Swap scribbles and turn each one into a monster with eyes and feetThe youngest scribbles for an adult and an adult for the youngest. Needs paper and pens.
Napkin doodles while waiting for the foodEach person starts a doodle and passes it on once. Needs paper napkins and a pen.
Wooden-spoon puppets of each family memberAn adult inks the faces, the youngest glues on hair, older children make clothes. Needs spoons, yarn and scraps.
A dark sheet turned into the night skyThe youngest dots the stars, an older child joins them into made-up shapes, an adult letters names. Needs white paint.
A giant sandwich with one layer drawn by each personAn adult draws the bread; the youngest picks the oddest filling. Needs big paper and crayons.
A jungle where everyone hides one animalAn adult paints big leaves, the youngest stamps more, older children hide the animals. Needs paint and sponges.
A parade down the middle of the sheet, with one float from each personAn adult draws the street; each person builds one float, the youngest leads the band. Needs big paper.
A road map for toy cars, big enough to play on afterwardThe youngest draws roads, an older child adds buildings, an adult letters the signs. Needs a paper roll.
A row of tents in a field, one pitched and patterned by each personAn adult draws the field and the fire; the youngest adds the smoke. Needs big paper and crayons.
A table-size pizza cut into slices, one for each person to decorateAn adult draws the circle and the slices; everyone tops their own. Needs big paper and crayons or scraps.
A tabletop game board with squares for everyone to inventAn adult draws the path, older children write the squares, the youngest decorates start and finish. Needs card.
An underwater scene across a roll of paperThe youngest sponges the sea, an older child adds fish, an adult draws the boat. Needs a paper roll and paint.
Draw around the youngest on a paper roll and dress the outline togetherThe youngest lies down, an older child traces, everyone adds clothes. Needs a paper roll and markers.
The family as a team of invented heroes on one posterEach person draws themselves; the youngest picks the colors, an adult letters the team name. Needs poster paper.
One long dragon with a body section from each personAn adult draws the head and tail; each person patterns one section. Needs a paper roll and markers.
The view from the front door, shared out by distanceAn adult draws the far skyline, an older child the middle, the youngest the nearest things. Needs big paper.
Pass it around 13
A color relay: one outline drawing, and a different person for every colorThe youngest decides who gets which color. Needs one outline drawing and crayons.
A comic about today with a panel from each personAn adult rules the boxes; each draws one part of the day, the youngest draws breakfast. Needs paper and pens.
A dot swap: draw dots for the person on your left to join into a pictureAdults set hard ones for older children and easy ones for the youngest. Needs paper and pens.
A family recipe drawn step by step by different handsAn adult writes the steps, each person draws one, the youngest draws the finished dish. Needs card and pens.
A folded monster in as many parts as there are people at the tableThe oldest starts with the head; the youngest draws the feet and unfolds it. Needs paper and pencils.
A menu for an imaginary restaurant, one dish drawn by each personAn adult letters the names; the youngest invents the dessert. Needs card and crayons.
A paper chain where every link carries a small drawingOlder children cut strips, everyone draws, the youngest picks the order, an adult staples. Needs paper.
A story in pictures where each person draws the next thing that happensAn adult draws the first box; then go around by age, youngest first. Needs paper folded into boxes.
A thank-you card passed around until everyone has added somethingThe youngest draws the front, others add inside, an adult writes the message. Needs card and pens.
A treasure map passed around, each person adding one danger and one landmarkThe oldest child draws the island; the youngest marks the X. Needs paper and brown crayons.
Add a shape: each turn adds one circle, square or triangle until it becomes somethingEveryone adds in turn; the youngest says what it has become. Needs paper and three colors.
Draw what I say: one person describes a hidden picture and the rest draw itAn older child describes, everyone draws, the youngest holds up the answer. Needs a picture book and paper.
One drawing that goes around the table until the egg timer runs outThe youngest starts it, each person adds, an adult takes the last turn. Needs one sheet, pens and a timer.
Portraits of each other 13
A portrait of the family pet from every member, hung as a setEveryone draws at once; an adult keeps the pet still. Needs paper and any pens.
