Do you need a fun, easy, and new art idea for your kids? This BIG drawing activity is really simple, but will encourage your kids to be creative in lots of new ways.
If you have kids who like to draw or make are, you have to try this simple art activity!
If your kids love drawing but you are looking for a new way to draw to keep their interest, or perhaps you have a reluctant drawer and you are looking for a way to encourage them to pick up a pencil, then this super simple drawing idea is perfect!
This simple drawing activity is also perfect if you need an easy activity for a group of kids. It works great as an activity at the start of a birthday party, or the start of a class, where kids can join in as soon as they arrive.
So what is this amazingly interesting drawing activity?
It’s a big drawing.
Yep, that’s all it is, just a really big drawing!
You can draw on a regular sized piece of paper any time, but drawing a GIANT picture on a really big piece of paper, now that’s sure to get the kids interested!
How to Draw Big!
Drawing big is really simple, just clear a big space, grab a really really big piece of paper, and some pencils, crayons or markers, and you are ready to go!
You can draw big on your dining table, or clear a space on the floor so you can draw really really big!
One of the best paper options for drawing big is a roll of paper. We love the paper rolls from Ikea, or this roll of paper is a great option from Amazon (affiliate link). You could also tape smaller sheets of paper together, or even use a carboard box that you open out flat.
You can use whatever you like to draw with. Markers, pencils, crayons, oil pastels – whatever you have on hand is perfect for this fun process art activity.
The Benefits of Drawing Big!
As simple as this drawing activity is, it also have lots of benefits!
Drawing on a large piece of paper encourages larger movements. Using your whole arm and your body to draw is a great way to work on co-ordination and spatial awareness. This has a double effect if your paper is on the floor, crawling and moving around on the floor to reach the whole paper is great for gross motor skills.
Drawing on a large sheet of paper is perfect for toddlers who are just beginning with drawing. Allowing them lots of space to draw, using big movements, and not worrying about going off the paper.
Providing a different sized piece of paper to the usual offers a new perspective and encourages creative thinking. You’ll hear kids using words like ‘huge’ and ‘long’ and ‘wide’ which are all great for language development and are beginning maths concepts.
And if you provide one super huge piece of paper for more than one child to work on together that offers so many opportunities for social language and working on social skills like, sharing the space, planning, and negotiating.
Using a BIG piece of paper is such a simple change to the regular drawing routine, but it can have a big impact. And most importantly it is a quick and easy process art activity to set up… so why not give it a try!
More Big Drawing Ideas
If you need more big drawing ideas to keep your kids busy, try one of these simple adaptions of this easy drawing idea:
My kids would absolutely love that!! One reason I like having a patio…you should have seen the size of the robot Finn drew on it with chalk yesterday LOL, almost went the whole length…
We are just overflowing with artwork here though! I have nowhere to put it all!
Awesome idea! Can you please tell me where to find the big rolls of paper?? Thanks! :D
What a great idea – must try this.
We used to do this with the bigger kids. I haven’t been there with Ivy and Noah yet, although Ivy loves to draw. I used to get huge bits of paper and hang them on the fence, put coloured (edicol) water into spray guns and let them go. Of course it was much warmer weather but they had a ball. To this day, they still talk about it. I was so much more creative back then… Will have to get out all my old ideas and run with them.
We got our roll of paper from Ikea for those wanting to know… I loathe having to pay for drawing/art paper for the kids after years of getting freebies when I was teaching – but the ikea rolls are pretty cheap, useful for lots of things and are recycled paper too.
Tiff – oh we loved doing that spray gun thing when I was teaching kinder… must break that out for the girls this summer!
Beautiful photo of a gorgeous idea. With holidays starting I think I might be making a quick trip to Ikea to get a rll of paper!
Oh good idea ! Im definately going to try the painting against the fence idea !
Great idea. This is my first time reading your blog, and I laughed out loud at the term “twinadoes”. That is too cute.
So funny after a long week stuck in the house I came up with the same afternoon activity today! Love the city and roads they drew, could be a great floor drawing!