How to Draw a Leaf for Kids – Simple Picture Guide with Free Printable Worksheet
Jan 30, 2026
Let kids explore nature through drawing with this easy leaf sketch guide that shows each step clearly using simple shapes and lines.
Step 1: First, draw a “U”-like shape.
Step 2: Extending from that, draw an inverted “V” shape with curves at both ends, just as shown in the image.
Step 3: Continue by drawing a U shape, like the one you drew at first.
Step 4: Now draw another inverted “v” shape, smaller than the one you have drawn earlier, on the right side of your drawing, as shown in the image.
Step 5: Repeat the same on the left side.
Step 6: Again, add a “u”-like shape on the right end of your drawing.
Step 7: Repeat the same on the left end of your drawing.
Step 8: Draw a curved line at the right end as shown in the image.
Step 9: Repeat the same on the left end, leaving a small space between the last two lines you have drawn.
Step 10: Draw two parallel lines at the bottom of your leaf for the stem, as shown in the image.
Step 11: Now, draw a vertical line in the middle portion of your leaf.
Step 12: Draw two more vertical lines, starting from the middle portion and extending towards the outer side on both sides, as shown in the image.
Step 13: Draw a straight horizontal line at the bottom of the leaf.
Step 14: Now add details to your leaf by drawing some small lines on both sides of the line that you have drawn in the middle of it.
Step 15: Repeat the same on the line you have drawn on the right side.
Step 16: Repeat it on the line drawn on the left side.
Step 17: Now repeat the same on the horizontal line you have DarwinDarwin on at the bottom of the leaf.
Step 18: Your beautiful leaf drawing is ready. Colour it and enjoy!
How to draw a leaf: A thrilling journey for curious kids
Drawing can begin anywhere, by sketching any shape, even with a leaf. Leaves have so many uses. They can be used for scrapbooking, drawing, building crafts, and other fun activities. And you can find leaves everywhere in nature: on trees, on the ground, in the dirt, and even in nature storybooks. Leaves can vary in shape, size, color, and features. A curious child can use drawing a leaf to notice and appreciate nature (and use their imagination).
At Monkey Pen we aim kids to have a fun time drawing in a stress-free way. Therefore, we chose to focus on drawing a leaf in this video to ensure you have fun while creating. And we hope you enjoy it.
Although leaves may look simple they have many features. Some leaves are long, while others are bushy; some even have little zig-zags on their edges. A leaf can have countless different features, and this means you can draw a leaf in numerous different and unique ways.
Another reason sketching leaves is so enjoyable is due to their relaxed design (more curved lines than points). Younger children appreciate simply outlining a leaf, while older children can practise drawing leaf patterns and their veins.
Fun fact for kids: Did you know leaves act like food factories for trees? They collaborate with sunlight, air, and water to produce food. This process is a little magical and gives every leaf drawing a special purpose especially when learning how to draw a tree easy step-by-step.
Why Drawing Videos Work So Well for Children.
Watching is often when children learn best. Monkey pen’s how to draw videos show kids how to make parts and lines come together to form a cohesive picture. Children value the flexibility to pause and rewind videos, which allows them to learn at their own pace.
For busy families, these easy to draw videos make a perfect activity for children during short breaks, and they can even watch them on the weekends. Parents appreciate the educational element of drawing videos, as children can learn while having fun.
With the step-by-step drawing worksheets, children learn to appreciate art without the pressure from the picture as a whole. Instead, they learn to just focus on the little parts that build the image. This is an excellent way to build confidence and avoid frustration.
Drawing Leaves casually
One of the best parts of drawing leaves is that they do not have to be perfect. Leaves can be big or small, or thin or wide. They can be straight or somewhat wiggly. They can have little veins or be completely smooth. There are lots of different leaves to draw, and they can all be different.
When kids are free to draw whatever leaf they want, they often spend more time drawing. One kid may draw a leaf and colour it green. Another kid may draw a leaf and color it red, or even a rainbow! They can all make the leaf the colour and design they want, and it's fun to see their ideas!
Parents can remind their kids that drawing leaves is a good idea. Each leaf is a small win especially when paired with color by number free activities that add structure while keeping creativity alive.
Printable Worksheets for Easy Drawing
Drawing videos and worksheets work well together. After watching a drawing video, you can download our step-by-step illustrations with which kids can draw the picture in their own style and at their own speed. They can trace, color, or draw all without being on a device.
Younger kids can practice their pencil grip and drawing control. Older kids can do more creative work by adding their own details, like patterns, faces, or backgrounds. A leaf worksheet can become a forest, or a garden, or a scene from a story.
Worksheets teach children how to learn more calmly and focus. They help kids think, visualise, and enjoy quiet moments of creativity especially when using free coloring books PDF for extended, screen-free art time.
One Leaf and Many Other Creative Ideas
Kids can draw various things with just one leaf. They can draw leaves that are falling, leaves with faces, or leaves that are dancing in the air. A leaf can also be turned into a superhero or be included in a picture of a forest.
Leaf drawings help kids think of the different seasons. Summer is with green leaves, and autumn is with brown and orange leaves. This exercise is a way for kids to create with real experiences.
Fun fact: Some trees have bright colours in their leaves during the autumn season because they change colours to save energy. That is why autumn is more beautiful.
Art can also become more fun when children and parents draw together. Watching a drawing video, sitting together, and drawing a worksheet can become a family activity.
Learning to draw step-by-step is a way to teach a kid how to be creative and learn more calmly. With fun shapes to draw, kids can learn and express themselves artistically. Monkey Pen delights in fostering children's development through learning that is enjoyable leaf by leaf, line by line, and smile by smile while showing them how to draw for kids in a friendly and stress-free way.
