Drawing to Stay Close to Faraway Family
Live far from grandparents or cousins? Drawing helps kids stay close: video call art sessions, mailed drawings and shared drawing books. Ideas inside.
Drawing helps children stay close to faraway family by giving them something to share and do together. Video call drawing sessions, mailed artwork and drawing the same lessons from the same book keep connections warm across distance.
Many families live far apart. Video calls help, but young kids often struggle to sit and talk. Drawing gives calls a focus and gives kids something to make for the people they miss.
Video call drawing sessions
- Both sides have paper and the same drawing book.
- Pick a lesson together.
- Draw step by step, chatting as you go.
- Hold up drawings at the end.
Kids who would wander off after two minutes of talking will happily draw for twenty.
Holiday drawings
Holidays can be hard when family is far away. How to Draw: Christmas helps kids draw Santa, reindeer and gingerbread characters for handmade cards and ornaments to mail to faraway family. Grandparents can hang them on their tree, and kids feel part of the celebration even from afar.
Mail art ideas
- Monthly drawing letters
- Drawings of daily life ("This is my new bike")
- Comics about the family pet
- Pictures to color, sent back and forth
Shared projects
- Long-distance comic. Each family draws alternating panels by mail or photo.
- Drawing challenge. Both draw the same prompt each week and share photos.
- Family art book. Collect drawings from everyone into a book.
Keep it simple
The goal is connection, not perfection. A quick drawing and a "miss you" is plenty. For more ideas, see drawing with grandparents and drawing pen pals.
Questions parents ask
How can kids stay connected with faraway family?
Video call drawing sessions, mailed artwork and shared projects like drawing the same lesson keep kids connected.
What can kids draw for grandparents who live far away?
Handmade cards, pictures of their daily life, holiday ornaments and comics about family pets are all lovely gifts.
How do you draw together over video call?
Each side gets the same drawing book or prompt, draws step by step together and shares the results at the end.
More in friends, family and talking, or browse all 217 posts on the blog.
Keep reading
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- Only Child? Drawing Companions on PaperOnly children often love drawing because it fills quiet time creatively. Learn how drawing supports independence, imagination and connection for only kids.
- Pass the Pencil: Turn-Taking Drawing GamesTurn-taking drawing games teach patience, sharing and listening. Try these simple pass-the-pencil games for preschoolers, families and classrooms.
- Displaying Kids' Art at Home (and Why It Matters)Displaying kids' art tells them their work matters. Try these easy, clutter-free ways to show off drawings at home, and why it boosts confidence.
