What to Expect in Your Child's First Online Drawing Class: A Teacher's Guide

If you're about to sign your child up for an online drawing class, you're probably wondering what a normal week will actually look like.

Will they feel lost? Will they melt down when the drawing doesn't turn out? Will you be expected to sit next to them the whole time?

Here's the short answer.

A good kids' art class has four things: a live lesson short enough for a child's attention span, real techniques taught step by step, room for your child's own ideas, and a place where mistakes feel normal.

I spent 15 years as a classroom teacher before starting Kids Cartoon Academy, and I teach our classes online. Here's what to expect, including the bumpy parts.

What does an online drawing class for kids look like?

A typical live class runs one hour on Zoom, and our classes are designed for kids ages 7 to 14. Your child draws along with the teacher, one step at a time.

Most of that hour, they're looking down at their paper, not at the screen. The screen is just the front of the classroom.

We teach real skills like shape, proportion, shading, and perspective. But we teach them through characters kids already love, from Mario and Sonic to their own original creations. The fastest way to grow skill is to let kids draw what they actually love.

Then comes the part I care about most. We leave room for your child's ideas. You'll hear us tell students, "Be my boss! Tell me what to add here."

That comes from my own childhood. I loved drawing on my own more than in art class, because in art class I couldn't draw what I wanted.

When kids get to choose, they engage more. When they're engaged, they learn more. And they have way more fun doing it.

We also host workshops with working pros, like comic artists or animators, so kids can explore different mediums and careers. If you want to see how this all fits together, you can explore our online art classes for kids.

What supplies does my child need?

Less than you think. Paper, pencils, erasers, and markers or colored pencils cover most lessons.

My rule: skills are always more important than supplies. A regular pencil works fine.

Get affordable sketch paper for everyday practice, so your child never worries about "wasting" a page. Save the fancy paper for finished pieces. (I wrote more about why kids should waste more paper.)

What happens during a live class on Zoom?

Here's what a live class looks like from your child's side:

• Kids join with their video on or off.
• We call on kids by first name, so they set their Zoom name to just that, not a nickname or a parent's name.
• They raise a real hand. We encourage this over Zoom's digital hand-raise, because half the class forgets to put it down. 😆

We try to call on as many kids as we can, but we can't always get to everyone. That's why we have a private, moderated, kid-friendly Community, where kids can share work, ask questions, and cheer each other on anytime.

What if my child gets frustrated?

Maybe the shading didn't blend the way they pictured it.

Maybe the face came out lopsided.

Maybe they erased the same spot five times and now they want to quit.

Sound familiar?

Welcome to being an artist.

Even in classes where many kids are thrilled, some struggle with frustration, self-doubt, and perfectionism. That's completely normal.

I call those discouraging voices Crankyfurters, after my third-grade teacher (Miss Crankyfurter may or may not have been her real name). She yanked a cartoon doodle off my desk and asked why I couldn't draw something "normal." By middle school, I'd stopped drawing. It took me over 20 years to pick up a sketchbook again.

So in our classes, we name the voice out loud.

In one live class, a student kept telling the Zoom chat how bad his drawing was, and that he might just leave. Before I could say a word, other kids jumped in: "That's Miss Crankyfurter telling you to give up!"

By the end of class, he said, "I DID IT!"

We also teach a simple rule: try three times, then improvise. You didn't ruin it. You just figure out how to turn it into a happy little accident. (More on this in why bad drawings are a good thing.)

Parents have shared similar stories. Cameron started with doubts about his drawing, and Jennifer shared how his confidence grew. Cameron says he loves sharing his artwork, getting suggestions in Critique Corner, and seeing what other artists create. (Read Jennifer and Cameron's review.)

How long until I see progress?

I can't give you a timeline, and I'd be wary of anyone who does.

Progress in art is like learning to walk or ride a bike. Sometimes it feels slow, and then, all at once, everything clicks.

Here's a way to see it for yourself. Pull up a drawing your child made a year ago and put it next to something they made this month. That visible progress does a lot more than a generic compliment ever could.

June started as a shy beginner. She didn't wait until she felt confident to start. She started, and confidence followed.

And if your child says, "I don't know how to do this," that might be a sign the lesson is working. A good class shows kids how much there is to learn, gives them a plan, and lets them measure how far they've come.

What if we miss a class?

That's okay.

We encourage kids to pick one class to attend each week, so it becomes a routine. They're welcome to join other classes too.

You don't have to do it all. You don't watch everything on your Netflix or TV subscription, but your favorites are there when you need them.

Jasmine joined late, and live classes didn't always fit. So she used the recorded lessons and community challenges on her own schedule. The best systems don't force consistency. They make it possible. Krishiv didn't take to every technique we taught, but he focused on pencils and shading. One year later, he's drawing beautifully.

There are replays of every live class, so a missed Saturday isn't a lost Saturday.

How can I tell if a class is a good fit?

Whether you choose us or not, here are five questions worth asking:

1. Do the lessons use things my child already loves as the way to teach real skills?
2. Will it help my child draw what they want, on their own, not just copy one drawing?
3. Will my child be able to see their own progress over time?
4. Are mistakes treated as part of the process, not something to hide?
5. Can we use it on our own schedule, without being expected to do everything?

Free video tutorials are a great way to try drawing. The difference with a live class is that it's interactive. Your child can ask questions, share what they made, and get specific feedback, not just a "good job."

What can I do as a parent?

You don't need any art skills to help.

After class, try asking: "Tell me the story." "What was the hardest part?" "What's something new you tried?" Then get on their level and lean in.

Those questions work better than "Good job!" I still catch myself saying that one. (I wrote about it in stop saying "good job".)

If your child is stuck, try guiding instead of directing. Instead of "Let's practice shading by drawing this sphere," try: "Why don't you take your favorite Minecraft character and add shading to make them look more 3D?"

The skill is the same. The reason to care is theirs.

Stay creative,

Daniel

PS. If you'd like to see what a week looks like for your child, you can see how a Kids Cartoon Academy membership works and decide if it's the right fit for your family.