Drawing Basics - Drawing Instructio
n for Children
Teaching children how to draw can be approached in two parts:
1.) Draw the Subject -- instruction is given by a teacher or parent while the child draws the subject,
2.) Draw the Background -- the child draws creatively with or without prompts from the teacher or parent.
1.) Draw the Subject - See complete Draw Write Now sample lessons.
Focus on the subject -- the object, animal or person being drawn. In the samples shown on this page, the subjects are the flower and the raccoon. The subject that the child draws can be an actual flower in a yard, or it can be a simple drawing or photograph of a flower. 
See other suggestions at the bottom of this page.
Look at the subject and point out each shape and line as the child draws along. The flower drawing begins with the "U" shape at the base of the flower, then the details of the petals are added. The stem follows, then the leaves.
As a child becomes confident with their drawing skills, they realize that they don't need a book or a teacher to help them draw -- they can look at an object and visually break it into smaller, more manageable pieces.
2.) Draw the Background - See Draw Write Now sample lessons.
Suggest places or situations that relate to the subject. In this flower drawing, the suggestion was simply, "What is the weather like?" Jessie made her background a sunny day and added a bee and a butterfly.
This is an excellent time to introduce the natural habitats of animals. When drawing a walrus, discuss the landscape of the Antarctic. See walrus.
Some children prefer to copy background examples they see, which is fine. Within a few lessons, they gain the confidence to begin using their own ideas.
Choosing a Subject to Draw
Choose a subject that has concrete shapes and lines, such as a bicycle.
The wheels on the bike are circles; the frame is made up of straight lines.
- Show the side or front view.
It is easier to draw the front of a face, than it is to draw a face that is partially turned to the left or the right. The front view of the face is symmetrical and has fewer abstract shapes. It is easier to draw a bike that is leaning flat against a wall, than a bike that is standing on the kick-stand.
- Keep the images clean -- don't have overlapping subjects or objects.
Show a boy with a dog at his side, rather than a boy with a dog sitting on his lap.
- Show the complete subject.
Draw the complete dog -- head, four legs, tail -- when drawing with young children. Seeing only the dog's head can be confusing to them. See the comments under "Batter Up". Think of this when you pick out picture books, too. Beautiful illustrations are important and enjoyable for children to experience, but children also need (and enjoy) concrete images.
