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Step by step · ages 3 to 8

How to draw a reindeer

Meet Dancer, the reindeer who can't keep his hooves still. He starts as one long line, then gets four legs and two antlers like branches.

Our reindeer is Dancer, one of Santa's eight. The easy one takes five steps; the harder one gets a harness with a little bell and fur on his chest.

Watch it draw itselfThe stepsPrint the step sheet

Watch, then draw

Watch it draw itself

The red lines are the new ones. Draw them on your paper, then press Next step. Or press play and watch the whole thing first.

Step 1 of 5

Let's draw Dancer the reindeer! One long line: round head, back, and tail.

The video, with a voice for every step

0:34 long, the easy version. Pause it after each step while the pencils catch up.

How to draw a reindeer, step by step

Easy, ages 3 to 5 · 5 steps

  1. Step 1. Let's draw Dancer the reindeer! One long line: round head, back, and tail.

  2. Step 2. Now two leafy ears and a soft nose. Add two dot eyes.

  3. Step 3. Now his big branchy antlers, one on each side.

  4. Step 4. Now a line for his neck, then two front legs and his tummy.

  5. Step 5. Now two back legs, and a little hoof line on each foot. Hello, Dancer!

A bit harder, ages 6 to 8 · 8 steps

  1. Step 1. Let's draw Dancer the reindeer! One long line: head, back, and a back leg.

  2. Step 2. Now two ears with a line inside, a nose, and two dot eyes.

  3. Step 3. Now his big branchy antlers, one on each side.

  4. Step 4. Now wavy fur lines on his chest, and a little tail.

  5. Step 5. Now his harness: a strap around his neck and one around his middle.

  6. Step 6. Now a little bell hanging where the straps meet.

  7. Step 7. Now two front legs, his tummy line, and the other back leg.

  8. Step 8. Last, a little hoof line on each foot. Hello, Dancer!

Print · free, no sign-up

Two pages: every step with its words, then a frame to draw your own reindeer in. Black and white, US Letter or A4.

  • Easy, ages 3 to 5

    5 steps on page 1, a frame to draw in on page 2.

    PrintUS LetterA4

  • A bit harder, ages 6 to 8

    8 steps on page 1, a frame to draw in on page 2.

    PrintUS LetterA4

Free for home and classroom use. To pass them on, please share the link to this page and not the file.

Make it yours

  • Draw all eight reindeer in a line, one for each name.
  • Give Dancer a scarf, he gets cold flying at night.
  • Draw the sleigh behind him, or Santa's balloon above.

Rather color one in? Reindeer coloring pages, free to print or color on a phone or tablet.

Our own book

The Christmas Secret

A Christmas Eve picture book with a read-along · ages 3 to 7 · out on October 20

Dancer is the bonus reindeer at the back of our book. Leave your email on our reindeer names page and he'll come and dance in your room.

Out on October 20See inside the book

Questions

Grown-ups ask

How do you draw reindeer antlers?

Draw each antler like a little branch: one curved line up from the head, then two or three short lines off it, all pointing up. They don't have to match, real antlers rarely do.

Which level should my child try?

Start with easy, whatever their age. Easy is a handful of big shapes, and a bit harder adds the small details. If easy is done in a minute, switch.

What do we need?

Paper and a pencil, and crayons or markers to color it in afterwards. A thick marker is easier for little hands than a pencil, and an eraser saves a lot of tears.

Can I print the steps?

Yes, free, in US Letter or A4, one for each level. Print at 100% so the steps come out big enough to copy. All 16 drawings in one file come by email, from the box on this page.

More Christmas drawings

More Christmas

Or see all of them on one page, from the weeks before Christmas to the night itself.