How to Make Drawing EASY for Your Little Artist

The Easiest Way to Forming Good Habits

I tore my ACL’s in both knees. Full tears. All the way through.

I needed complete reconstructions, and so they scalped off slices of my hamstrings to re-make my knee’s ligaments. These surgeries happened decades ago, and I still haven’t recovered. My knees are actually strong now, but it’s my hamstrings that have never recovered.

As I was out for a run this morning, I could really feel it. And I’ve been thinking about how I need to really commit to rehabbing my hammies. And so once I got home, I immediately put the exercise band around the leg of the couch so that each morning, it is EASY for me to get into the routine of exercise.

Routine is essential, aka habits. And how do you get momentum in forming positive habits? To establish any new habit, you have to change your environment to make it easier to START (starting is always the hardest part) your new daily habit.

Applying This to Drawing

The same applies to drawing, and the same applies to kids.

So here’s how you can make it EASY for your child to develop their talents on a regular basis…

Setting Up a Simple Drawing Station

Set up a simple drawing station for them. Give them a place where all of their materials—paper, pencils, coloring utensils—are easily stored. When they don’t have to spend five minutes gathering their supplies or cleaning up to make space to draw, it is much easier for them to get in the routine of drawing a little each day. And that little bit of drawing each day, or each week, adds up to significant steps forward in their artistic journey.

Empowering Kids to Manage Their Own Stations

Here’s how your child can easily set up and manage their own drawing station, fostering independence and responsibility, while helping them develop healthy HABITS:

Step 1: Choose Their Space

Encourage your child to pick a spot in your home that feels comfortable for drawing, like a small table or a desk in their room. This makes them feel involved and responsible for their creative space.

Step 2: Gather Supplies Together

Help your child collect the essential supplies—paper, pencils, crayons, markers, and erasers. Show them how to store these items in an organized way, perhaps in labeled bins or drawers that they can access themselves.

Step 3: Implement Easy Clean-Up Solutions

Teach your child how to keep their art station tidy with simple solutions. Place a small bin for scraps and a container for brushes and pens nearby, and encourage them to clean up after each drawing session. This not only keeps the space ready for use but also builds good habits.

Step 4: Decorate and Personalize

Let them personalize their art station with their artwork or stickers. This gives them a sense of ownership and pride in their creative area.

Step 5: Encourage Regular Use

Discuss with your child a good time each day or week for drawing that fits into their routine. Encouraging them to decide this time helps them develop time-management skills and ensures they look forward to their creative sessions.

By empowering your child to take charge of their drawing station, you’re fostering their independence while nurturing their creative talents. Each day they spend at their station is not only a step forward in their artistic journey but also in their growth as proactive individuals.

Stay creative,
Daniel