How to Draw Dinosaurs
Dinosaurs are one of the most popular drawing topics for kids, and it’s easy to see why—they’re exciting, imaginative, and full of personality, especially when turned into friendly cartoon characters.
Learning How to Draw A Stegosaurus in the video gives kids:
- A sense of accomplishment
- A creative outlet away from screens
- A fun connection to a book designed just for them
- A set of drawing skills that grow with practice
Drawing dinosaurs also encourages kids to explore new shapes and proportions, experiment with expressions, and even invent their own dinosaur species. That type of artistic exploration is the foundation of strong creative development.
A Great Companion to the Full Art Books for Kids Series
How to Draw: Cartoon Dinosaurs is part of my larger Art Books for Kids collection, which now includes more than 80 different books. Each book is designed to teach a different drawing method, giving kids new ways to build creativity and grow their skills.
The series includes:
- How to Draw – step-by-step drawing (like the dinosaur book)
- Trace Then Color – tracing and coloring pages for beginners
- Draw by Grid – grid-based drawing for focus and precision
- Shape Drawing Challenge – turning simple shapes into characters
Every character across all series is hand-drawn by me. No AI, no clipart, no stock images. Kids can enjoy a consistent art style throughout all the books while developing new skills through a wide variety of drawing formats.
If they enjoy learning How to Draw A Stegosaurus, there are dozens of other characters waiting for them in my dinosaur books, robot books, monster books, animal books, and more.
A Closer Look at the Video Tutorial
The new video focuses entirely on teaching kids How to Draw A Stegosaurus using the same six-step approach I use throughout How to Draw: Cartoon Dinosaurs. I start with basic shapes so kids can get a feel for the character’s structure, then add the stegosaurus plates, legs, face, tail, and details one layer at a time.
Every step is slow, clear, and intentionally simple so kids can follow along without getting overwhelmed. If they need more time, they can pause, rewind, or rewatch any part of the video. And because this exact character appears in the book, the video works as both a stand-alone lesson and a companion drawing experience for the book.
Watch the Video Tutorial:
Kids will learn:
- How to block out the stegosaurus using basic shapes
- How to draw its plates in a fun, cartoon-friendly style
- How to create expression and personality through the face
- How to refine lines and add final details
- Why simple shapes make it easier to learn How to Draw A Stegosaurus
By the end of the tutorial, kids will have a finished stegosaurus drawing that looks great—but more importantly, they’ll understand the drawing method well enough to try their own variations.
Ready to Draw Your Own Stegosaurus?
Now it’s time to grab a pencil and let your kids follow along with the new video lesson. The tutorial makes learning How to Draw A Stegosaurus fun, accessible, and exciting for young artists of all ages. After they finish the video, they can flip through How to Draw: Cartoon Dinosaurs and choose their next character—or even try creating their own dinosaurs using the same method.
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
Stegosaurus say STEG-uh-SORE-us
The name means “roof lizard.” It comes from Greek “stegos” (roof) and “sauros” (lizard). Scientists first thought its plates lay flat like roof tiles.
Write the name under your drawing, and the meaning underneath it. More dinosaurs on the dinosaur drawing page.
Fun facts about the real stegosaurus
- Stegosaurus had big plates along its back and spikes on its tail.
- Its brain was small compared to the size of its body.
- Stegosaurus was a plant eater.
Draw your stegosaurus, 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 muddy watering hole with other dinosaurs.
- Write one line under your picture to finish this story:
Everyone stopped drinking when they heard…
That’s a picture book page. Draw two more and you have a whole story.
Draw it, then write about it
Give your stegosaurus 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 colors will you use, and why?
- What name fits this character?
More ideas in 25 questions to ask kids about their art.
Questions about this drawing lesson
What age is this stegosaurus 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 16 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 stegosaurus 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 16 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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