A barrier drawing game for kids is a two-person activity: one player describes a picture the other cannot see, and the second player draws it from those spoken directions. Put a folder between your papers, take turns describing and drawing, then reveal both pictures together. Allow about 20 minutes for two short rounds with your grandchild.
You do not need a printer, an art kit or a picture worth framing. A few circles and rectangles are enough to make the first reveal interesting.
What you need at the table
- Four sheets of plain paper, plus a scrap sheet
- One pencil or crayon for each player
- A stiff folder that can stand open as a divider
- Optional: matching sets of three coloured pencils
Choose a table where both people can sit comfortably and hear each other. Turn off background audio for the round. Use a lightweight divider rather than balancing a heavy book between you.
The plan below is a practical starting point for ages 5–12. Adjust the number of shapes to the child rather than treating the suggested age bands as requirements. An adult should choose the drawing materials and supervise as needed.
| Version | Suggested ages | Time per turn | Picture limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| See it first, then hide it | 5–6 | 3–4 minutes | 2 or 3 large shapes |
| Describe and draw | 6–8 | 4–5 minutes | 4 or 5 details |
| Describe a planned scene | 9–12 | 5–7 minutes | 6 to 8 details |
Set the rules before anyone hides a picture
Each turn has a describer and a drawer. The describer makes a small picture, keeps it behind the folder and explains what to draw. The drawer uses a fresh sheet and can ask questions.
Agree on these four rules:
- Words are allowed; peeking is not. Save pointing at the original until the reveal.
- Questions are welcome. “Does it touch the square?” is part of the game.
- One direction at a time. Wait until the other person says they are ready.
- Different pictures are an interesting result. Nobody has to erase a whole page to make it look perfect.
Keep both sheets facing the same way, with their long edges running left to right. If you use “left” and “right”, mean the left and right edges of the drawer’s page. Do not use the side of the room or your own outstretched hand as the reference.
This is a paper version of a familiar barrier-game format. For another material, the University of Toronto’s Robertson Program describes a paired barrier game using building cubes. Here, the finished objects are two drawings rather than two structures.
Play one practice round with the folder down
Before the hidden round, draw a square on scrap paper where both of you can see it. Ask your grandchild to draw a square too. Then say, “Add a circle above the square, with a little gap.”
Compare your two pages immediately. Point out what “above” and “a gap” meant on your paper. Ask the child to give the next instruction to you.
This practice takes about two minutes. If either person prefers a different word—“over” instead of “above”, for example—agree on it now. You can also decide that a triangle may be lopsided and a circle may be wobbly. Neither changes the rules.
Your first hidden picture: three shapes
1. Make the original
The grandparent describes first. Behind the folder, draw a large rectangle near the bottom middle of your page. Add a smaller circle centred above it, leaving a gap. Draw a triangle inside the rectangle.
Keep this original simple. Do not add eyes, patterns or extra shapes while you are talking, because those details would need their own directions.
2. Give the directions slowly
Try these prompts, pausing after each one:
- “Draw a wide rectangle near the bottom of your page, about as wide as your hand.”
- “Draw a smaller circle above the middle of the rectangle. Leave a gap between them.”
- “Put a triangle inside the rectangle. Its point faces the top of the page.”
The hand-width instruction is only a rough guide, not a measurement test. If your grandchild asks how large the circle should be, answer from your drawing: “About half as wide as the rectangle.”
3. Reveal and notice
Lower the folder and put the drawings side by side. Ask two questions: “What ended up in the same place?” and “Which direction could I have made clearer?”
Maybe both triangles are inside the rectangles but the circles differ in size. That gives you something concrete to discuss. “Small” meant one thing to one player and something else to the other.
If you want to change a detail, add it in another colour or make a second tiny version beside the first. Keep the original result visible rather than erasing all the differences.
Swap roles: let your grandchild describe
Give your grandchild a fresh sheet and let them draw behind the divider. Agree on the detail limit first: three shapes for a short round, or five details for a longer one.
As the drawer, take their directions literally but kindly. If they say, “Put a door there,” ask, “Where on my page should the door go?” Do not deliberately misunderstand to make a joke at their expense.
Useful questions include:
- “Is it inside, outside or beside the other shape?”
- “Should the two shapes touch?”
- “Is that near the top, middle or bottom?”
- “Do you mean one line or two?”
At the reveal, let the child choose one match and one surprise. Then ask if they want another turn, a new picture idea or a different activity.
Two more picture ideas for another round
A pretend parcel
Draw a square parcel in the middle of the page, a narrow ribbon running from top to bottom, and two loops above the square for a bow. Add one small round label in the bottom-right corner of the parcel.
Describe the square first, then the ribbon, bow and label. For a shorter round, leave out the label. For an older child, ask them to invent a parcel design and write a four-line direction card after you reveal the drawings.
A funny window
Start with a large square divided by one vertical and one horizontal line. Put a star in the top-left section, three dots in the bottom-right section and a short zigzag outside the square underneath it.
Make sure you have agreed what “top-left” means before starting. The point is the arrangement, not a realistic view through a window. An older child can design a new four-section picture for you to describe next time.
Change the format when the round feels awkward
If the blank page is unwelcome
Let the drawer watch you make the original, then hide it and describe just one addition. Or take the divider away entirely for that turn. A visible copying round still gives you something to do together.
If your grandchild would rather reveal an existing picture than draw a new one, put the game aside. The Peekora MagicReveal™ reusable water colouring book is a separate option for ages 3+: its included refillable pen uses plain water, and the pictures fade as the pages dry. It is not required for this drawing game or a replacement for ordinary drawing paper.
If you have two grandchildren
One child describes while the other draws, and the grandparent joins as a second drawer. Reveal all three pictures together. Rotate the describing role each round so one child does not become the permanent audience.
If the directions get tangled
Stop at the next shape. Repeat only the last direction or offer a brief glimpse. You can also use “top of the page” and “bottom of the page” without left and right. Reduce the picture to two details rather than adding more explanation to an already crowded scene.
Keep the next activity separate
Two rounds can be the whole visit’s table game. If the drawings suggest a character or setting, our guide to making a storybook with your grandchild offers a longer project for another day.
For a change of pace today, the rainy-day activity list includes movement, building and sound-based choices. You do not have to turn every drawing into a second project.
Common questions about barrier drawing games
What is a barrier drawing game?
One person describes a hidden picture and another draws from the spoken directions. A folder prevents peeking. When the directions are finished, both players reveal their pages and compare the results.
Can a five-year-old play?
Try two large shapes, a quick look at the original and one direction at a time. If hiding the picture is frustrating, leave it visible. Choose the version your particular child wants to play rather than insisting on the full rules.
Do we need identical coloured pencils?
No. Start with one pencil each and describe shapes and positions only. If colour becomes part of the directions, give both players the same colours so an unavailable pencil does not decide the result.
What if neither of us can draw well?
Use circles, rectangles, triangles, dots and lines. Compare where things are placed and whether they touch, not how polished they look. There is no need to draw recognisable people or animals.
Before putting the folder away, let each player write one instruction on its inside flap for the next visit. Keep it short enough to read aloud in one breath. The next game can begin with your grandchild’s direction instead of yours.
Featured image: generated editorial illustration of a drawing-game setup, not a real customer session.