Doodling Is Not Wasting Time: Why Doodles Help Kids
Doodling isn't wasting time. Research suggests doodling can help some people stay focused and remember more. Here's why kids' doodles matter.
Doodling is not wasting time. For many kids, doodling while listening helps them stay alert, focused and engaged. It is also a relaxed way to practise drawing, invent characters and play with shapes, and some of the best ideas start as doodles.
Many kids get told off for doodling in class. But doodling can actually help some children pay attention.
What research suggests
A widely cited study found that adults who doodled while listening to a dull phone message remembered more details than those who did not. The idea is that doodling can keep the mind from drifting too far. Results vary, and doodling is not for everyone, but it is not simply a distraction.
Benefits of doodling
- Focus. Busy hands can help some listeners pay attention.
- Calm. Repetitive doodles can be soothing.
- Creativity. Doodles often turn into new ideas.
- Practice. Every doodle builds drawing skill.
Doodle-friendly drawing
Cute characters make great doodles. How to Draw: Mermaids, Unicorns, and Other Cute Stuff teaches kids sweet characters they can shrink into tiny margin doodles: mini unicorns, little mermaid tails, sparkles and stars.
Doodle games
- Doodle a day. One small doodle every day.
- Fill the page. Cover a page with tiny doodles.
- Doodle monsters. Turn random squiggles into monsters.
- Pattern doodles. Fill shapes with patterns.
Doodling in class
Talk to teachers if your child doodles to focus. Some teachers allow it as long as the child is still participating. Doodling on a separate sheet keeps notes clean. See also sketchnoting for kids.
Questions parents ask
Is doodling good for kids?
Doodling can help some children stay focused and calm, and it builds drawing skills and creativity.
Does doodling help memory?
Some research suggests doodling while listening can help people remember more, though effects vary.
Should kids be allowed to doodle in class?
It depends on the child and the teacher. If doodling helps a child focus, discuss it with the teacher.
More in ways to learn to draw, or browse all 217 posts on the blog.
Keep reading
- Draw It Again: The Power of Redrawing a FavoriteRedrawing a favorite character again and again isn't boring, it's practice. Learn why repetition builds drawing skill and confidence in kids.
- Guidelines and Outlines: Why Planning Lines HelpGuidelines and outlines help kids plan size and placement before drawing. Learn why planning lines help and how How to Draw books use them.
- The Benefits of Step-by-Step Drawing for KidsStep-by-step drawing breaks pictures into small steps kids can follow. Learn the benefits: confidence, focus, following directions and real skills.
- Drawing and Working Memory: Holding a Picture in MindWorking memory lets kids hold information in mind while they use it. Learn how grid drawing exercises it and why that helps with school tasks.
