Tracing gives kids a strong starting point. Adding their own details is where creativity really kicks in. When a child adds a cowboy hat to a traced robot or a pet dragon next to a traced person, they are drawing, and they did not even notice the leap.
Detail ideas
Accessories
- Hats: crowns, baseball caps, wizard hats, party hats
- Glasses or sunglasses
- Scarves, capes, bow ties
- Jewelry, watches, backpacks
Things to hold
- Ice cream, balloons, flowers
- Tools, wands, swords, books
- A pet, a toy, a snack
Backgrounds
- Sky, clouds, sun, moon, stars
- Grass, trees, flowers
- Ocean, beach, mountains
- City buildings, a house, a spaceship
See don’t forget the background.
Talking
- Speech bubbles
- Thought bubbles
- Sound effects like "BOOM!" and "Zzz"
Friends
- A second character
- A tiny bug or bird nearby
- A shadow or reflection
Characters that invite details
People
People characters are perfect for adding outfits, accessories and hobbies. Trace Then Color: Cartoon People is a great canvas.
Robots
Robots can get new gadgets: rocket boots, laser arms, antennas, control panels. Trace Then Color: Cartoon Robots gives kids lots of robots to upgrade.
Mixed characters
A mixed book like Trace Then Color: Cool Stuff 2 has dinosaurs, animals and faces that can all get new details.
Prompt questions
- "Where is this character going?"
- "What do they need for their trip?"
- "Who is their best friend?"
- "What’s the weather like?"
- "What are they saying?"
Keep it optional
Some kids love adding details. Others prefer to just trace and color. Both are fine. Offer the idea, do not require it.
The drawing connection
Adding details is drawing. Kids who add details regularly often start drawing whole characters on their own. When they are ready for more, step-by-step drawing books are a natural next step. See from tracing to drawing.
Questions parents ask
What if the added details look messy?
That’s fine. Their own drawings will be looser than traced lines. Praise the idea.
Should added details be traced first in pencil?
Some kids like to sketch lightly in pencil first, then go over it. That is a real artist’s technique.
My child adds so many details the character disappears. Is that OK?
Yes. They are making the page their own.
About Kevin Coulston
Kevin Coulston is a cartoonist and member of the National Cartoonists Society who has written and illustrated more than 100 drawing, tracing and coloring books for kids, including the Trace Then Color series. Meet Kevin or browse all his books on FirstArtBooks.com.
