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    You are here: Home / Art and Crafts Activities / Tandem Drawing Activity: A Family Art Idea

     

    Tandem Drawing Activity: A Family Art Idea

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    Sometimes you get an idea and it turns out to be wonderful.

    That's what happened with a parent-child art activity I call, "Tandem Drawing."

    It's perfect for kids who like lots of attention. (In other words: all kids.)

    It's an idea that fosters family creativity and togetherness, even if your child, like mine, is reluctant to engage in art projects. You will definitely want to try it!

    Tandem drawing is a fun way to inspire kids to make free form art.

    Note: this post contains affiliate links that may earn commission.

    The inspiration for tandem drawing was born out of my need for quiet time and my son's need for attention!

    I adore these mixed media vellum art journals and work in my art journal regularly as a quiet time activity. My son isn't really into to quiet time activities! He rarely gets out his own journal, but he sometimes picks up a marker and tries to draw on my journal page in order to get my attention.

    One evening, instead of saying, "you may draw in your own journal, this is mine," I decided to go with it and allowed him to start scribbling. I took my own pen and started following him around on the paper. This caught his interest and he went for it.

    Watch the video below to see how tandem drawing works, then scroll down for more information on how to get started with your child!

    To keep your child interested, try switching up the art supplies on each page. Here are some we tried:

    • Flair pens. I like flair pens as a less-stinky alternative to Sharpies.
    • I also let my son use my new favorite watercolor brush pens but these brush pens are a much cheaper alternative.
    • Oil pastels or crayons
    • Paint brushes with watercolor or acrylic paint
    Tandem drawing is a fun mother-son art activity.

    We went on like this for several pages in my journal, and I must say it was quite a bit of fun. We chased each other with the pens, sometimes we mirrored each other's movements. Sometimes we tried to interfere (in a friendly way) with each other's drawings, and sometimes we just did our own thing.

    Try tandem drawing with a kid who doesn't like to draw.

    It's great fun and will soon become your favorite family art activity!

    Other successful attempts at sparking creativity in my reluctant artist:

    • Giant comic strip
    • Tape art
    • Zentangle
    • Melting crayon art
    • Tracing and coloring handprints

    MORE: Tips for starting a creative journal with kids. Or find, all our EASY art activities here.

    Tandem drawing in art journals
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    « Easy Abstract Faux Stained Glass Art Project for Kids
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Juliet says

      September 21, 2016 at 1:15 am

      You have such wonderful ideas!

      Reply
      • Erica says

        September 21, 2016 at 10:27 am

        Thank you!

        Reply
    2. Sharlene says

      June 16, 2019 at 11:15 pm

      Love this! Reminds me of "doodling" which scientists now say is a way to develop and foster creativity in children. I was not aware that this is called "tandem" drawings--thanks for the fabulous ideas!

      Reply
      • Erica says

        June 17, 2019 at 5:51 am

        I'm glad you like it. I totally made up the name "tandem drawing"! 🙂

        Reply

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