How to Teach a 5- or 6-Year-Old to Draw: From Tracing to Their First Independent Drawing

At five, a child does not need a perfect picture to copy. They need to know what to do next. The four-part method behind 111 activities.

By Ricardo Demi · Published September 17, 2026

Start with simple shapes instead of asking the child to copy a complicated finished picture. Let them see the sequence first, trace the completed drawing, and then try it independently. At this stage, understanding the process and completing a drawing matters more than making an exact copy of the example.

At age 5 or 6, a child does not need a perfect picture to copy

Show a five-year-old a finished drawing of a lion and say, "Draw one like this," and the task can suddenly feel enormous. The child sees the mane, face, legs, paws, and tail all at once. The problem is not necessarily that they cannot draw a lion. Often, they simply do not know where to begin.

When we created How to Draw 111, we worked from a different idea: a child does not need to know how to draw an entire lion yet. They only need to understand what to draw right now. First a circle. Then another simple shape. Next a couple of lines. Then one more detail. A few clear steps later, those simple shapes have become a complete drawing.

Our four-part method: look, trace, draw, color

While developing the 111 activities in our book, we used the same basic sequence. The child sees how the drawing is built, from the first simple shape to the finished picture. Then they trace the completed picture, so their hand has already followed the lines they will soon reproduce. Then they draw the same subject independently in the space right beside it. Finally they color it.

The sequence is simple: look, trace, draw independently, color. In our book, all four parts are kept together on the same two-page spread. For a young child, that is easier than studying instructions in one place and then moving somewhere else to practice.

Why previous steps turn gray

At each new stage, the new lines are black while the lines from previous steps turn gray. We did not do this just to make the page look nice.

Imagine a child reaches Step 6 and every line is black. To figure out what to draw, they have to compare Step 5 with Step 6 and search for the difference. In our system the answer is visible immediately: the black lines show exactly what to add now. A good instruction should not only show the correct result. It should remove work that has nothing to do with drawing.

What should a 5- or 6-year-old draw first

For the first few activities, choose familiar subjects with clear shapes: a cat, a dog, a fish, a flower. There is no need to begin with the most impressive drawing in the book. Early success matters more than difficulty.

A session at this age can be as short as 15 to 20 minutes. If the child wants to keep going and color the picture, great. If one drawing is enough for the day, that is fine too. The purpose of 111 drawings is not to finish the book quickly. It is to come back to drawing regularly and still have something new to choose each time.

Should you correct a drawing that does not look like the example

We would not turn a child's first drawing experiences into a test of accuracy. If the lion ends up with an enormous head or the giraffe has a very short neck, the activity still did its job: the child moved from a few simple shapes to a complete picture of their own. The example should be a guide, not an exam.

Those early drawings are worth keeping. That is one reason we put the practice directly inside the book instead of relying on loose sheets. The drawings stay together, and over time the book becomes a collection of a child's earliest artwork.

What you need to get started

The book and an ordinary pencil, plus colored pencils or markers for coloring
No separate sketchbook: the practice space is inside the book
Nothing to print before a session
No need to decide from scratch what to draw today
About 15 to 20 minutes for one drawing, before coloring

Frequently asked questions

How do you teach a 5- or 6-year-old to draw from scratch?

Start with one simple shape rather than a complicated finished picture. A child can draw a circle, oval, or a few lines first and then add details one at a time. This is the principle behind the 111 drawings in How to Draw 111: each finished picture is broken into a sequence of manageable actions.

Should a beginner trace first or draw independently?

Both help when they happen in sequence: trace first, then draw independently. In our book, children trace the completed dotted picture and then immediately try the same subject in the blank space beside it.

Can a 5-year-old follow a step-by-step drawing activity independently?

A young child can follow a well-designed visual sequence without reading instructions. In our system, new lines are black and previous lines turn gray, so the child can immediately see what needs to be added next.

What are easy things for a 5- or 6-year-old to draw?

Familiar subjects with recognizable shapes are a good starting point: a cat, dog, fish, flower, or simple animal. Once children are comfortable with the process, they can move on to more detailed animals, fantasy characters, vehicles, food, and other subjects.

How long should a drawing activity be for a 5- or 6-year-old?

A single step-by-step drawing usually fits into about 15 to 20 minutes, with more time if the child wants to color it. There is no need to complete several drawings at once; the book is designed to be returned to over time.

Does a child need to know how to read to use a step-by-step drawing book?

Not if the drawing instructions are visual. The sequences in How to Draw 111 show each change in pictures, so beginning readers and children who are not reading yet can follow the process.

What should I do when my child says, "I can't draw"?

Make the task smaller. Instead of asking the child to draw a lion, ask them to begin with the first simple shape and focus only on the next step. Step-by-step drawing turns one intimidating picture into a series of smaller actions.

Try the method for free

Ten spreads from the book are free to print, with no registration and no email: the steps on one sheet, the dotted outline and practice space on the next. If it works for your child, the book has 111 of them.

Books Free coloring pages to print