Drawing is a beneficial pastime, and drawing at an early age helps develop cognitive functions and creativity.
While allowing kids to draw anything is one way to develop their drawing skills, I’ve compiled a list of 23 easy animals to draw that double as educational activities.
These animal drawings are arranged by style (drawing from letters, drawing from numbers, and drawing from shapes), but I’ve also included 6 bonus drawing ideas!
Drawing Animals From Letters
What’s better than drawing animals? Using the first letters of their names to draw them! These 5 drawings will help enhance a kid’s creativity by showing them how to draw animals while also helping them learn about letters!
1. “S Is For Snake” Drawing
Let’s start with something simple! Oistein Kristiansen shows kids how to draw a snake from the letter “S.”
2. “B Is For Bird” Drawing
Photo credit: B For Ball
Even though there are various species of birds around the world, they all have a general shape. Here’s an easy-to-draw bird drawing from the letter “B” courtesy of (the aptly named) B For Ball.
3. “D Is For Dog” Drawing
Photo credit: Drawing Tutorials 101
This tutorial from Drawing Tutorials 101 will help dog-loving kids draw these lovable animals from a capital letter “D.”
4. “N Is For Narwhal” Drawing
Narwhals are often called the unicorn of the sea, and if your kids want to draw these majestic creatures, Jon Harris shows how a narwhal can be drawn with a capital “N.”
5. “Y Is For Yak” Drawing
Photo credit: Activity Mom
“The yak bought a snack” – something I remember from my old 2nd grade activity book. While the yak from Activity Mom isn’t buying a snack, this tutorial teaches kids how to draw one from the letter Y!
Drawing Animals From Numbers
Aside from learning about letters via animal drawings, kids can also learn about numbers with these 5 drawing ideas!
6. “Number 1” Giraffe Drawing
I’m number 1! At least that’s probably what giraffes, the tallest animals on earth, think. And they’re indeed number 1 in this video tutorial from Lovely Kids.
7. “Number 2” Duck Drawing
Photo credit: Drawing Tutorial 101
Fun fact: Ducks have a gland that produces oil, which makes their feathers waterproof! Drawing Tutorial 101 shows kids how to draw these waterproof birds with the number 2.
8. “Number 4” Shark Drawing
Did you know that sharks don’t have bones and are made up of cartilage? Miss Colors will teach kids how to draw these boneless sea animals from the number 4.
9. “Number 7” Mouse Drawing
Photo credit: Tuffuf
You won’t need grains or cheese to “draw” this mouse out! Draw So Easy shows kids that all they need is the number 7 to draw a mouse.
10. “Number 15” Koala Drawing
Photo credit: How to Draw Step by Step Drawing Tutorials
Due to the low nutrients in eucalyptus (a koala’s favorite food), koala’s can sleep up to 18 hours a day! This number 15 koala from How to Draw Step by Step Drawing Tutorials, however, is wide awake.
Drawing Animals From Shapes
On top of letters and numbers, kids can also get creative and learn how to draw animals from different shapes with these 7 tutorials.
11. Squares and Rectangle Elephant Drawing
Photo credit: How To Draw Funny Cartoons
You would think that you could only make elephants from circles or ovals, but How To Draw Funny Cartoons shows kids that they can still draw an elephant while using mostly squares and rectangles.
12. Circle Caterpillar Drawing
Photo credit: Easy Drawing Guides
Before turning into butterflies (skip to number 19 for a tutorial on how to draw a butterfly), these insects start off as cute caterpillars. Kids can easily draw caterpillars using mostly circles with this tutorial from Easy Drawing Guides.
13. Circles and Ovals Bee Drawing
Photo credit: Paper Flo Designs
Bees have a very important role in pollinating flowers and fruits and making delicious honey! They’re also another insect kids can draw with mostly round shapes. This tutorial from Paper Flo Designs will show kids how.
14. Oval Frog Drawing
Photo credit: Parenting Firstcry
Frogs are slimy and amphibious creatures. With this tutorial from Parenting Firstcry, kids can bring them home (without the sliminess) by drawing mostly ovals!
15. Oval Cow Drawing
Photo credit: How to Draw Easy
Cows produce the majority of the world’s milk, and kids can easily draw these important animals using mostly ovals with this guide from How to Draw Easy.
16. Circle Turtle Drawing
Turtles are usually slow animals since they don’t have to chase their food. Kids, on the other hand, can draw them in 2 minutes with this tutorial from Harriet Muller.
17. A Very Round Whale Drawing
Photo credit: Cute Easy Drawings
Rounding off circle-inspired drawings, here’s a whale drawing from Cute Easy Drawings kids can easily follow to bring these gigantic sea creatures home!
Bonus Animal Drawings
Here are 6 other easy animals to draw for kids of all ages and skill levels.
18. Easy Octopus Drawing
Photo credit: Momjunction
An octopus is an 8 armed and color changing sea animal that can easily be drawn by kids in just 8 steps using this tutorial from Momjunction.
19. Easy Butterfly Drawing
Photo credit: How to Draw for Kids
After drawing a caterpillar, kids can draw butterflies! How to Draw for Kids shows kids how to draw one in 5 easy steps.
20. Easy Rhino Drawing
Photo credit: We Draw Animals
Did you know that a rhinoceros’s horn is made of the same stuff as our fingernails? Kids can draw rhinos (horns and all) with these 6 easy-to-follow steps from We Draw Animals.
