Doodle Turtle
draw with me, slow and happy

How to Draw a Turtle

8 easy strokes · ages 4+ · free printable worksheet

To draw a turtle with a 3-5 year old, break it into 8 simple strokes: a big round shell, straight across, then a tummy, a friendly round head, a stubby little leg, another leg, a bump on his shell, one little eye and a few finishing touches. Doodle Turtle draws one line at a time and then pauses, so little hands have time to catch up before the next line appears. Doodle Turtle is free, runs in any browser, has no ads and needs no sign-up.

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Step by step: 8 easy strokes

  1. STEP 1
    A big round shell
  2. STEP 2
    Straight across, then a tummy
  3. STEP 3
    A friendly round head
  4. STEP 4
    A stubby little leg
  5. STEP 5
    Another leg!
  6. STEP 6
    A bump on his shell
  7. STEP 7
    One little eye
  8. STEP 8
    A happy smile

Free printable tracing worksheet

Prefer paper? Print a turtle as a faint tracing outline — your child draws straight over the lines, then colours it in.

Watch the slow video

How to draw a turtle — slow draw-along video
How to Draw a Turtle — super slow draw along

One stroke at a time, with a pause after each one. Grab paper and crayons and draw along on the second pass.

Tips for grown-ups

  • Watch first, then draw. The first pass is just for looking — no pressure to keep up.
  • Let the pause do the work. If your child is still drawing when the next stroke starts, tap to pause. Slower is the point.
  • Big paper, fat crayons. At 4 the wrist is still learning; large movements are easier than small ones.
  • Praise the trying, not the likeness. A wobbly turtle that they drew themselves beats a neat one you fixed.

More things to draw

BearBoatBunnyButterflyCarCatCupcakeDog

Draw a Turtle

Trace the lines, then colour it in — draw with me, slow and happy