Can a 7yo draw?

[Flingingmelon]

Just to settle an argument, could you reasonably expect a 7yo to draw and colour in a picture. Nothing amazing, but well enough to keep them busy for half an hour. DH and I are both clueless

Yes, but it depends very much on the child and their interests. Both of mine love drawing and sketching, and DS carried sketching materials around for years as a matter of course.
Are you meaning something complex and fascinating? Because you sound as if you just want to keep them busy for 30 minutes, and that can be a very time-limited thing if they aren't interested.

Just discussing whether to get colouring books for my niece - she loves art apparently - or whether we should just buy her a big box of a4 paper. As a child I always wanted the paper but DH thinks that's a crap present

I used to love those books you got with the different patterns to colour in. Does she have an interest you can combine with the colouring book for instance I love horses so a colouring book with horses in was good.

Get her both?

Get her a nice pad of paper with proper sketching pencils. Or you can get those more creative doodling books where you complete the picture with your own ideas. Or a box with a random collection of different crafting bits? I do think just A4 paper on its own is a bit crap for a present tbh.

Do you have a Tiger store near you? DD (8) bought a sketching set with some birthday money - it was a fiver and, while the pencils aren't the best quality, it's kept her amused for ages. It has a little wooden figure for her to draw.

I second the suggestion of doodling books- the kind where you finish creating monsters, or make circles into flowers etc. Still allows for creativity, but gives the child a starting point. My 6 year old DD loves them. (But she would also be happy with a nice drawing pad and pack of pens/pencils, especially with the addition of some stickers.)

You could get the big box of lots of nice coloured papers, and may some sketching pencils or colours to go with them.
DD loves (still does) the fancy coloured papers you can buy in shops - where you get the box and fill it yourself.

I never had enough paper when I was little, so always swore that when I had DCs I would never be stingy with it, so I see where you are coming from. But nowadays most people have printers and reams of paper at home. I would be a bit if anyone bought that for ds, if I'm bing honest. And 7 is too old for a colouring book.

But agree with a pp, you can get a skechpad, some pens or pencils, maybe some stencils or stamps and bundle it up to make a nice present which won't cost too much.

You can never have enough felt tips and colouring pencils.

None of my DC ever used a colouring book.

I have a drawing daughter. She's 6. Last year I bought her this www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1780671067/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/276-9179029-2605465 and this year I've got www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1479111538/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1417802986&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SY200_QL40.

I'd say most can draw then colour it in. But they've probably got paper. I like the doodling books. There are some really great colouring books out too now. DD had this one and loved it:

www.amazon.co.uk/Animal-Colouring-Book-Beth-Gunnell/dp/1780551797/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417802999&sr=8-1&keywords=animal+colouring+book#customerReviews

7 isn't too old for proper colouring books. Kids books tend to have too much blank white scribble space and are not intricate enough to keep a gnat interested

Yes but they don't all enjoy it. Most will enjoy sticking things down though...stickers etc.

My two love colouring in. Especially those pictures with lots of detail. They are 5&3 though.

What about something like this? www.amazon.co.uk/Original-Anti-Colouring-Book-Susan-Striker/dp/1407133314

Mine have always loved to draw but neither would ever go near a colouring book (so many sent to the charity shops over the years!) mine love notebooks with plain pages/scrap books. Both only like use pens though rather than colouring pencils (again mountains of pencil crayon donated to school) so I would say some nice colouring pens are better. DS1 loves the Berol fine line coloured pens for his drawings.

So IMO pens and paper are a great gift. I would be thrilled if someone wrapped up a pack of Tesco value printer paper for my two this year!

how about this?

My dcs are 5 and 8 and both have one and love using it

My son loves drawing. I recently bought him a secondhand spirograph set at a fair for about £3. Keeps him amused for hours! He loves it because he can make far more intricate patterns than he could on his own. Amazing how much fun it is for them. Spirograph set and paper and your niece, she will get to make the pretty patterns and then colour them in.