As a parent who is on a seemingly never-ending quest to lessen screen time, I'm always looking for activities to keep my daughter engaged. Art has always been something she loves, and these simple winter drawing ideas are fun for both of us…I can't do much past stick figures myself, so I'm learning too!
So grab a cup of hot cocoa and see which of these art adventures you want to try next.
Save for later
Want to come back to this story? Save it with your email so it is easy to find again.
Kids can easily learn to draw winter-themed pictures with simple step-by-step instructions. Easy winter drawing ideasfestive objectsdrawing projects
Table of Contents
1) Snowman
Kids love drawing snowmen
The snowman is a great one to start with. Kids can start with simple shapes and add shading to make theirs come to life. Let them get creative!
Maybe their snowman wears a baseball hat from their favorite team, or maybe its buttons are not buttons at all, but their favorite cookies instead.
2) Hedgehog
This hedgehog is a great addition to your child's art collection. They can go for realism or create a more cartoon-like feel with bright colors. It almost begs for a short story to go along with it.
Ask your kiddos, where do you think this hedgehog is from? What's its favorite thing to do in the afternoon? You'll be surprised at what the two of you can come up with!
3) Polar Bear
The majestic polar bear is in a class by itself. Have your kids keep it realistic, or add a fun winter hat and scarf if you're feeling the holiday spirit. Either way, this is a great drawing for them to practice different techniques.
4) Penguin
This penguin drawing provides an opportunity to practice shading with different colors. Kids can practice blending the orange into the white feathers to make it look natural. Maybe Santa is waving in the background too.
5) Igloo
The igloo drawing is a perfect way to practice a monochromatic color scheme. The gray-blue tones create shadows while the brighter blues light up the sky. As they draw, ask your child who they think lives inside.
Art creates conversations, some of which you and your child will remember for a lifetime.
6) Sledding Hill
Kids love drawing sledding hills
I bet it takes about three seconds before your child decides which of their friends they are putting in this drawing. Be sure to write their names on the back with the date. They'll want to be able to look back and remember who they were friends with at that age, and so will you!
Drawing a sledding scenewinter fun
7) Hot Cocoa Mug
Don't be surprised if your child wants to do a hot cocoa party after finishing this drawing. The ooey-gooey marshmallows will make anyone want to put together a cocoa charcuterie board. If you are doing the drawing too, be sure to put different toppings on it, like peppermint sticks and whipped cream.
cozy drawinglearn how to draw a hot cocoa mug
8) Mitten
Kids love drawing mittens
The detailed work on this mitten might make it more suitable for older kids or more advanced artists. Each stitch adds character to the mitten, while the coloring gives a distinctly vintage vibe.
9) Snowflake
They say every snowflake is unique, so every child's drawing of one should be too! Encourage your little one to deviate from the example by adding different shapes, more spikes, or whatever their imagination can come up with. Art has no rules, so it doesn't even have to be blue!
learning how to draw snowflakes step by step
10) Ice Skate
Nothing says winter wonderland quite like ice skating. This skate is full of rich detail that will give your child a chance to really challenge themselves. Be sure to point out the grain in the wood and the shine of the metal.
The lacing provides a great chance to practice shading as well.
11) Reindeer
The eyes on this reindeer are so realistic that it almost looks like it is considering walking off the page. Be sure to let your children know they can use their imaginations to keep it festive. Maybe Santa's house is in the background.
12) Yeti
This yeti does not appear to be feeling the holiday cheer. Encourage your child to turn its frown upside down if they feel so inclined. The yeti can also be holding something.
A candy cane? Or maybe the yeti needs a friend sitting on one of the rocks.
13) Snow Globe
Make sure you tell your child that the drawing suggestions can just be a jumping-off point. Their snow globe can have YOUR house in it, or their grandparents' house that holds special memories. It can even be their dream house, the place where they want to spend the holidays in the future.
14) Chimney with Smoke
The chimney is where the magic happens. Hopefully the people inside put the fire out before Santa arrives! The shingles and the bricks are an excellent place to combine some of the themes they practiced in earlier drawings: monochromatic color schemes, shading, and detailing.
cozy homelets kids be creative
15) Cozy Cabin
Who wouldn't want to spend the holidays here? I can almost hear the carol "Over the river and through the woods…" This drawing belongs in a storybook. Ask your child: Does a little badger family live there?
Or maybe that's Santa's vacation home. Either way, the conversations with your child are all part of the fun!
use their creativitystay warm and have fun indoors
16) Cardinal
Cardinals seem to carry their own magic against a snowy white background. A bird made for the holidays, your child could draw this on a greeting card and send it to someone to brighten their day. Have them write the address on the envelope (a sneaky way to get them to practice their handwriting!).
