Best Art Supplies for Kids (Keep These on Hand!)

Amy S. said:  Are my kids the only ones who hate using regular crayons? At least in the hands of my 3- and 5-year-old boys, basic crayons seem difficult and unsatisfying to use. They’re always breaking and it’s tricky for younger kids to lay down vivid color. These gel crayons, however, are super fun to draw with. The colors are rich and vivid, and with a just a light touch they go down smooth and thick. The neon colors have a beautiful translucent quality. The chunkier body of these crayons makes them fairly easy for little hands to manipulate. Yes, they’re more expensive than a 24-pack of Crayolas, but they’re also way more exciting to use.

Beth Wood said:  This pack of brightly colored masking tape is great for kids arts and crafts projects.

Alexandra F. said:  My preschooler loves cutting paper, and using scissors regularly has helped him develop his fine motor skills. It's also helped him become more independent, as he is now able to open many of his snacks on his own by cutting otherwise hard-to-open wrappers.

Alexandra F. said:  I’ve learned to keep a huge roll of white paper ready for all sorts of uses! It can be used on an easel, certainly, but I usually just roll it out on the floor and let my preschooler have at it with washable paints, crayons, markers, etc. He loves the huge canvas for his work! I’ll also use painters tape to tape a huge piece up on the wall for a different angle for him to work on.

The foundation of so many art projects, you'll always want to have at least a couple of glue sticks in your art supplies bin.

Alexandra F. said:  My preschooler loves using sketch pads for drawing and coloring. The paper on these Melissa & Doug ones are a nice weight, and the top spiral binding makes it easy for him to flip to different pages and keep all his drawings in one place.

Construction paper in assorted colors is a must-have for any kid's art supplies.

Alexandra F. said:  Once little ones outgrow the finger paints, bring on the tempera paints! I used to get the Crayola brand but tried the less expensive Handy Art Little Masters ones and liked them just as much. We usually use these on a big sheet of white paper that I roll out on the floor, but they're also good for a variety of crafty projects, like painting kindness rocks, planters, and any objects you might want to paint aside from paper (though acrylic paint will last longer for these!)

Low-adhesive masking tape that is easy to remove from surfaces.

An excellent value and quality easel and assembly will only set you back 5 minutes. Sturdy and a well-thought out design, with white board on one side, chalk on the other.

Alexandra F. said:  It's worth getting these larger bottles of finger paint to keep on hand with toddlers and preschoolers - we used ours all the time! Vibrant colors are fun for painting, and they are non-toxic, as well as easy to clean up.

Nancy L. said:  Crayola's Model Magic allows kids to make anything they can imagine using this spongy and lightweight compound. Soft and pliable, the compound can be re-used if stored properly. Kids can create pieces to save and share by letting it air dry. The dried pieces can be decorated using markers, paints, and more.

Looks like a pencil, writes like a crayon, acts as paint with water. These are a multi-use medium that can be used on many surfaces, ranging from paper to glass and plastic. Vibrant and smooth application, but easy to clean up and suitable for young children. Stabilo is a German art supplies company that is enormously popular overseas, for artists and kids alike.

Kristy Pepping said:  Do-A-Dot Art markers work by pushing down on the tip to produce a dot of color. These markers are like a liquid paint, but they are washable! They are great for little hands and a perfect learning tool for little kids.

An excellent addition to your at-home easel, these cups help your young artist keep their work tidy. There are attached lids to prevent paint from drying out. Additionally a carrier can be purchased. Fine motor skills are needed to effectively put paint brushes into the container without damaging the bristles.