Easy Monster Drawing Activity for Kids
This easy monster drawing activity is a great way to spark your kids’ creativity this Halloween! Whether you’re planning a classroom Halloween party or just want a simple art project for home, it’s a perfect activity for kids of all ages.
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Do you have kids who are excited for Halloween and ready to dive into some spooky fun? This easy monster drawing activity is just the thing to set the Halloween mood without being too scary.
With googly eyes as the starting point, kids can let their imaginations run wild as they create funny, silly, or quirky monsters. It’s a simple and imaginative project that not only sparks creativity but also encourages storytelling.
Plus, the end result makes for an adorable Halloween art gallery—perfect for home or the classroom!
Aren’t they so fun?!
To make your own googly-eyed monsters, here’s what you need:
Easy Monster Drawing Activity for Kids
Materials Needed:
- Black construction paper (or white if you don’t have black)
- Googly eyes (variety of sizes works best!)
- Glue
- Pencils
- Oil pastels or crayons/markers
- Optional: Glitter, stickers, or other embellishments for extra decoration
Instructions:
- Start with the Eyes: Give each child a piece of black paper and a few googly eyes. Let them place the eyes wherever they like on the paper. These eyes will be the starting point of their monster creation! (Tip: Wait to glue the eyes down until after you draw the monster. That way, you can adjust them if needed.)
- Imagine the Monster in the Dark: Tell the kids to imagine that the googly eyes are staring at them through the darkness. Ask them to think about what kind of creature or monster these eyes might belong to when the lights turn on.
- Draw Around the Eyes: Using oil pastels, have the kids draw the rest of the monster or creature’s body. Encourage them to get creative—monsters can be funny, scary, or downright silly! If you’re using white paper, crayons or markers work well, too. Tip: Sketch out your monster with a pencil first. Then color it with pastels. This will help kids be more thoughtful about their creation and give them the freedom to try various ideas before commiting to the final version.
- Embellish (Optional): If they’d like, kids can add glitter, stickers, or other decorations to their monsters. This step lets their imagination go even wilder, adding wings, fur, scales, or anything else they can dream up.
Ideas for Adaptation by Age Group:
- Toddlers & Preschoolers (Ages 2-5): Stick to simpler designs! Let the littlest ones focus on gluing the googly eyes, then have them use basic shapes to draw the rest of their monster. You can guide them by asking questions like, “Does your monster have one big body or many little ones?” Rather than using oil pastels (which are NOT a good choice for littles), cut out random shapes from colored paper and let your experiment with “building” a monster from these basic shapes. Bonus: it’s a great opportunity to talk about shapes with them!
- Elementary Kids (Ages 6-10): Encourage older kids to get detailed. They can draw different textures like fur, spikes, or scales, and maybe even give their monsters names or powers. These kids will love mixing bright pastels with the black background for a vivid contrast.
- Tweens (Ages 11+): For older kids who want more of a challenge, encourage them to create more intricate monsters. They can add background scenes, experiment with shading using oil pastels, and incorporate humor or storytelling into their monster design. This could even lead to writing a short story about their monster’s backstory!
How this easy monster drawing activity worked for my kids
When I introduced this activity to my kids (ages 7 and 10 participated), I was suprised how much they got into the project. I sat and drew with them, and we had so much fun talking about our monsters!
They came up with names for their creatures, gave them special powers, and even offered a few suggesting for my monster that were downright brilliant! We had such a great time creating the truly unique monsters that emerged from our imaginations.
This is my seven-year-old’s monster, which he named “Fang the Feirceicle” (fierce-ickle). I love the details he added, like the segmented body, purple-edged wings, and fire (acid?) spewing from his mouth. He ended up not using the googly eyes because he wanted slanted eyes. That’s okay!
Remember when doing art projects with kids to let them make as many creative decisions as possible…even if it changes what the project was “supposed” to be.
This is my very conflicted two-headed monster. My 10-year old gave me the idea to have each head have one eye, so together he has two! Brilliant, right?
Why it’s a great Halloween activity for kids
This easy monster drawing activity is perfect for setting the Halloween mood without being too spooky. The creatures are more funny than frightening, making this a hit in both classrooms and at home for kids of all ages.
Best of all, this activity is all about encouraging kids to think outside the box, which is fabulous for flexing those creative muscles. Invite kids to try unconvetional combinations of colors, textures, and features. Where monsters are concerned, the weirder the better!
Bonus Tip: When you’re finished, create a “Monster Gallery” by hanging all the monster drawings together for a fun display at home or in the classroom. Imagine a classroom or hallway lined with unique, quirky monsters! So fun! We put ours up in our kitchen, and it makes me smile every time I walk by.
Whether you’re an educator looking for a classroom craft or a parent planning a fun Halloween afternoon, these googly-eyed monsters are guaranteed to be a hit. Let their imaginations run wild, and enjoy watching your kids create their own little monster world.
Want more Halloween activities for kids? Try these!
- Halloween Action Cards: A Spooky, Fun Game for Kids!
- Halloween Paper Weaving Craft for Kids
- Free Printable “Don’t Eat Pete” Halloween Game with Cute Friendly Monsters
- Free printable Halloween BINGO game for kids
WANT MORE HALLOWEEN FUN FOR KIDS?
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