TL;DR
Digital art is one of the most productive ways kids can spend time on a screen, moving them from passive "brain rot" consumption to active creation. It builds professional skills, lowers the fear of failure (thanks to the "Undo" button), and is way less messy than oil paints in your carpet.
Top Recommendations:
- Best for Beginners: Sketchbook
- The Gold Standard: Procreate
- Graphic Design & Socials: Canva
- Coding & Art: Scratch
- 3D World Building: Roblox Studio
If you’ve seen your kid hunched over an iPad with an Apple Pencil, or meticulously designing a skin in Minecraft, you’re looking at a digital artist.
Digital art isn't just "drawing on a computer." It’s a massive umbrella that covers digital illustration, 3D modeling, animation, photo manipulation, and even "creative coding."
The appeal is simple: it’s limitless. In the physical world, if you mess up a watercolor painting, that’s it—you’re starting over or leaning into the "happy accident." In the digital world, Command+Z (Undo) is a superpower. This generation is growing up with the ability to experiment without the high stakes of wasting expensive supplies or "ruining" a masterpiece.
We talk a lot about "screen time" as a monolithic block of badness, but digital art is the ultimate "green light" activity. Research shows that creative digital play helps with fine motor skills, spatial reasoning, and—perhaps most importantly—digital literacy.
Around 65% of middle schoolers we survey at Screenwise report using some form of creative software outside of school requirements. They aren't just watching "Skibidi Toilet" memes; they are learning how to make them (or, hopefully, something slightly more sophisticated).
When a kid learns Procreate or Canva, they aren't just playing a game. They are gaining proficiency in tools that actual professionals use to get paid. It’s the difference between playing Candy Crush and learning how to build a UI.
Ask our chatbot for a list of professional art careers for kids who love drawing
Not every app is right for every kid. Some are "subscription traps" designed to drain your wallet, while others are professional-grade tools that might overwhelm a seven-year-old.
Best for: Ages 6-12 This is the perfect "starter" app. The interface is clean and disappears while they draw, so it feels very natural. It’s much more intuitive than the "pro" tools but still has enough features (layers, brushes, gradients) to keep them busy for years. Plus, it’s available on almost every device.
Best for: Ages 10+ If your kid is serious about drawing, just buy this. It’s a one-time fee (no annoying subscriptions!) and it is legitimately what professional illustrators use. The learning curve is a bit steeper, but the community is huge. If they get stuck, they can find ten thousand tutorials on YouTube. Warning: Procreate is iPad only. If you’re on Android, check out Ibis Paint X.
Best for: All Ages Canva is less about "drawing" and more about "design." If your kid wants to make posters, YouTube thumbnails, or "Ohio" themed memes, this is the spot. It’s incredibly easy to use, but parents should know it has a "social" element where designs can be shared.
Best for: Ages 8-14 For the kid who wants their art to do something. Scratch lets them draw their own characters (sprites) and then use block coding to make them move. It’s the gateway drug to game design.
Best for: Ages 11+ We need to talk about Roblox. While the main app is a social gaming chaotic mess, Roblox Studio is a legitimate 3D development environment. Kids can learn 3D modeling, environmental design, and Luau coding. It is a steep learning curve, but the "entrepreneurship" angle is real—top creators actually make a living here. Just be prepared for the inevitable "I need Robux for this asset" conversation.
We can’t talk about digital art in 2026 without talking about Generative AI. Tools like Midjourney or DALL-E allow kids to type a prompt and get a "masterpiece" in seconds.
The Screenwise Stance: AI is a tool, not a replacement for talent. If your kid is using AI to generate ideas or "reference images" for their own drawings, that’s smart. If they are just typing "Cool dragon in Ohio" and claiming they "drew" it, that’s a conversation about ethics and the value of effort.
Read our guide on how to talk to kids about AI and cheating
Because digital art is "educational" and "creative," it’s easy to let the boundaries slide. But a screen is still a screen.
1. The Physical Toll
"Tech Neck" is real. Unlike a physical sketchbook that usually sits on a table, kids tend to curl into a ball on the couch with their tablets.
- The Rule: Every 30 minutes, they need to look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds (the 20-20-20 rule) and stretch their neck.
- The Gear: If they are serious, get them a tablet stand or a "Paperlike" screen protector to make the screen feel more like real paper.
2. The Flow State Trap
Digital art is incredibly immersive. Your kid might start a drawing at 4 PM and "wake up" at 8 PM having forgotten to eat or move. While "flow" is great, it’s still sedentary time.
- The Boundary: Creation time doesn't count as "passive" screen time, but it still needs a hard stop for physical activity and face-to-face family time.
3. The Perfectionism Loop
The "Undo" button is a blessing and a curse. Some kids get stuck in a loop of "perfecting" one eye for three hours because they can.
- The Guidance: Encourage them to do "timed sketches" or "no-undo challenges" to build confidence in their first marks.
When your kid shows you a digital drawing, don't just say "That's nice, honey." They’ve likely spent hours on things you can't see.
Try asking these questions:
- "How many layers did this take?" (This shows you understand the technical process).
- "Which brush did you use for the texture?"
- "Can I see the time-lapse?" (Apps like Procreate record the drawing process—watching these is incredibly satisfying and shows you the actual work they put in).
Learn more about the 'Time-lapse' feature in Procreate and why kids love it
Digital art is the "Goldilocks" of screen time: it’s not as mindless as scrolling TikTok, and it’s more accessible than traditional oil painting.
If your kid is showing interest, lean in. Get them a stylus, download a decent app, and let them make mistakes. Just make sure they stand up and stretch occasionally so they don't end up with the posture of a shrimp.
Next Steps:
- Audit the apps: Delete the "coloring book" apps that are just ad-delivery systems and replace them with Sketchbook.
- Set a "Creation vs. Consumption" ratio: For every hour of YouTube, they spend 30 minutes in a creative app.
- Print it out: Nothing validates a digital artist like seeing their work on the actual fridge.
Check out our guide on the best budget tablets for digital art