Christmas Tree Drawing

Christmas tree drawing is one of the easiest holiday projects to do with young children, and it needs only paper and a crayon. This guide shows you how to draw a christmas tree in five simple steps, then gives 25 ideas for styles, decorations and toddler versions. Pick the ones that suit your child’s age. A few need adult help, and I say which. Save the ideas you like and come back to them when a December afternoon needs something to do.

What you need for a Christmas tree drawing

You need very little. Plain paper, a pencil and a green crayon are enough to start, and a few extra colors make the tree feel festive when you reach the decorating step. Washable markers work well for children aged three and up. Thick crayons suit small hands, because thin ones snap and thick ones are easier to grip. Gather everything before you sit down so nobody wanders off halfway through. Eeshan would line up every color before drawing a single line, and Vihaan would ask for the glitter pens first.

How to draw a Christmas tree step by step

Some people type how to draw an christmas tree and others type how to draw christmas tree, but the steps are the same. This order gives you an easy to draw christmas tree that looks like a tree. Go slowly. For the how to draw a christmas tree easy version with very young children, you can stop after step three and let them color the shape in. Let the child lead wherever they can, and keep your own lines light.

1. Draw a small star at the top

Start with a five point star near the top of the page. Make it small. A plus sign with two diagonal lines through it also works well for children who find stars hard to draw.

2. Sketch the top triangle

Under the star, draw a zigzag edged triangle that is wider at the bottom. Keep the lines loose. Wobbly edges look like branches, which is exactly what you want from a pine tree.

3. Build the middle and bottom tiers

Draw a second triangle below the first, wider than the one above. Add a third that is wider again. Overlap the tiers a little so the tree looks full and the shape feels natural.

4. Add the trunk and the ground

Add a short rectangle under the lowest tier for the trunk. Color it brown. Then draw a small line or oval underneath, for the ground or for a tree stand.

5. Decorate the tree

Add dots for ornaments, curved lines for garland and small circles for lights. Stop when it feels done, not when it feels perfect. A bare tree can wait.

Easy tree styles from simple to fancy

Not every child wants a pointy green triangle. These seven styles keep the basic tree and change the shape, the lines or the mood. If you want a christmas tree easy to draw for a classroom or a party table, start with the first one. Try them one after the other if you are after christmas tree drawing easy ideas that look different each time. Vihaan would pick the lopsided one, and Eeshan would choose whichever has the most layers.

1. Triangle stack

Three triangles stacked on a trunk. Nothing fancier than that. It is the classic shape and the best first attempt, since each tier is just a wide, flat triangle with a little overlap at the edges.

2. Zigzag tree

Draw one long zigzag line down each side of the tree. It looks like pine branches. Children enjoy the up and down motion, and it is a good way to practice smooth, repeated lines.

3. Spiral tree

Start at the top with a tiny circle and swirl outward in a widening spiral. Take a breath. Finish with a trunk, and the result looks like a swirled pine cone, a little different from the usual tree.

4. Cartoon tree with a face

Give the tree two eyes and a smile. Silly works. Older children can add rosy cheeks and a tiny hat, and the whole thing turns into a character that can star in a short story.

5. Wonky tree

Draw the tree crooked on purpose, with uneven tiers and a bent trunk. Great for perfectionists. Nobody can get it wrong, which is the entire idea behind it.

6. Snowy tree

Leave the tree mostly white and shade only the edges with a gray or blue pencil. Quiet. Add dots of snow around the branches and a few flakes in the air, and it feels like a winter morning.

7. Night sky tree

Use dark blue paper with a white crayon or chalk and draw the tree outline. Add a yellow star above. It looks dramatic and it is easier than it sounds, since the contrast does most of the work.

Ways to decorate your tree drawing

Once the shape is done, decoration is where the personality shows up. Whether you want an xmas tree drawing picture for the fridge or a card for grandparents, these six finishes work on any of the styles above. Eeshan would add the most detail, and he would take the longest. Let him.

8. Dot ornaments

Use dots in three colors. Press a marker down and lift it up. Dots are the easiest ornament for small hands, and they teach a light touch without any instruction at all.

9. Garland loops

Draw a loose curved line from one side of the tree to the other, then repeat on each tier. Add tiny dots along it for beads. Gold or silver pencils give the loops a bit of shine.

10. String of lights

Draw a thin wavy line and add small ovals along it. Color each oval a different bright shade. Little glow lines around each one make the lights look switched on, even on plain paper.

11. Gifts under the tree

Add a few wrapped presents at the base. Squares and ribbons are enough. Children love deciding who each gift is for, and the drawing quietly turns into a story about the family.

12. Topper variations

Try a big star, a bow, an angel or a bright circle at the top. Change it each time. A drawn topper is the safest way to test a new idea before you hang or place a real one.

