Drawing Gives Kids Courage to Try New Things
Kids who learn they can draw something new learn they can try new things. See how drawing builds everyday courage and willingness to take small risks.
Drawing builds courage because every new drawing is a small risk. Kids try something they have never done, discover they can do it, and carry that "I can try new things" feeling into other parts of life. Gradually increasing the challenge helps courage grow safely.
Courage is not only for heroes. For a child, courage is raising a hand in class, trying a new food or joining a game with strangers. These small acts of bravery come more easily to kids who have had lots of experience trying things and surviving the result.
Each drawing is a small risk
A blank page is a little scary. What if it does not work? Each time a child draws anyway, they practise courage. And each time it works out, even partly, they learn that trying is worth it.
Climb the ladder
Courage grows best with gradually harder steps:
1. Simple shapes and familiar subjects.
2. Step-by-step lessons with a few more details.
3. New subjects they have never tried.
4. Drawing from imagination.
5. Sharing drawings with others.
Ready for a bigger challenge
When your child has a few easy wins behind them, offer something that feels a bit daring. How to Draw: Alien Cyborgs is made for sci-fi fans ready for more gadgets and detail. It looks impressive, which makes finishing one feel like a real achievement. "I drew that whole cyborg!" is a confidence boost that travels beyond the page.
Courage-building drawing challenges
- Draw something you have never drawn before.
- Use a pen: no erasing.
- Draw with your other hand. Laugh at the results.
- Draw in public. At a park or café.
- Show your drawing to someone new.
Talk about bravery
After a challenge, connect it to bigger things: "You were nervous about drawing the cyborg, but you tried it. What else could you be brave about?" Kids start to see themselves as people who try things. For more, see growth mindset for kids.
Questions parents ask
How can I help my child be braver?
Give them small, manageable challenges, celebrate trying, and gradually increase difficulty so they build experience with taking safe risks.
Can drawing build confidence in kids?
Yes. Finishing drawings, especially ones that felt hard at first, gives children real evidence that they can do new things.
What should a child draw to challenge themselves?
Something a little harder than usual: a new subject, more detail, drawing from imagination, or using a pen without erasing.
More in confidence and character, or browse all 217 posts on the blog.
Keep reading
- My Sister Draws Better: Handling Sibling Comparison"My sister draws better than me!" Sibling comparison can crush a kid's love of art. Here's how to handle it and help every child feel like an artist.
- Earned Pride: Why Finishing a Drawing Feels So GoodFinishing a hard drawing gives kids earned pride, the good kind that comes from effort. Learn why it matters and how to create those moments.
- Teaching Responsibility With an Art Supply BoxA personal art supply box teaches kids responsibility: caring for tools, tidying up and planning ahead. Here's how to set one up and what to put in it.
- Funny Drawings: Why Silly Art Is Good for KidsSilly drawings aren't a waste of time. Funny art builds creativity, confidence and social connection. Learn why kids love gross, goofy characters.
