Skip to content
Kevin Coulston’s drawing books, sorted by age and interestFree pagesNewsletterAbout Kevin
Find my kid’s book

Family Reunion Drawing Games for All Ages

Family reunion with kids of all ages? Drawing games bring cousins, grandparents and parents together. Try these easy, no-prep group drawing activities.

By Kevin Coulston, author and illustrator of 88 children’s art books · · 2 min read

Drawing games are a great way to bring a family reunion together because they work for every age, need almost no supplies and get people laughing. Shape challenges, family portrait swaps and collaborative murals let cousins, grandparents and parents create something together.

Reunions can be awkward for kids who only see their cousins once a year. A shared activity breaks the ice quickly.

Easy group games

  • Shape challenge. Everyone gets the same shape and turns it into something different.
  • Family portrait swap. Draw a family member, then guess who it is.
  • Exquisite corpse. Fold, draw, unfold, laugh.
  • Family crest. Each branch of the family designs a crest.
  • Then and now. Grandparents draw their childhood; kids draw theirs.

Shape Drawing Challenge for all ages

Shape Drawing Challenge is made for this kind of gathering. Every page starts with one shape, and everyone turns it into their own idea. A grandparent's triangle might become a sailboat while a five-year-old's becomes a pizza monster. It is fun for all ages, grown-ups included.

A reunion mural

Lay a long sheet of paper on a picnic table. Everyone adds a drawing of themselves, their pet or their favorite thing. Sign it and date it. It becomes a family keepsake.

Mixed ages

  • Pair older cousins with younger ones.
  • Give grandparents a "judge" role (everyone wins a silly category).
  • Let teens run a game.

Keep the art

Collect the drawings into an album or scan them to share after the reunion. Kids love looking back at them next year. For more, see collaborative drawing games.

Questions parents ask

What are good activities for family reunions with kids?

Drawing games like shape challenges, family portrait swaps and shared murals work for every age and need few supplies.

How do you keep kids of different ages busy at a reunion?

Choose games everyone can do at their own level and pair older kids with younger ones.

What can a family make together at a reunion?

A shared mural with everyone's drawings, signed and dated, makes a great keepsake.

More in friends, family and talking, or browse all 217 posts on the blog.

Free drawing & coloring pages in your inbox

Get free printable drawing, tracing and coloring activities, plus announcements about new books.