Drawing games for kids

Safety first

Use pencils and crayons only, and ask a grown-up to sharpen pencils, since sharpeners and sharp points need care. Never chew or suck on a pencil or crayon, and keep pencils pointing down at the paper, away from your own face and anyone else's. Sit with your paper flat on a table or a book rather than waving pencils around. Paper edges can give a nasty little cut, so slide a sheet gently and do not run a finger along its edge. Pass drawings with a flat hand, never with a pencil still in it. Most of all, say something kind about each other's drawing. Age hints are only a guide, so you know your players best.

1. Squiggle-to-picture

Age hint: 4 and up, 2 players.

Bring: two sheets of paper and a pencil or crayon each.

1. Each player draws one loopy squiggle on their own page, with no lifting needed.
2. Swap pages.
3. Turn the page around and look until you see something hiding in the lines, such as a fish, a hat or a dragon.
4. Add eyes, legs, leaves or anything else that turns the squiggle into a picture, then show each other.

Talk about: What did you spot in the squiggle that your partner did not?

2. Draw with eyes closed

Age hint: 5 and up, 2 or more players.

Bring: paper, a pencil each and a book to lean on.

1. One player calls out a simple thing to draw, such as a house, a cat or a bicycle.
2. Everyone closes their eyes and draws it, keeping the pencil on the page.
3. Open your eyes together and hold the pictures up.
4. Take turns choosing the next thing to draw.

Talk about: Which part of your picture ended up in a surprising place?

3. One-line drawing

Age hint: 5 and up, 2 or more players.

Bring: paper and a pencil or crayon each.

1. Pick a subject together, such as a bird, a boat or a flower.
2. Put your pencil down and draw it without lifting the pencil until it is finished. Lines may cross or loop over themselves.
3. Hold your pictures side by side.
4. Try again with a new subject, or colour in the spaces between the lines.

Talk about: How did drawing without lifting change the way you planned your picture?

4. Pass-the-drawing

Age hint: 6 and up, 3 or more players.

Bring: one sheet and one pencil or crayon per player.

1. Everyone starts a picture by drawing for one minute, such as a face, a building or an animal.
2. On a signal from a grown-up, put your pencil down and pass your page with a flat hand to the player on your left.
3. Carry on the drawing you receive for another minute, adding to it rather than changing it.
4. Keep passing until your own page comes back to you, then take turns showing the finished pictures.

Talk about: What did someone add to your picture that you would never have thought of?

5. Mirror drawing partners

Age hint: 6 and up, 2 players.

Bring: one large sheet, and one pencil or crayon each.

1. Draw a straight line down the middle of the page, from top to bottom.
2. One player draws a shape or pattern on the left side, close to the line.
3. The other player copies it on the right side as if the line were a mirror, flipping it back to front.
4. Swap roles for the next shape, and keep going until the page is full.

Talk about: Which shapes were easiest to mirror, and which ones tricked you?

6. Guess-my-drawing

Age hint: 5 and up, 3 or more players.

Bring: paper, a pencil each and a few small slips with ideas written on them.

1. Write simple things on the slips, such as an umbrella, a mango or a train, and fold them up.
2. The drawer picks a slip in secret and draws it, with no letters, numbers or talking.
3. The others take turns guessing until someone gets it.
4. The player who guessed becomes the next drawer.

Talk about: Which line in the drawing gave you the best clue?

Keeping it kind

Before you begin, agree on a few friendly rules. Everyone may say what they like about a drawing, and nobody says a picture is bad or wrong. Try sentence starters such as "I like how you..." or "I wonder what happens next to...". Silly results are the point of these games, so laugh with each other and never at each other. Let anyone sit out a round without needing a reason, and pin the favourite pictures up for a few days if players agree.

More to do on Rangooo

Learn simple shapes with easy drawing ideas for kids, find more indoor games for kids, plan an evening with family game night ideas, pack paper for travel games for kids, fill a wet afternoon with rainy day activities for kids, draw outdoors with chalk games for kids, practise being friendly with kindness activities for kids, browse more stories and activities, or see resources for teachers.

Questions

How many players do these drawing games need?

Most need two players, but pass-the-drawing and guess-my-drawing need three or more. A grown-up can always join in, which also helps younger children feel confident.

What if my child gets upset about how a drawing turned out?

These games are built around surprising pictures, so wobbly results are part of the fun. Remind everyone that the game is about laughing together, and pick a kind comment to share about each drawing.

What materials do we need?

Plain paper and a pencil or crayon for each player is enough. A book or clipboard to lean on helps, and a rubber is handy for the games where you may want a fresh start.

Can we play these on a journey or while waiting?

Yes, if everyone is seated and a grown-up agrees. Choose crayons or soft pencils, keep them held low and away from faces, and skip any game that needs moving around.