13. Sticker and glitter finish

Add stickers or glitter glue once the drawing is dry. Press, do not pour. Use only large stickers with children under three, and apply the glitter yourself, since loose glitter ends up everywhere, including mouths.

Tree drawing ideas for toddlers and preschoolers

Toddlers do not draw trees. They make marks, and that is exactly the right thing to do at this age. Our guide to fine and gross motor skills examples explains why scribbling builds hand strength. Eeshan would be happy with one crayon and a big sheet, and Vihaan would try to eat the wrapper. Stay close.

14. Green scribble tree

Give a green crayon and a big sheet of paper. Let the child scribble. Afterwards you can cut around the scribbles in a tree shape, which makes them feel proud of the result.

15. Triangle tracing

Draw a big light triangle and let the child trace it with a thick marker. This builds control. Trace over it a few times, and a tree appears like magic in their eyes.

16. Sticker tree

Draw a tree outline and let the child fill it with large dot stickers. Peeling stickers is great practice for fingers. Stay close with under threes, because stickers go into mouths quickly.

17. Handprint tree

Paint a child’s hand green with washable paint and press it to paper with the fingers spread. Add a trunk. One hand makes a small tree, and three hands make a whole forest.

18. Fingertip ornaments

Dip a fingertip in washable paint and dot ornaments onto a drawn tree. Skip the brush. Little fingers do the job well, and cleanup is a damp cloth and a lot of patience.

19. Draw together

Take turns. You draw one tier, then the child draws the next. Narrate as you go. Words like big, small, up and down build vocabulary while you draw, which is a quiet bonus.

Tree drawing with paint, paper and stickers

If someone asks how do you draw a christmas tree without a pencil, the answer is to use almost anything else. These six ideas swap the pencil for other materials and keep the tree. Our post on daycare crafts for infants and toddlers has more simple projects for the same age. For messier versions, try the sensory activities for preschoolers. Vihaan would choose paint every time.

20. Watercolor wash

Draw a tree with a white or light crayon, then paint a green wash over it. The wax resists the paint. It looks like magic. Use a big brush and a small cup of water.

21. Torn paper tree

Tear green paper into strips and glue them in tiers on a page. Tearing is hand practice too. Use a glue stick rather than liquid glue, because liquid glue goes everywhere.

22. Washi tape tree

Stick strips of washi tape in a tree shape and let the child draw over and around them. It peels away neatly. The result has clean lines even when the drawing around it is wild.

23. Chalk on dark paper

Chalk on black paper makes the colors pop. Draw a tree and decorate it with bright dots, then wipe the dust off hands before they reach mouths or eyes.

24. Sponge print tree

Cut a kitchen sponge into a triangle, dip it in washable green paint and stamp it three times down the page. Add a trunk with a fingertip. Tiers appear in seconds.

25. Cookie cutter tracing

Trace a tree shaped cookie cutter, then decorate the outline. It guarantees a good shape. This suits children who get frustrated when their lines wobble and who give up after the first attempt.

Turning drawings into keepsakes

A finished christmas tree drawing deserves a place to live. Tape it to the fridge, mail it to grandparents or slip it into a card, and date the back so you remember the year. Some families keep one drawing each year in a folder, and the pile becomes a small timeline of how a child’s hand has grown. Searches for a christmas drawing christmas tree card idea are common in December, and a child’s own drawing beats a printed one every time. If you want to take the drawing into the room, our guide to christmas tree decorating ideas has kid friendly looks for the real thing. Vihaan would want to hang his drawing on the actual tree, and I would let him.

Frequently asked questions about Christmas tree drawing

How do you draw a Christmas tree for kids?

Draw a small star, then three zigzag triangles that get wider, then a short trunk. Finish with dots for ornaments and curved lines for garland.

What is the easiest Christmas tree drawing?

The triangle stack is the easiest. Three flat triangles on a trunk give a clear tree shape, and dots or stickers finish it.

What age can a child draw a Christmas tree?

Most children scribble from about 18 months, trace a triangle around age three and draw a recognizable tree around four or five, though every child is different.

What supplies are safe for toddlers?

Use thick, washable, non toxic crayons and markers, large stickers and washable paint. Stay beside children under three and keep small items out of reach.

How can I make a Christmas tree drawing look better?

Overlap the tiers, keep the lines loose, vary the ornament colors and add a topper. A darker background also makes the tree stand out.

Can I use a child’s tree drawing for a card?

Yes. Scan or photograph the drawing, print it on card stock and write the greeting inside. Date the original and keep it.

On a rainy December Saturday, I would set out paper and crayons after breakfast and draw one tier at a time with the boys. Eeshan would add the garland. Vihaan would scribble over everything, and that is fine, because the fridge has room for all of it.