Copying, Credit and Originality: Talking to Kids
Is copying a drawing cheating? Here's how to talk to kids about learning by copying, giving credit and finding their own original style over time.
Copying is a normal and useful way to learn to draw, and it is not cheating when kids are learning or drawing for fun. The important lessons are honesty (saying where an idea came from) and gradually adding their own ideas, so they grow from copying into creating.
Kids hear mixed messages about copying. In school, copying someone's work is wrong. In art, almost every artist learned by copying. Parents can help kids understand the difference.
Copying to learn
Artists have learned by copying for centuries. Copying a drawing teaches how shapes fit together, how lines create expression and how other artists solve problems. Step-by-step drawing books are designed to be copied for exactly this reason.
Honesty and credit
The key value is honesty:
- If you copy, you can say "I drew this from a book."
- Do not claim you invented a character you copied.
- If you enter a contest, use your own ideas.
These simple rules teach respect for other artists.
From copying to creating
The goal is to move from copying toward originality. Encourage kids to change something every time:
- Same face, different expression.
- Same body, new hat.
- Same character, new setting.
How to Draw: Goofy Faces is great for this. After learning a goofy face step by step, kids can mix and match eyes, noses and hair to create faces nobody has ever drawn before.
Talk about style
Every artist develops a personal style over time. Ask your child: "What do you like about this artist's drawings? What would you do differently?" Those questions build an artist's eye.
Respect others' work
Teach kids that when they share a drawing online or in public, they should credit where the idea came from. This is the start of understanding creative ownership. For more, see is it OK for kids to copy drawings?.
Questions parents ask
Is copying drawings bad for kids?
No. Copying is a time-tested way to learn drawing. The key is honesty about where the drawing came from and gradually adding original ideas.
How do I teach my child to be original?
Encourage them to change something every time they copy: a new expression, outfit or setting, until they are inventing their own characters.
Should kids credit drawings they copied?
Yes, especially when sharing publicly. Saying "I drew this from a book" teaches honesty and respect for other artists.
More in confidence and character, or browse all 217 posts on the blog.
Keep reading
- I'm Bored! Why Boredom Plus a Pencil Is a Gift"I'm bored!" isn't a problem to solve. Boredom plus a pencil can spark creativity. Learn why boredom matters and how to turn it into drawing time.
- Growth Mindset for Kids, Taught With a PencilDrawing is one of the clearest ways to show kids that practice makes them better. Learn how to teach growth mindset with a pencil and a sketchbook.
- When Your Kid Says I Can't Draw"I can't draw!" is a common cry. Here's what it really means, what to say back, and how easy step-by-step lessons can turn it into "I drew that!"
- Creative Confidence: Raising a Kid Who Makes ThingsCreative confidence is believing you can make things. Learn how drawing builds a maker mindset in kids, and how parents can nurture it at home.
