Rainy Day Projects

Pass the Drawing Portraits

This is a collaborative drawing game where each child secretly adds one part of the birthday child's face or body to a sheet of paper, folds it to hide their work, and passes it on. When the paper is unfolded at the end, the group sees the full portrait together. It works well at this age because every child contributes equally and there is a built-in funny reveal that needs no prizes or winners.

Ages
5–8
Time
20 min
Adult help
Light adult help
Mess
No mess

Before you start

Before the game, fold a sheet of paper into equal horizontal sections — one per child playing. Number the sections lightly in pencil on the back so you remember the order: 1 for hair or top of head, 2 for eyes and nose, 3 for mouth and chin, 4 for neck and shoulders, 5 onward for body or feet if the group is large. Assign sections before handing the paper to the first child so you are not directing traffic mid-game. Remind each child to fold their section back before passing, and to leave a small mark — a line or two — just past the fold so the next child knows where to connect their drawing. Where it stalls: a child who freezes because they want to draw it 'correctly.' Tell them there is no wrong way; the funnier the better. The reveal at the end is where the energy peaks — let children react before you move on.

You will need

  • PaperOne sheet per round, plain white, at least letter size
  • Pencils or washable markersOne per child; pencils are tidier for passing
  • A flat table or hard surfaceEach child needs something to draw on while holding the paper

Steps

  1. 1

    Pre-fold the paper

    Before children sit down, fold a sheet of paper into horizontal thirds or quarters depending on how many children are playing. Number the sections on the back lightly in pencil. This takes about two minutes and makes the whole game run without interruption.

    Tip: One section per child; if you have more than four children, add a 'feet' or 'cape' section at the bottom.

  2. 2

    Explain the sequence

    Tell children: 'You each get one section to draw. Add your part, fold it so the next person cannot see it, leave a tiny line past the fold so they know where to connect, then pass it along.' Demonstrate once with an exaggerated example.

    Tip: Saying 'leave a tiny line' is the single most important instruction — without it, the sections disconnect.

  3. 3

    Name the sections aloud

    Say which section each position covers before you start: 'First person draws the hair and top of the head. Second person draws the eyes and nose,' and so on. Write these on a separate scrap of paper where you can see it if the group is large.

    Tip: Assigning sections before drawing starts prevents mid-game negotiation.

  4. 4

    Let them draw in silence

    Ask children to draw quietly so the next person has no clues. Move around the table to make sure each child is folding before passing. Light humor here helps — 'No peeking, not even one eye' — without being strict.

    Tip: If a child is genuinely stuck, whisper a one-word prompt: 'curly' or 'big' or 'sparkly.'

  5. 5

    Reveal and name the portrait

    When the last child finishes, unfold the paper together. Let the group react. Then ask: 'What should we name this portrait?' Let a few children suggest a title before writing the birthday child's name at the top.

    Tip: Hold the portrait up and take a moment — the pause before the reveal builds the payoff.

  6. 6

    Play another round if time allows

    A second round is faster because children already know the rules. You can vary it: draw a birthday cake instead of a person, or draw the birthday child's imaginary pet. Keep the folding and passing structure exactly the same.

    Tip: Second rounds tend to get sillier and louder — if you need quiet, one round is enough.

Try it another way

  • For an older or more confident group, assign themed sections — superhero costume, birthday crown, wings — to push the drawing in a more imaginative direction.
  • If one child is much younger than the rest, pair them with an older child who draws while the younger one directs: 'Make the eyes really big.'
  • For a calmer version, use one large horizontal strip of paper on the table and let children work simultaneously, each responsible for their own zone, with no passing.

What they get out of it

Children practice trusting that their contribution matters even when they cannot control the final result — and see that surprising things can come from working together.

Take it to the table

Materials checklist, the steps and the variations on one Letter page.

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