Parent activity guide
Planning a Drawing: Simple Activities for Kids
Best Drawing Books · Published October 8, 2026 · 2 min read
Planning a drawing can be as simple as choosing a character, noticing the available space, and gathering the tools needed to start. Children do not need a complicated checklist to practice organization. A step-by-step drawing book supplies an order for building the character, leaving families free to make the setup and finish feel manageable.
Plan the space before the details
Look at the completed reference together and ask where the whole character could go. Have your child point to the top and bottom of its possible space. They can decide whether they want room for an optional background on another sheet. The purpose is to connect the first mark with a broader picture, not to insist on a perfectly measured layout.
Keep supplies within easy reach
Choose a drawing tool and put the reference where it will remain visible. Leave additional coloring supplies nearby but outside the main workspace until the child needs them. A simple setup helps distinguish the current task from later options. Invite the child to participate in preparing the space so organization becomes part of their own routine rather than something done for them.
Finish with a small reset
After drawing, ask where the picture should go and which materials need putting away. Mark the next lesson only if the child wants to return to it. A brief reset can make the next session easier to begin. Avoid making the cleanup longer or more demanding than the creative activity itself; the routine should support drawing, not overshadow it.
Plan a magical character project
How to Draw: Mermaids, Unicorns and Other Cute Stuff provides six-step lessons with dedicated drawing space for children ages 5+. Its fantasy theme can give an interested child a clear project to choose and prepare for. Begin with the book's character lesson, then plan any additional scene on separate paper. This keeps the guided drawing and the child's larger imaginative project easy to distinguish.
Does planning take away spontaneity?
It need not. A quick choice about space and tools can support the activity while leaving colors, decorations, and later inventions open. Let the plan change when the child's ideas change.
Want to explore the drawing method before choosing a book? Browse free drawing activities or compare the step-by-step drawing collection.
For more subjects with a similar character focus, explore the unicorn & mermaid drawing books collection. Check the series name to compare staged drawing, tracing, and grid copying.