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

Siblings Drawing Together Without Fighting

Siblings fighting over crayons? Here's how to make drawing together peaceful and fun, with games, separate spaces and shared projects that work.

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

Siblings can draw together without fighting when each has their own supplies and space, and when shared projects give them a reason to cooperate. Collaborative games, like building a food monster together, turn drawing time into teamwork instead of competition.

Sibling drawing sessions can be lovely, or they can turn into battles over the green marker. A little setup makes a big difference.

Set up for peace

  • Separate supplies. Each child has their own box.
  • Personal space. Enough table room for elbows.
  • Clear rules. No drawing on someone else's paper without asking.
  • Different projects when needed. Not everything has to be shared.

Shared projects that work

Cooperation needs a shared goal. Try:

  • One monster, two artists. One draws the head, the other the body.
  • Comic team. One writes, one draws.
  • Mural. A big sheet where each child has a section.
  • Swap and add. Each adds one detail to the other's drawing.

Food monster teamwork

Funny subjects keep things light. Draw by Grid: Food Monsters works well for siblings: each child can take half the grid, or alternate rows, and watch a silly food monster appear together. It is hard to argue when you are giggling at a muffin with a mustache.

Handling conflict

  • Name the problem: "It sounds like you both want the red marker."
  • Let them solve it: "What could we do?"
  • Use a timer for turns if needed.
  • Separate if it is not working, and try again later.

Mixed ages

Older and younger siblings can draw together if each has a suitable task. See drawing with kids of different ages. For comparison issues, read handling sibling comparison.

Questions parents ask

How do I stop siblings fighting during art time?

Give each child their own supplies and space, set simple rules and offer shared projects that need cooperation.

What are good drawing games for siblings?

Try one-monster-two-artists, comic teams, shared murals and swap-and-add drawings.

Can siblings share a drawing book?

Yes, especially grid books where each child can take a section of the same picture.

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.