How to Draw a Turtle: Easy Step-by-Step for Kids
How to draw a turtle in 9 easy steps
A turtle is a perfect drawing for young artists: one big shell shaped like a hill, a friendly round head peeking out, two stubby legs and a tiny pointy tail. The shell even gets its own pattern of big plates, and every plate is fun to color.
Follow the nine steps below on paper, or tap "Draw it live" and DrawAlong will guide each line on screen, checking every stroke as you go.
How to draw a turtle, step by step
1Draw the big shell like a hill
Start with the biggest shape: a big round shell like a dome, with a gently curved line along the bottom.
2Draw the long neck with a round head on the end
From the front of the shell, stretch out a long friendly neck and finish it with a round head, all in one line.
3Add a stubby front leg under the shell
Add a stubby front leg under the front of the shell, like a little table leg with a round foot.
4Add a stubby back leg at the back
Add a matching back leg near the back of the shell.
5Draw a tiny pointy tail at the back
Draw a tiny pointy tail sticking out at the back.
6Draw a curved line down the shell
Now the shell pattern: draw a curved line from the top of the shell down to the bottom edge.
7Draw another curved line down the shell
Draw a second curved line on the other side. Now the shell has three big plates.
8Draw a little round eye
Draw a small round eye on the head.
9Add a tiny smile
Finish with a tiny smile at the front of the face. Hello, turtle!
Time to color!
Try a brown shell with a green head, legs and tail, or give each shell plate its own bright color, like a rainbow turtle.
In the live version, coloring is tap-to-fill: pick a color, tap a part, done.
Frequently asked questions
- Is this a good drawing for young kids?
- Yes, it is one of the friendliest ones. The turtle is mostly one big shell shape plus a few short lines, so kids ages 4 to 8 can finish it without help and it really looks like a turtle.
- What if the lines come out wobbly?
- Wobbly is fine. Real turtles are bumpy anyway, and the app checks each line gently, so a shaky shell or a crooked leg still counts. Every accepted line is a little win.
- What do we need to draw it?
- On paper, just a pencil or crayon and something to color with. Or draw it right here in the browser for free: DrawAlong works on tablets, phones and computers, and guides every line on screen.
Draw this turtle live, right now
DrawAlong guides every line on screen, cheers your child on, and the picture always comes out great.
Try it free →