self-portraits for kids

Yearly self-portraits for kids: A meaningful back-to-school tradition

AH I have a kindergartener starting public school this year (we did a gap year of homeschooling last year because she wasn’t old enough to start in the school we wanted). I’ve been having horrific flashbacks to when she started preschool back when I was public school art teaching and they had to peel her off me every morning as she clung to me like slime clings to carpet. While I’ve been reminiscing on those fond memories, I have been trying to come up with fun ways to celebrate the start of the school year and help her feel prepared. I wrote a cute post on my Manual Mode for Moms Blog about taking first day of school photos, and then Emme and I were drawing together one morning talking about drawing proportions on faces and I thought about self-portraits for kids!

All we need is your kiddo, a blank sheet of paper, and whatever art supplies feel right to them that day. If you repeat this tradition each year, even just once a year at back-to-school time or again at the end of the year, you’ll end up with a little time capsule of how their sense of self grows year by year. I am literally so excited to do this with Emme every year!!!

Let’s dive into how to get started!

Step 1: Pick a Paper Size & Stick With It

Choose a consistent paper size you can use every year—9×12 mixed media paper (Amazon affiliate link) is great and pretty easy to store, but you can go larger if you like. The goal is to have a cohesive collection over time that can eventually maybe even be bound into a book?! 🥹

Step 2: Let Them Choose the Medium

Some kids love colored pencils. Others go wild for markers, crayons, or even watercolors. Offer a few choices, but keep it open-ended. This is their portrait, and the materials should feel good in their hands. Emme decided she just wanted to use sharpie which I thought was very bold of her, but it went surprisingly well!

Step 3: Full Body or Just the Face?

When you’ve gathered your supplies and laid down a messy mat, ask them: “Do you want to draw your whole body or just your face today?” You’ll be surprised how thoughtfully kids respond when given this kind of choice.

Some may focus on their eyes and hair. Others might go all out with details like shoes, necklaces, bandaids, or capes. There’s no wrong way to draw yourself and I would avoid too much direction or over-the-shoulder “support.”

If they don’t know where to start, help them gently map out the shapes—“Where does your head go?” “What about your shoulders?” But resist the urge to take over. Stay curious, not corrective. Compliment their work as objectively as possible but for the most part let them do their thing. I have a small mirror for Emme too and I encourage her to look for shapes within her face she can draw/break down. If they draw lightly and loosely it is easy to go over ‘mistakes.’ You can go ahead and lay down an extra sheet of paper too to make it feel less like they only have one shot at this.

Step 4: Add a Gentle Interview

Ask a few simple “getting to know you” questions while they draw instead of watching them work over their shoulder. You can write the answers on a separate sheet to keep with the portrait, or even record a voice memo. Here is a Google Sheets Template you can copy to print if you want a printable!

Some ideas:

  • What’s your favorite book right now?
  • What songs do you love to sing?
  • Do you have a favorite color?
  • Who’s your best buddy?
  • What’s your favorite thing to do outside?
  • What’s your favorite thing to do inside?
  • What’s something you’re really good at?
  • Favorite food/dessert?
  • Favorite memory from this age?
  • What do you want to be when you grow up?

Step 5: Sign & Date It

Write the date (or school year), your child’s name, and their age on the back in pencil. Let them sign their name if they’re able—it will be such a sweet detail to watch develop over time!

Bonus Ideas:

  • Start a binder or folder to collect them year by year.
  • Add a photo of their portrait and interview responses to your digital portfolio
  • Do this again at the end of the school year and compare! 🥹
  • Take a photo of them holding their self-portrait—this makes for a double memory!

Want More Projects and Tips Like This?

Download my free guide, The Ultimate Guide to Age-Appropriate Art Supplies, and get ongoing ideas for encouraging creativity at home in a low-pressure, joy-filled way. You can also check out these related posts below!

1 thought on “Yearly self-portraits for kids: A meaningful back-to-school tradition”

  1. Pingback: DIY School Memory Box for Kids » Megan Leigh Acosta

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