21. Easy Cat Drawing
Photo credit: Easy Peasy and Fun
Cats are adorable animals! This tutorial from Easy Peasy and Fun will teach kids how to draw one in 6 steps.
22. Drawing A Hen From the Word “Hen”
Photo credit: How to Draw Step by Step Drawing Tutorial
Why stop with just letters? How to Draw Step by Step Tutorial shows kids how to draw this cute hen (with its chick) from the word “hen” itself.
23. Hand Traced Dinosaur Drawing
Photo credit: Artistro
Dinosaurs may be extinct, but kids can bring them to life with these hand traced drawing ideas from Artistro. They include various other animals you can draw from hand tracings!
Let Kids Draw the Animal Kingdom!
From a simple snake to a very round whale to hand traced dinosaurs, these 23 drawing ideas will teach children how to easily draw animals while learning about other things such as shapes and numbers!
Have you tried some of these drawing methods with your kids? Which style did they enjoy the most? Let us know in the comments!
Try your hand at some fun elephant crafts or some mermaid crafts when you’re done!
As an enthusiast with a deep understanding of art and its impact on cognitive development, let's delve into the concepts presented in the article on drawing animals for kids. Drawing is indeed a beneficial pastime, especially for young minds, aiding in the development of cognitive functions and fostering creativity. Now, let's explore the various concepts and techniques discussed in the article:
Drawing Animals From Letters:
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“S Is For Snake” Drawing:
- Artist: Oistein Kristiansen.
- Technique: Drawing a snake by utilizing the shape of the letter "S."
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“B Is For Bird” Drawing:
- Artist: B For Ball.
- Approach: Creating a bird drawing by incorporating the letter "B."
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“D Is For Dog” Drawing:
- Source: Drawing Tutorials 101.
- Method: Teaching kids to draw dogs based on the capital letter "D."
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“N Is For Narwhal” Drawing:
- Artist: Jon Harris.
- Style: Drawing a narwhal, often referred to as the unicorn of the sea, using the letter "N."
-
“Y Is For Yak” Drawing:
- Source: Activity Mom.
- Note: Introducing kids to drawing a yak from the letter "Y."
Drawing Animals From Numbers:
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“Number 1” Giraffe Drawing:
- Source: Lovely Kids.
- Insight: Drawing a giraffe by incorporating the number 1.
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“Number 2” Duck Drawing:
- Source: Drawing Tutorial 101.
- Fact: Exploring the unique oil-producing gland of ducks while drawing with the number 2.
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“Number 4” Shark Drawing:
- Instructor: Miss Colors.
- Fun Fact: Highlighting the cartilage structure of sharks while drawing them with the number 4.
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“Number 7” Mouse Drawing:
- Source: Draw So Easy.
- Technique: Demonstrating the simplicity of drawing a mouse using the number 7.
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“Number 15” Koala Drawing:
- Source: How to Draw Step by Step Drawing Tutorials.
- Factoid: Sharing a fun fact about koalas' sleeping habits while drawing them with the number 15.
Drawing Animals From Shapes:
-
Squares and Rectangle Elephant Drawing:
- Source: How To Draw Funny Cartoons.
- Innovation: Introducing a unique approach to drawing an elephant using squares and rectangles.
-
Circle Caterpillar Drawing:
- Source: Easy Drawing Guides.
- Progression: Teaching kids to draw caterpillars with the help of circles.
-
Circles and Ovals Bee Drawing:
- Source: Paper Flo Designs.
- Ecology: Connecting the role of bees in pollination with a drawing tutorial based on circles and ovals.
-
Oval Frog Drawing:
- Source: Parenting Firstcry.
- Descriptor: Drawing frogs with an emphasis on their slimy and amphibious nature using ovals.
-
Oval Cow Drawing:
- Source: How to Draw Easy.
- Fact: Highlighting the significance of cows in milk production while drawing them with mostly ovals.
-
Circle Turtle Drawing:
- Source: Harriet Muller.
- Comparison: Contrasting the slow nature of turtles with the quick process of drawing them in 2 minutes.
-
A Very Round Whale Drawing:
- Source: Cute Easy Drawings.
- Aesthetics: Presenting a whale drawing using a circle-inspired technique.
Bonus Animal Drawings:
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Easy Octopus Drawing:
- Source: Momjunction.
- Challenge: Encouraging kids to draw an octopus in 8 steps.
-
Easy Butterfly Drawing:
- Source: How to Draw for Kids.
- Continuation: Building on the earlier caterpillar drawing, guiding kids through the process of drawing butterflies in 5 steps.
-
Easy Rhino Drawing:
- Source: We Draw Animals.
- Anatomy: Providing insight into the composition of a rhinoceros's horn while guiding kids through a 6-step drawing.
-
Easy Cat Drawing:
- Source: Easy Peasy and Fun.
- Adorability: Utilizing 6 steps to teach kids how to draw adorable cats.
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Drawing A Hen From the Word “Hen”:
- Source: How to Draw Step by Step Drawing Tutorial.
- Linguistics: Integrating the word "hen" into the drawing process, adding an extra layer of creativity.
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Hand Traced Dinosaur Drawing:
- Source: Artistro.
- Uniqueness: Introducing a creative approach of hand tracing to bring dinosaurs to life through drawing.
In conclusion, this comprehensive guide not only provides step-by-step instructions for drawing animals but also incorporates educational elements, making it an engaging and enriching activity for children.
