Easy drawing ideas for kids: eight shape-based pictures

Warm-up lines

Before the pictures, spend two minutes loosening the hand. Fill a page with each kind of line below, and do not worry about neatness.

• Straight lines: draw rows from left to right, then from top to bottom.
• Wavy lines: let the pencil roll up and down like a gentle sea.
• Zigzags: go sharp and quick, like mountain peaks.
• Loops: make rows of curly spirals, like a spring.

If you would like more things to try on a screen, with no rubbing out, you can also visit Play and learn on Rangooo.

1. Circle-and-triangle cat

Age: 5 and up. Shapes: one big circle, two triangles, small circles and lines.

1. Draw a big circle for the head.
2. Add a triangle on each top side for ears.
3. Draw two small circles for eyes and a tiny triangle for the nose.
4. Finish with three whisker lines on each cheek.

Make it yours: give your cat a spotty face, a bow, or a favourite colour of fur.

2. House on a hill

Age: 5 and up. Shapes: a curve, a square, a triangle and a rectangle.

1. Draw a long curve across the page for the hill.
2. Sit a square on top of the hill.
3. Add a triangle roof and a rectangle door.
4. Put a small square window beside the door.

Make it yours: add a path, a garden or a chimney with curly smoke.

3. Sun and cloud

Age: 5 and up. Shapes: a circle, short lines and three bumpy curves.

1. Draw a circle in the top corner for the sun.
2. Add short lines all around it like rays.
3. Draw a flat line, then three round bumps above it for a cloud.
4. Colour the sun warm and the cloud pale.

Make it yours: draw a face on the sun, or let the cloud drop a few raindrops.

4. Fish from an oval and triangle

Age: 5 and up. Shapes: an oval, a triangle and a small circle.

1. Draw a wide oval for the body.
2. Add a triangle at one end for the tail.
3. Draw a small circle for the eye and a curved line for the mouth.
4. Fill the body with rows of little curves for scales.

Make it yours: paint stripes or dots, and add bubbles and a wavy sea floor.

5. Tree

Age: 6 and up. Shapes: a tall rectangle and a cloud of circles.

1. Draw a tall rectangle for the trunk.
2. Draw three or four overlapping circles on top for leaves.
3. Add two lines branching from the trunk.
4. Draw little circles for fruit or short lines for grass.

Make it yours: try a tree for every season, with blossom, green leaves, orange leaves or bare branches.

6. Kite

Age: 6 and up. Shapes: a diamond, a long curve and small triangles.

1. Draw a diamond with its points up and down.
2. Draw a cross inside it, joining opposite corners.
3. Add a long wavy line from the bottom point for the string.
4. Tie small triangles along the string for the tail.

Make it yours: split the kite into four colours or fill each part with a pattern.

7. Boat

Age: 7 and up. Shapes: a half-circle, a triangle and a rectangle.

1. Draw a half-circle with the flat side on top for the hull.
2. Stand a thin rectangle in the middle for the mast.
3. Add a big triangle sail beside the mast.
4. Draw wavy lines beneath for water.

Make it yours: choose sail colours, add a flag, or send your boat off to a faraway island.

8. Butterfly from mirrored shapes

Age: 7 and up. Shapes: an oval body and matching shapes on each side.

1. Draw a thin oval down the middle for the body.
2. Draw a large rounded wing on the left.
3. Copy the same wing on the right, as if in a mirror.
4. Add two small wings below, then two curly antennae.

Make it yours: decorate both wings with matching dots and stripes.

A note for parents

Children usually enjoy drawing most when nobody is grading it. Praise the effort and the ideas rather than how closely the picture matches ours. Please do not ask your child to trace or copy exactly, because these steps are only a starting point. Keep it playful, let them add their own details, and stop whenever they have had enough. For more things to try together, see our easy science activities or easy rangoli designs. Once the pictures are done, you can cut and fold paper with easy paper crafts for kids. To colour your pictures in new shades, try colour mixing activities for kids. For playful pencil-and-paper rounds, see drawing games for kids.

Questions

Which drawing idea is best for a five-year-old?

The cat, the house and the sun and cloud are good first tries, because each uses only a few big shapes. Let your child choose, and keep the paper large.

Does my child need special materials?

No. A pencil and plain paper are enough, and crayons or felt pens are good for colour. Pencil is handy because mistakes can be rubbed out.

What if my child says their drawing looks wrong?

Remind them that drawings do not have to match the steps. A wobbly cat can have lots of character. Praise the effort and ask them to tell you about it.

How often should we practise?

A few minutes now and then is plenty. Short, relaxed sessions tend to be more fun than long ones, so stop whenever your child has had enough.