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Sparking creativity and storytelling: the magic of our daily drawing challenges

Writer's picture: Seng FloSeng Flo



It started mid-October on our way back from the Expressionists: Kandinsky, Munter and the Blue Rider exhibit at Tate Modern (a very inspiring exhibition!). Walking home with my two children, I suggested to do more drawings - mainly because I need practice and need to be held accountable! Plus I know they enjoy this activity. I’m pretty sure I suggested this in the past but it has never become a habit.


We agreed that we would do a 5-minute drawing challenge every night before story time. I had a few mini notebooks left from their birthday party and decided we could use those, small enough that we don’t get overwhelmed, easy to carry and handy if we want to keep track of our progress. I asked Chap GPT to come up with simple prompts (feeding it with some ideas I had), sometimes adding a theme (London, Christmas, New Year, Nature…). Three months in and we have stuck to it almost every evening (on a school night, week ends are more hectic :D).


The rules are simple: we pick a theme, set the timer, and let our imaginations run wild. What began as a lighthearted activity has quickly turned into one of my favourite parts of the day—a moment of connection, creativity, and, most surprisingly, storytelling.


Let me tell you about one particularly memorable theme (one among many!): "tiny fish in a big bubble."


When the timer started, I drew exactly what the theme described: a big bubble with a tiny fish swimming inside. It was straightforward and to the point. But when my kids revealed their drawings, I was amazed by the depth of their imagination and the stories they had created in just five minutes.


My 12-year-old son’s drawing was a scene bursting with narrative: a character with an unusually large mouth presumably blowing bubbles, a giant bubble perched on a - what seemed like a designer piece! - stand on top of a piece of furniture with a safe underneath, and, inside the bubble, countless tiny fish swimming around. Above it all was a device equipped with a dart, ready to pop the bubble if it grew too big. The level of detail and the potential storylines—Who built the dart device? Why are the fish in the bubble? What happens if the bubble bursts?—left me in awe.


My 9-year-old daughter’s drawing took a completely different angle. She imagined a scene where a pair of legs poked out from a bubble-filled bathtub, just to give a bit of context. Each bubble contained a tiny fish swimming in its own pocket of water. One bubble had just popped, and the tiny fish was mid-air, crying, “Nooooo!” The humour (the surprise!) made her drawing really fun and I can recognise her personality oozing from this drawing.


In comparison, my straightforward bubble of fish felt… dry. But what this moment taught me is that kids have an incredible knack for storytelling. Their minds naturally weave narratives into everything they do. They answered the question I should have been wondering about first: where are the bubbles coming from (which clearly my drawing lacked!). They don’t just see a theme; they see possibilities, emotions, and what might happen next. It’s a reminder that creativity is about so much more than just drawing what you see—it’s about telling a story.


Why daily challenges work

Since we started these challenges, I’ve noticed a few wonderful things happening:


  1. A burst of creativity: With only five minutes to draw, there’s no time for overthinking (although I do, wondering what they might come up with!). They purely don’t care and I love this - my eldest giggles when he draws! This creates a space where pure creativity can flow.

  2. Storytelling skills: Kids naturally build narratives into their art. By encouraging them to share their thought process, we’re nurturing their ability to tell stories and think critically.

  3. Family bonding: These few minutes each day have become a cherished ritual. It’s a chance to connect, laugh, and marvel at each other’s ideas.

  4. Building confidence: Every drawing is celebrated, and there’s no “wrong” way to approach the challenge. This has helped my kids feel confident in their unique ideas (and has pushed me to put some storytelling in my masterpieces :D - hard work)


How to start your own daily challenge

If you’re looking for a simple way to spark creativity and storytelling in your family, here’s how you can start:


  1. Pick a theme: let each family member take turns choosing a theme. It can be as specific or abstract as you like. Our most funny challenges include “underwater creature that doesn’t exist”, “ice cream shop in the Artic”, “self-portrait with exaggerated features” and one of my favourites “what I would want to see outside an aeroplane window”.

  2. Set a timer: keep it short! Five minutes is just enough time to encourage quick thinking without pressure.

  3. Share your creations: the best part is revealing your drawings and explaining the stories behind them. This is where the magic happens.

  4. Celebrate every idea: there’s no right or wrong way to interpret a theme. Celebrate the creativity in every drawing.


Rediscovering my own creativity

As a parent, it’s easy to focus on encouraging our kids and forget to nurture our own creativity. These challenges have reminded me to let go of perfectionism and simply enjoy the process. While my kids’ drawings often outshine mine in storytelling, I’ve started to challenge myself to think beyond the obvious. What’s the story behind the big bubble? Who are the tiny fish, and how did they get there? With each day, I’m learning from my kids and rediscovering the joy of storytelling.


The takeaway

Kids are natural storytellers. They see the world with curiosity, humour, and endless imagination. By creating space for daily creativity, we’re not just making art—we’re nurturing their ability to think, wonder, and express themselves. And in the process, we might just rediscover our own storytelling spark.


So why not give it a try? Grab some paper, set a timer, and see where your imaginations take you. Who knows? You might end up with a bubble full of tiny fish and a whole lot of laughter.


If you’re stuck with ideas, I’ve got you covered! I gathered a list of prompts in a freebie you can download on my site members’ page (in the Resources tab). It’s an interactive pdf file so you’ll be able to check the ones you’ve already done.


Guess who's who!
Guess who's who!

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