Designing with Kids Around: 5 Strategies That Actually Work
If you’ve ever looked at your iPad while your toddler is climbing the couch and thought, “How do moms make art with kids around?”—this post is for you.
Let’s be honest: designing while mothering can feel impossible. But I’ve learned that creativity doesn’t disappear when you have children—it just shifts. It becomes softer, slower, and even more powerful.
Here are five real strategies that helped me keep creating (even through naps, tantrums, and kitchen-table scribbles). And if you’re in this season too, I want you to know: it can be done—just not the way you did it before.
Imperfect Plans Still Make Beautiful Things
I used to think I needed a perfectly quiet morning, a clear calendar, and a Pinterest-ready idea to make good art.
Now I know: tiny moments + unexpected joy = real creative wins.
Your kids can be part of the process
One afternoon, pregnant and exhausted, I tried to design a full pattern collection while sitting beside my toddler. He didn’t want to play alone, so I offered to draw whatever he requested: dogs, cats, cars. Before I knew it, his playful ideas became the building blocks for an entire collection. It wasn’t what I had planned—it was better.
Let “flops” become learning moments
Another time, we were coloring in the kitchen. I asked him for his favorite animal—he chose a tiger. But he wanted it drawn with a blue crayon. That small, silly request sparked a joy I hadn’t felt in weeks. That tiger became the first piece in a new collection. What flopped turned into freedom.
Start messy. Stay open.
You don’t need the perfect plan. You just need to start. With your kid beside you, if that’s what today looks like.
“Your kids don’t block your creativity—they might just surprise it into something beautiful.”
Use Micro-Moments, Not Marathon Sessions
Before kids, I used to wait for the perfect day to create. Now? I plan in tiny steps—and it’s changed everything.
Sketch, then stop
I keep a note in my phone with 3–5 illustration ideas for the week. One day I sketch. The next, I color. Some days I adjust colors I didn’t love. Each day builds gently into something whole.
Use your phone like a creative sidekick
Too tired to draw? I use voice notes to brainstorm color combos or Trello to list motifs I want to try. My creativity doesn’t need to be visual to be working.
Celebrate your “nap time wins”
I’ll never forget the day I drew a simple flower while my son napped next to me. That 15-minute sketch lit something in me. It quieted my anxiety. It reminded me I’m still an artist.
“You don’t need two hours—you need one honest moment with your creativity.”
You’re Still an Artist—Even With Kids in Your Lap
There’s a lie we whisper to ourselves: “I’ll create again when they’re older.”
But what if now is enough?
Creativity isn’t selfish
I used to think creating while mothering meant I was taking something away from my kids. Now I see it differently: I’m showing them that their mom has dreams too—and that’s powerful.
Progress counts, even if it’s slow
You don’t have to finish a full collection this month. You just have to take one next step that your future self will thank you for.
You’re paving the way
The way you draw during nap time, color at the kitchen table, and say “yes” to a tiny creative urge—that’s not just art. That’s legacy. That’s showing your kids what it means to build something with heart.
“You’re not behind—you’re building a life where your creativity fits alongside the people you love.”
Want to Create Without Guilt or Pressure?
I made this free seamless pattern course just for you. It’s nap-time friendly, joy-focused, and totally beginner-safe.
You don’t need a big block of time. You just need the courage to begin—and one beautiful pattern to share.
✨ Start your first pattern today → [Sign up for the free course]
5 Mom-Tested Design Tips That Actually Work
Draw with your kids—let their joy spark your own
Plan in tiny steps—one sketch today, one color tweak tomorrow
Track your ideas—Trello, voice notes, or paper lists
Redefine productivity—15 minutes is enough
Celebrate your creative self—because your art matters now
Ready for More?
Let’s make nap time your creative time.
Let’s build your confidence, one sketch at a time.
Let’s remind you: you’re still an artist.
👉 [Join the free seamless pattern course now]