A shield with a quarter for each person, drawn by somebody elseAn adult draws the shield; each fills the quarter for the person beside them. Needs card and pens.
Draw each other as people from a fairy taleEach person casts someone else; the youngest casts first. Needs paper and crayons.
Each other's favorite mug, drawn and labeled with its owner's nameEach person draws a partner's mug; the youngest pairs with an adult. Needs paper and markers.
Everyone draws the same family member, who picks a favorite to keepThe sitter changes each round, starting with the youngest. Needs paper and pencils.
Everyone draws whoever sits on their left, and the pictures are joined in a rowEveryone draws at once; an adult tapes the sheets together in seat order. Needs paper and pencils.
Faces of each other arranged from fruit and vegetables on a plate, then photographedThe youngest chooses the food, older children arrange it, an adult takes the photo. Needs a plate.
The family as it will look in twenty yearsEach person ages one other person; adults draw the children grown up. Needs paper and pencils.
Family trading cards, each drawn for someone else with their best skills listedDraw names from a bowl; an adult writes the skills the youngest calls out. Needs blank cards and pens.
Guess who: portraits drawn from baby photosAn adult deals out the photos, each person draws one, the youngest guesses first. Needs old photos and paper.
Side-view shadows traced by lamplight and cut from black paperAn adult traces, an older child cuts, the youngest glues onto colored paper. Needs a lamp and black paper.
Whose feet? Everyone looks under the table and draws one pairEach draws a different pair; the youngest guesses whose is whose. Needs paper and pencils.
Wooden-spoon puppets of each family memberAn adult inks the faces, the youngest glues on hair, older children make clothes. Needs spoons, yarn and scraps.
About our home and our year 13
A banner for the front door with one symbol from each personAn adult divides the banner, each person adds one symbol, the youngest picks the colors. Needs cloth or paper.
A cutaway of our own home, each person filling in the room they use mostAn adult draws the walls and floors; the youngest fills their own bedroom. Needs big paper and pens.
A door-length height chart with a drawing at each person's markAn adult marks the heights; each person decorates their own line. Needs a paper strip and pens.
A treasure chest holding the one thing each person would saveAn adult draws the chest; each person draws one object inside it. Needs big paper and crayons.
A week of dinners, one evening drawn by each personEach draws one evening's meal; the youngest takes the weekend. Needs a strip of seven boxes.
A who-does-what chart with drawn faces and jobsOlder children draw the jobs, the youngest draws the faces, an adult letters it. Needs card and pens.
How the family came to live here, told as a comicAdults tell it, older children draw it, the youngest colors it in. Needs paper and pens.
Me today: a drawing from each person sealed in an envelope to open next yearEveryone draws themselves; an adult writes the date and seals it. Needs paper and an envelope.
Our street on a long strip, with every front door drawnAdults draw the houses, older children the doors, the youngest the cats and birds. Needs a long strip.
Our year in twelve squaresEach person takes the months they remember best; the youngest draws the birthdays. Needs a grid of twelve and crayons.
The trip we still talk about, as a postcard from each personEach person draws one moment; the youngest draws the weather. Needs blank cards.
The view from each person's bedroom window, mounted in one frameEach person draws their own view; an adult helps the youngest. Needs small cards and a frame.
The walk to school or the park with everyone's landmarksThe youngest names the landmarks, older children draw them, an adult draws the route. Needs paper and markers.
To hang or keep 13
A canvas map of a place the family loves, with a painted pin for each memoryAn adult paints the coast or the streets; each person adds one pin. Needs a canvas and acrylics.
A canvas of circles, each person's rings in their favorite colorsThe youngest goes first with big circles; adults fill the gaps. Needs a canvas and acrylics.
A canvas quilt of painted squaresAn adult rules the grid; each person paints the squares in one row. Needs a canvas, a ruler and acrylics.
A canvas where the children's sun and the adults' moon meet halfwayChildren paint the day half and adults the night half; the youngest adds the sun. Needs a canvas.
A set of small canvases, one a person, that join into a single pictureAn adult sketches the picture across them all; each person paints their own. Needs mini canvases.
