Collaborative Drawing Games for Kids
Collaborative drawing games teach kids to share ideas, take turns and build on each other's work. Try these fun group drawing games at home or school.
Collaborative drawing games teach kids to share ideas, take turns, accept others' contributions and build something together. Games like exquisite corpse, pass-the-picture and shared shape challenges are fun, often hilarious, and work for any number of players.
Most drawing is solo. Collaborative drawing flips that and turns it into a team sport. Kids learn that a drawing can be better when it includes other people's ideas.
Classic collaborative games
- Exquisite corpse. Fold paper into three. One person draws a head, folds it over, the next draws a body without looking, the next draws legs. Unfold and laugh.
- Pass the picture. Everyone starts a drawing, then passes it to the left every minute.
- Line by line. Players take turns adding one line to the same drawing.
- Story chain. Each person draws the next panel of a comic.
The shape challenge, together
Shape Drawing Challenge works beautifully as a group game. Everyone takes the same starting shape and turns it into something different, then shares. Or each person adds to someone else's shape. Seeing how one shape becomes ten different ideas teaches kids how much they can learn from each other.
Skills kids practise
- Taking turns
- Accepting other people's ideas
- Building on someone else's work
- Compromise
- Celebrating group results
Keep it light
Collaborative drawing is about fun, not quality. The weirder the result, the better. If someone gets upset about changes to "their" part, remind everyone that in this game, the drawing belongs to the team.
Great for groups
These games are perfect for parties, classrooms, family nights and reunions. See family reunion drawing games and how to run a family drawing night.
Questions parents ask
What are collaborative drawing games?
Games where several people contribute to the same drawing, like exquisite corpse, pass-the-picture and line-by-line drawing.
What skills do collaborative drawing games teach?
Turn-taking, sharing ideas, compromise and building on others' work.
How many people can play collaborative drawing games?
Most games work with two to ten or more players, which makes them great for families, parties and classrooms.
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- How to Run a Family Drawing NightA family drawing night is cheap, screen-free and full of laughs. Here's how to plan one: supplies, games, step-by-step lessons and a mini gallery show.
- Sick Day Drawing: Gentle Activities for the CouchSick day at home? Gentle drawing activities keep kids calm and entertained on the couch. Here are low-energy drawing ideas for when kids feel unwell.
