How to Sketch Anything from Real Life with Your Kids

Learn simple techniques to help your family draw and sketch objects, people, and scenes from real life together.

1. Gather Your Basic Supplies. Start with simple materials you probably already have at home. You'll need paper (any kind works—even the back of used paper), pencils (regular school pencils are perfect), and an eraser. That's it! Avoid getting caught up in fancy art supplies. A basic pencil and paper will teach you more than expensive materials ever could. Keep supplies in a basket or box so everyone can grab them easily when inspiration strikes.
2. Choose Your First Subject. Pick something simple and still to start with. Fruit from your kitchen, a favorite toy, or a houseplant make excellent first subjects. Avoid moving targets like pets or siblings until you're more comfortable. Look for objects with interesting shapes but not too many small details. An apple, a coffee mug, or a book are perfect beginner subjects. Place your object on a table where everyone can see it clearly from their drawing spot.
3. Set Up Your Drawing Space. Sit where you can see your subject without craning your neck or reaching awkwardly. Make sure you have good light—near a window during daytime works wonderfully. Position your paper so you can look back and forth between your subject and your drawing easily. If you're drawing with multiple kids, arrange chairs in a semi-circle around the object so everyone gets a slightly different but clear view.
4. Start with Basic Shapes. Look at your subject and identify the simple shapes you see. Is it mostly round like a circle? Rectangular like a box? Triangle-shaped? Start by drawing these basic shapes very lightly on your paper. Don't worry about details yet—you're just getting the overall form down. Most complex objects are just combinations of circles, squares, triangles, and ovals. Once you have the basic shape, you can add details on top.
5. Add Details Gradually. Once your basic shape looks right, start adding the details you notice. Does your apple have a stem? Does your mug have a handle? Add these one at a time, always looking back at the real object to see where things go. Don't try to draw everything at once. Focus on one small area, then move to the next. If something doesn't look right, that's completely normal—just adjust it and keep going.
6. Practice the 'Look More, Draw Less' Rule. Spend more time looking at your subject than looking at your paper. This feels backward at first, but it's the secret to better drawing. Look at your object for several seconds, then quickly make a few marks on paper, then look back at the object again. Your hand will learn to follow what your eyes see. Encourage kids to really study their subject—What color is it? What texture? What shape are the shadows?
7. Don't Worry About Perfection. The goal isn't to create a perfect copy—it's to practice seeing and drawing what you actually observe. Every sketch teaches you something new, even if (especially if) it doesn't look exactly like your subject. Celebrate the parts that worked well and learn from the parts that didn't. Keep all your sketches, even the wonky ones. You'll be amazed how much everyone improves with regular practice.