A splatter canvas made outdoors, a color eachEach person flicks one color; the youngest sets the order, an adult lays the canvas flat. Needs paint and old clothes.
A sunset over water on a long canvas, with one boat from each personThe youngest sponges the sky; each person paints one black boat. Needs a long canvas and acrylics.
A tape-pattern canvas, painted in sections and peeledAn adult tapes the pattern, each paints one section, the youngest peels the tape. Needs a canvas and acrylics.
A thumbprint tree on canvasAn adult paints the trunk; everyone prints leaves, the youngest lowest. Needs a canvas, paint and ink pads.
The family's surname across a canvas, one letter per painterAn adult pencils the letters; each person fills one with pattern. Needs a canvas and paint pens.
Four canvases showing four weathers over the same hillAn adult draws the hill on all four; each person paints one weather. Needs four canvases and acrylics.
One canvas painted in bands, a band from each personThe youngest paints the bottom band and an adult the top, with tape between. Needs a canvas, acrylics and tape.
One vase on canvas with a flower from each personAn adult paints the vase and stems; the youngest's flower goes in the middle. Needs a canvas and acrylics.
Quick 13
A fridge-door gallery: one sticky-note drawing each, new every SundayEach person fills one note; the youngest chooses where they go. Needs sticky notes and pens.
A stick-figure family portrait where each person draws someone elseThe youngest picks who draws whom. Needs one sheet and a pen.
Blindfold drawing with guessesAn adult calls the subject, everyone draws blind, the youngest guesses first. Needs paper and pencils.
Coin rubbings turned into wheels, suns and facesThe youngest rubs the coins; older children draw the rest. Needs coins, pencils and paper.
Draw tonight's dinner from the smell alone, before anyone has seen itThe youngest sniffs and names it, everyone draws a guess, an adult brings out the dish. Needs paper and pencils.
Envelope puppets made from the day's mailAn adult cuts the corner off; each person draws a face on it. Needs old envelopes and pens.
Everyone draws the same apple, then the drawings are lined up by sizeEveryone draws at once; the youngest arranges them. Needs an apple and paper.
Leaf rubbings from the walk homeThe youngest holds the leaf still, an older child rubs, an adult labels it. Needs crayons and thin paper.
Napkin doodles while waiting for the foodEach person starts a doodle and passes it on once. Needs paper napkins and a pen.
One crayon each: everyone draws the dog in a single colorThe youngest hands out the crayons. Needs crayons and paper.
Put down three stickers and draw the world around themThe youngest places the stickers for everyone. Needs stickers, paper and pens.
Swap scribbles and turn each one into a monster with eyes and feetThe youngest scribbles for an adult and an adult for the youngest. Needs paper and pens.
Wrong hands: everyone draws the cat with the hand they do not useAdults come out as wobbly as the youngest, which is the fun. Needs paper and pens.
How it works
Family art project ideas need a job for the smallest hands and one for the tallest. Each of these 78 says who does which part, from the youngest to an adult, and what it needs.
Read the full guide
Family art ideas for one sitting
One big sheet and Pass it around put everyone on the same piece. Portraits of each other makes the people at the table the subject. About our home and our year holds a cutaway of the house and a year in twelve squares. Quick fits the wait before dinner.
Family canvas painting ideas
To hang or keep holds projects painted on canvas, and each says who paints which part: one canvas in bands, small canvases that join into a single picture, a thumbprint tree where an adult paints the trunk.
Questions and answers
What art can a family do together?
A piece with a part for every age: an underwater scene where the youngest sponges the sea, an older child adds fish and an adult draws the boat. Every project here is shared out that way.
What can we make with a toddler and an older child?
Pick from One big sheet. The youngest gets a job with no wrong result, such as stamping leaves or dotting stars, while the older child draws the detail. The line under each project names both jobs.
What family art can we hang on the wall?
To hang or keep holds canvas projects, such as the family's surname across a canvas, one letter per painter. We do not test paints, so read the label on yours before you start.
Do we need special supplies?
Mostly paper, crayons, markers and tape. The canvas projects need a canvas and acrylic paint. Each line ends with what that project needs, so you can check before you sit down.