8 Easy Drawing Ideas for Kids Using Everyday Shapes

You only need paper, a pencil and colours. Pick one idea, make a rough sketch and change at least one detail to make it your own. These are doable prompts, not promises that a beginner can copy an advanced illustration in minutes.

Ideas 1–4: Start with a shape

1. Friendly monster (5+): Draw a large oval, add two circles for eyes, attach small arms and feet, and choose one funny detail. See the finished example and full instructions.

2. Shape animals (5+): Draw three circles; use triangles for cat ears, long ovals for bunny ears, and a wide mouth for a frog. Try the shape animal challenge.

3. Pattern garden (5+): Start with a big flower circle. Alternate two shapes along each petal. Count what repeats.

4. Happy house (6+): Rectangle walls, triangle roof, square windows. Add one unusual feature like a round door or a rooftop garden.

Ideas 5–8: Turn the drawing into a story

5. Three-panel comic (7+): Draw a beginning, one surprising event, and a reaction. Use the comic example.

6. Space character (7+): Sketch a rounded head, ears, tail and spacesuit; add a planet, stars and a background. See the finished space fox.

7. Imaginary city (7+): Create a skyline from rectangles of different heights. Add an inventive building and explain what it does. Try the paper-city activity.

8. Map of a magical place (8+): Add three landmarks, a path and a tiny legend. Ask a friend to navigate the map.

How to help without doing the drawing for the child

Demonstrate only the first shape. Let the child choose expressions, colours or backgrounds. If a drawing looks different from the reference, ask what they intended instead of correcting every line.

Younger children can make one character; older children can add a sequence, a story or labels. If a child finds drawing tiring, take short breaks and use larger paper.

Friendly monsterShape animalsSpace foxThree-panel comic

Print a shape-drawing worksheet →