Illustrator for Kids:

How to Create a
Seamless, Retro
Polka-Dot Pattern
Step 1
Let’s start by creating a New Document. To create a New
Document in your Adobe Illustrator, go to File > New and enter
the following options:
Step 2
On the Tools panel, you can find the Rectangle Tool (M), which
you will use to create a square. Click on this tool and then click on
the middle of your art board. A new dialogue window will appear,
asking you to enter the Width and Height of the square you want to
create. Enter the options shown in the picture below into
the Rectangle dialogue window and then click OK.

Once you have a white square with black stroke, you need to change
the fill color. For this, look at the Color panel (Window > Color)
and delete the stroke color. Set the fill color to mint (see the color
code in the image below). Make sure RGB color mode is checked
on your color panel. If it’s not, then find the tiny triangle at the top
right corner of the Color panel, click on it and check RGB. Then
apply the color code you see in the image below.

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Step 3
Now let's create a circle. Take the Ellipse Tool (L) on
the Tools panel and click on the middle of your square. In the new
dialogue window, enter the options you see below. Then
click OK. You will probably get the same blue circle as your
square, so let’s change the fill color on the Color panel (Window >
Color) as you did for the square. Look at the image below for the
color code.
Step 4
Let's align everything. Select the square and the circle together, go
to the Align panel (Window > Align) and press Horizontal Align
Center and Vertical Align Center. Click on Align To: to see if >
Align to Selection is checked.
Step 5
In this next step, we will need to get some helpers. Call for help,
loud and clear—“Please, help me!” No—wait—just kidding! Don't
scare your mom. Let’s quietly go to View > Smart Guides
(Control-U). These quiet little helpers will help you to place a new
circle on the corner of the square. 
Press down the Alt key and move the existing circle from the
middle of the square diagonally to the upper left corner. You need to
hold down the Alt key, because this helps to create a copy.
The Smart Guides will help you to put the copy of the circle
exactly on the upper left corner of the square. These two helpers will
help you to perfectly align the circles in the right position.

Step 6
Now, this time, press down the Alt key again and move the middle
circle diagonally to the upper right corner of the square.
Step 7
Hold down the Alt key once more and move the middle circle
diagonally to the lower left corner of the square.
Step 8
Last but not least, hold down the Alt key again and move the middle
circle diagonally to the lower right corner of the square.
Step 9
Now, let’s get rid of the unneeded parts of circles. We will cut these
out by using our square. Select the square and make a copy in the
front (Control-C, Control-F). This copy will be our cutter. 

Keep it selected and while holding down the Shift key (this is

because you want to select two shapes), select the circle from
the upper left corner. Go to Pathfinder (Window > Pathfinder)
and press Intersect button. Be careful when you are selecting the
shapes—make sure that you’re not accidentally moving them.
Step 10
When you cut something out using our cutter, it disappears. So we
need to create the cutter again. Select the square once more and
make a copy in the front (Control-C, Control-F). Keep it selected
and, holding down the Shift key, select the circle from the upper
right corner. Go to Pathfinder (Window > Pathfinder) and press
the Intersect button.
Step 11
Now, using the same method, do the next circle—create a copy of
the square and cut the circle from the lower left corner.
Step 12
Again, the same method—cut the circle from the lower right corner.
Step 13
To create a pattern from this, you need to drag everything you
created to the Swatches panel (Window > Swatches). Select the
square and all circles. Using your mouse, move it to
the Swatches panel.
Step 14
Since you've created a new swatch pattern, you can safely delete
everything from your art board. Take the Rectangle Tool (M) and
create a square 600 px Width and Height. Go to
the Swatches panel (Window > Swatches) and choose the new
pattern that you just created. Look how adorable it is!
Step 15
If you want the same pattern but with smaller dots, select the pattern
(the 600 px Width and Height square on your art board), right-
click > Transform > Scale. Enter the following options in the new
dialogue window:
Enjoy your new pattern with smaller dots!
Don't forget to save all your work: File > Save.

Awesome Work, You're Done!