Tracing with kids, an easy setup for fun drawing time
Tracing for kids works best with a steady setup, big simple pictures and short sessions: an adult sets up the phone or tablet, the child picks a picture and follows the lines with a pencil on real paper, then colors it in. This guide shows you how to set things up, which pictures to start with, and how to keep it fun instead of fiddly.
Tracing is a friendly way into drawing for children. They get a finished picture they're proud of, and along the way they practice holding a pencil, following a line and finishing what they started. You don't need to be good at drawing yourself to help.
Pick the right way to trace
Pencilbloom has three ways to trace. For kids, the steadiest setup is usually the best one.
| Way to trace | How it works | For kids |
|---|---|---|
| Phone on a stand | The phone sits above the paper, the camera shows the picture over it | Steady and hands-free, a good default |
| Trace on screen | Thin paper lies on the screen and the picture shows through | Simple to understand, best on a tablet |
| Hold your phone | AR pins the picture to the paper while you hold the phone | Better for older kids or an adult helping |
Phone on a stand keeps both of your child's hands free: one to hold the paper, one to draw. Use a real stand, a heavy mug or a stack of books, and check it doesn't wobble.
Trace on screen feels like a light box: the picture glows through the paper. It works best on a tablet, where the screen is big enough for small hands. Tape the paper to the edges so it doesn't slide, and show your child how to draw with light pressure.
Hold your phone asks for a steady hand on one side and a pencil on the other, so it suits an adult holding the phone while the child draws, or an older child.
The adult sets up the phone, the child draws. Everyone has a clear job.
Set up the drawing space
A few minutes of setup saves a lot of frustration.
Before you start
- A flat table with good light, without strong shadows on the paper
- Paper taped down at the corners with low-tack tape
- A steady stand, mug or stack of books for the phone
- A soft pencil, like an HB or 2B, and an eraser
- Crayons, colored pencils or markers for afterwards
- A scrap sheet under the paper if you use markers
Tape matters more than you'd think. If the paper slides, the lines stop matching the picture and kids often get upset that "it went wrong". Tape the sheet before anyone picks up a pencil.
If you want to choose supplies more carefully, our tracing guides include one on the best paper and pencils for tracing.
Choose pictures that are easy to finish
The best first pictures for kids have big shapes and only a few lines. They should be finishable in one short sitting.
Good choices include:
| Kind of picture | Easy first ideas |
|---|---|
| Simple animals | A cat, a fish, a bird or a butterfly |
| Flowers | A tulip or a simple daisy |
| Everyday things | A cup, an apple, a house or a car |
| Cartoon faces | Big eyes and round shapes |
Avoid very detailed pictures at first. Lots of small lines can feel endless for a child. You'll find simple ideas in our free step-by-step lessons and coloring pages.
Use your own photos. Kids love tracing their own pet, toy or drawing of the family car. In Pencilbloom, an adult can pick a photo and turn it into clean lines with photo to line drawing. The app sends the photo to our servers to make the lines and keeps it private to your account, so it's a good idea for a grown-up to choose the photos.
Keep sessions short and fun
Children usually enjoy tracing most in short bursts. Stop while it's still fun, not when everyone is tired.
Let them choose. Picking the picture gives a child ownership of the drawing.
Go one part at a time. A step-by-step lesson shows one part of the picture at a time, which helps kids focus and makes a big drawing feel small.
Praise effort, not neatness. Wobbly lines are part of learning. Point out what went well: "You kept going all the way round the wheel!"
Turn mistakes into ideas. A line in the wrong place can become grass, a cloud or a new feather.
Finish with color. Coloring is the reward. Let your child color the traced picture any way they like, with crayons, colored pencils or markers.
Watch it back. Pencilbloom records a time-lapse while you draw. Watching their own drawing appear in a few seconds is a great moment for kids.
Grow from tracing to drawing
Once your child is confident with tracing, you can gently mix in drawing without the guide.
First, trace a picture together. Pick something simple and finish it in one go.
Then draw it again next to the tracing. Your child looks at the screen but doesn't trace.
Finally, compare the two. Talk about what's different and what came out well.
Keep it light. The point isn't to stop tracing, it's to give kids another way to draw. Many will happily switch between the two.
Try it on real paper
Open Pencilbloom, pick a picture and trace it with your own pencil.
Questions about tracing with kids
Is tracing good for kids?
Tracing gives kids a fun way to practice holding a pencil, following lines and finishing a picture they're proud of. It works best as one part of drawing time, alongside free drawing and coloring, not as a replacement for them.
Which way of tracing is easiest for children?
Usually a phone on a stand or tracing on a tablet screen. Both keep the picture still, so your child can use both hands for the paper and the pencil. Holding the phone is better left to an adult or an older child.
Should kids trace on the screen of a phone or tablet?
A tablet is the better choice, because the bigger screen gives small hands more room. Tape thin paper to the screen, keep the paper between pencil and glass at all times, and show your child how to draw with light pressure.
What should kids trace first?
Big, simple pictures they can finish in one go: a cat, a fish, a flower, a cup or a cartoon face. Pick pictures with few lines first, and save detailed ones for later.
Can kids trace their own photos?
Yes. An adult can turn a photo into clean lines in the app with photo to line drawing. The photo goes to our servers to make the lines and stays private to your account, so it's best for a grown-up to choose which photos to use.