Free Printable Draw and Guess Game: 12 Cards for Kids

This printable draw and guess game gives children 12 familiar things to sketch, from a cat to a rocket. One person draws while the others try to name the picture. A few lines can be enough: the fun comes from interpreting the drawing, not producing a polished piece of art.

Use the game for a quiet family afternoon, a small playdate or a simple party station. Two players are enough, and a larger group can take turns or play in small teams. Begin without a timer so everyone has room to think.

Download the free drawing game cards

The one-page PDF contains these word cards: cat, sun, tree, house, fish, rocket, flower, kite, hat, boat, apple and butterfly. Print on US Letter paper, or choose ‘Fit to page’ for A4. Black-and-white printing is sufficient. An adult can cut along the card borders, then stack the cards face down. No email signup is required.

What you need to play

Set out the printed cards, scrap paper and pencils or washable markers. A clipboard or a firm tabletop makes drawing easier. Keep a separate sheet for each turn if children want to save their pictures. You can also use a small dry-erase board, with age-appropriate materials and supervision.

How to play draw and guess

1. Pick a card. The first artist takes a card without showing the others. If the artist is not reading yet, an adult quietly reads the word. Give the child a chance to swap a word they do not know.

2. Draw the idea. The artist draws the object without writing its name or using letters as clues. Simple shapes are welcome. The other players can guess while the picture is being drawn, unless your group prefers to wait until the artist says ‘ready.’

3. Reveal and rotate. When someone guesses correctly, show the card and pass the pencil to the next person. If nobody gets it, the artist can explain the picture and the group moves on. Use the cards as invitations to play, not as a test that someone must pass.

Try cooperative play before keeping score

In a cooperative round, everyone works together to solve six cards. Place each completed card in a shared pile and celebrate the finished collection. This avoids arguments about who called out first and works well when players have different drawing experience.

If the group prefers points, agree on the rules before starting. Award one point to the artist and one to the correct guesser, and give each player the same number of turns. A short timer is optional for confident players; it should add excitement rather than stop a child from taking part.

Adapt the game for younger or older players

For younger children, use only four familiar words and let them point to or describe a detail if they get stuck. An adult can draw the first example. For older players, ask for a single continuous-line drawing or let them combine two cards into one scene. Keep these as optional variations after everyone understands the basic game.

A player who does not want to draw can read cards, guess, or choose the next artist. Playing in pairs also lets one child start the picture while another adds a detail. Stop after a few enjoyable rounds rather than feeling obliged to finish the whole deck.

More printable games to try

Store the cards in an envelope with a pencil for another day. For a movement-based alternative, use our printable animal charades cards. For a quieter matching activity, download the color and shape matching game. These drawing cards are free for personal and classroom use; share the article link so others can download their own copy.