How to Get Your Kids to Draw for 20 Minutes a Day

Art is a great way to keep kids entertained, occupied, and in a curious, learning state of mind. But it requires consistency in order to get the most out of the practice, and many children are too busy or distracted to draw.

How can you encourage your children to draw for twenty minutes a day? Try these tips!

Learning how to draw is a great way to help children develop their creativity. It can also be a valuable skill in the long run.

But distractions lurk at every corner--Youtube, videogames, TV. Drawing helps your young learner be more creative than just passively consuming media. Instead, they can be active creators and make their own media for others to consume. It starts with pages in a sketchbook, then art on the walls, then holiday and birthday cards, then a Youtube channel, then they are animating their own TV or Web shows before you know it!

Drawing is a skill that doesn’t have to be taught in school, so you can do it at home. 20 minutes is the perfect amount of time to build a habit and a daily practice--not too long, but long enough to accomplish some nice drawings.

Here are three easy ways to help your child draw for 20 minutes a day.

1. One way to get your kids to draw is to put a timer on the wall. This will help them focus on their artwork and make it easier to follow.
   
   Avoid offering incentives for drawing 20 minutes, as the research on rewards systems suggests that they can actually have counterproductive effects. Instead offer them a fun challenge (”See how many videogame characters you can make in 20 minutes!”, “Try creating a full scene with a character, background, colors, and everything in 20 minutes!”, etc.)
   
   
2. Another way to get your kids to draw is to provide them with new art supplies.
   
   This does not need to be expensive. This can be as easy as a new drawing pad and some pencils. Coloring utensils are often even more fun. Experimenting with new art supplies is the perfect way to get the creative juices flowing. (Here are the ones I use.)
   
   
3. Finally, you can draw with them.
   
   It means the world to a child to have a parent joining them in a creative activity. And don’t worry if you don’t have the skills. In fact, kids often find that even more fun! You can even have them “teach” you how to draw. I guarantee you that your child would relish this opportunity to have the tables turned like this!
   
   But you're a busy parent, right? If you can't sit next to them and draw with them, treat it like a pen pal program. Have them draw a picture or a comic panel, and then they can drop it off in a special "mailbox" location for you to finish. You can draw the next character, background, or panel to add on to their story. And you can pass it back and forth, until the drawing is complete. Your kid will love it.

And of course, one of the easiest ways to get them to draw is to have them join one of our engaging live classes. The live nature of the classes makes them a one-of-a-kind experience. Every class is unique! I offer free trials and paid memberships throughout the year. You can find out more by signing up here.

There are lots of other ways to get your kids to want to draw more. Youtube is s great resource, and I create regular lessons and tutorials for drawing and it will definitely be beneficial for your child's improvement. You can watch and subscribe to my YouTube channel!

Also, join our private Facebook group, and show us what your child makes here. I'm excited to see their art!