The Ultimate Kids Art Supply Gift Guide: Kid Tested + Artist Approved
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Having art supplies available for my kids to use with minimal supervision is the key to nurturing their creativity + managing my stress around the mess. I prefer to keep most supplies accessible so that when creativity strikes, my kids can get supplies out on their own. This keeps their projects kid-led + requires less planning on my part.
Art supplies make great gifts for kids because they encourage creativity + imagination, allowing them to express themselves in a fun + unstructured way. Additionally, art supplies help children practice fine motor skills + hand-eye coordination while they explore, experiment + engage with their surroundings in a unique + enriching way.
I’ve put together a list of the supplies we use in our home to help guide you in your gift buying.
These are kid tested, artist-mom approved!
Paint
OOLY Chunkies Twistable Tempera Paint Sticks
$9.00 + | 3+
These non-toxic paint sticks have been in my home for years. They require no water + dry quickly, minimizing the mess + simplifying clean up. Great for small hands + coloring large areas, these paint sticks are fun for young artists.
Recommendations: 24 Classic, Neon + Metallic | 6 Pastels | 6 Metallic | 6 Neon | 12 Classic Colors
Make it a gift set: Pair OOLY Paint Sticks with a Big Easy to Color Coloring Book to entertain toddlers.
TIP: Make sure the caps are put back on when finished, otherwise these will dry out.
Richeson Tempera Cakes
$16.00 | 3+
I love these non-toxic, vibrant tempera paint cakes for painting on cardboard outside. These paints work like watercolor pan paints as they are activated by water, making them easy to use while offering brilliant color with no spillage or waste.
Recommendations: Cool Colors | Warm Colors | Secondary Colors
Make it a gift set: Pair with a variety of Foam Paint Brushes.
OOLY Neon Watercolor Paints
$10.99 | 6+
Both my kids + I enjoy this vibrant set of neon colors. Create watercolor paintings with a bright neon glow using this 12 color paint set.
Make it a gift set: Pair with a Fluid Artist Watercolor Paper Pad.
TIP: This is a great set for adults, too!
Funcils Watercolor Paint Set
$29.95 | 8+
I bought this set for my 8 year old because she wanted a nice set of paints. It’s an upgrade from the basic kid’s watercolor paint but not very expensive. The folding travel case features 50 non-toxic vibrant paint colors with metallic + neon colors, and includes 3 watercolor brushes, 10 pieces of paper, 1 pencil, 1 kneadable eraser, 1 watercolor pen, 1 black paint pen marker + 1 sponge.
TIP: Kids love getting supplies that an adult would use. This is a great set for adults, too.
Coloring Supplies
Crayola Twistables Fun Effects Crayons
$13.30 | 3+
Crayons that never need sharpening! Enough said. Simply twist to extend the crayon. This fun set features sparkling colors + multi-colored crayons that create a kaleidoscope of colors when used.
Recommendation: A set of 12 would be great for your child’s school supply box.
Crayola Twistables Colored Pencils
$17.03 | 4+
Now that my kids are older + interested in more detailed coloring, the twistable colored pencils are beloved for coloring books + drawing. These pencils are always ready to use + never need sharpening. When the tip starts to wear down, simply twist the pencils up.
Make it a gift set: Pair with Blue Q Zipper Pouch for an easy way to store + transport supplies. Made from 95% recycled material.
TIP: A 24 pencil set offers a variety of colors without feeling overwhelming. Anything more + the kids lose track of them or you're picking them up off the floor constantly.
SAKURA Gelly Roll Moonlight Gel Pens in Neon
$12.99 | 5+
These are my favorite pens + my kids ALWAYS want to use them when they are out. I’ll be putting a set in my kids’ stockings this year so I won’t have to share anymore. These archival quality pens won’t bleed through paper + have a bright, opaque ink that flows creamy smooth onto light or dark paper.
Recommendations: Glaze set, Moonlight Gel Pastels, Gelly Roll Metallic, Gelly Roll Moods or shop the SAKURA Gelly Roll store.
Beading
Beading provides hours of entertainment in our house. My girls love to get out the beads + make bracelets for themselves + their friends.
Pony Beads + Alphabet Letters Kit
$24.99 on Amazon | 3 +
Featuring 12 colors of opaque pony beads + 6 alphabet styles of beads, this 3550 piece beading set provides a large assortment for making necklaces, bracelets + more. This set is great if you plan to host a beading birthday party or make gifts.
Alphabet & Pony Bead Box
$13.99 at Michael’s | 3+
This 1000 piece set fetaures 11 opaque + translucent colors, plus alphabet beads. This bead box is all you need for DIY jewelry.
Make it a gift set: Pair with Silicone Bracelets & Necklaces, featuring a snap closure which makes creating bracelets + necklaces fuss free. Chenille Pipe Cleaners are great for the small hands of toddlers developing fine motor skills. Elastic Cording will give kids the option to create whatever they want.
TIP: DIY friendship bracelets also make great personalized gifts from kids.
Yarn Crafting
Pompom Makers
$7.99 | 4+, younger kids will need more assistance
Creating pom poms became a slight obsession in our house when we got a set of pom pom makers. Pom poms are an amusing craft that adds pops of color to your home + other craft projects. A quick Pinterest search will guide you in making the best pom poms + offer ideas of what to do with your collection.
This set features 4 different sizes AND a set of sharp scissors for trimming—which is key for making perfect pom poms.
TIP: I love to buy yarn at the thrift store. I keep a basket of yarn available + don’t care what happens to it.
General Craft Supplies
Elmer's Disappearing Purple Glue Sticks
$4.27 | 2+
I keep glue sticks available so my kids can cut + paste relatively mess-free. The disappearing purple formula, which dries clear, helps kids see where the glue is.
TIP: Stock up on glue sticks during back to school shopping.
Chenille Pipe Cleaners
$4.49 | 2+
Pipe cleaners are great for all ages. Kids love the flexibility of pipe cleaners that allows them to bend as their imagination leads them. I find them twisted into bizarre shapes + attached to toys. We also intentionally use them for beading + creating creatures.
Construction Paper
$5.99 | 3+
Available in a variety of bright, vibrant colors, this brand is fade resistant for brighter, longer-lasting projects + scores, folds + curls without cracking.
Where to buy art supplies
Most of my links are for Amazon because as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, and it’s super convenient. Beyond Amazon, here’s where I recommend shopping for art supplies.
Michaels
For shopping in person + online, Michaels is my go-to for craft supplies + frames.
If you prefer to shop online, Michaels often features 20% off on regular price purchases as well as free shipping on orders $49+. They also regularly offer promotions on art + craft supplies in all departments. Because store pickup is available on many items, I’ll place my order online + do store pick up.
For in store shopping, sign up for Michael’s email list or download their app for coupons + promotions.
Dick Blick Art Materials
I’m not lucky enough to have a Blick store in Colorado, so I have to shop online. I order a lot of my art supplies here because many items are 20%-40% off list price. With a qualifying order, free shipping is available.
Blick sells their own brand of art supplies + all the big name brands, too. Shopping with Blick can be especially helpful when you are purchasing multiples of the same item as there is a price break for larger quantities.
TIP: Check to see if there's a location near you.
Unleash creativity + manage stress with these supplies.
I firmly believe that having easily accessible art supplies for my kids to utilize with minimal supervision is not only essential for nurturing their creativity but also for managing my stress surrounding the inevitable mess.
By ensuring that most supplies are within their reach, my children are empowered to independently retrieve what they need when their creative inspiration strikes. It is an open opportunity for self-expression in a fun + unstructured manner.
This approach promotes a truly child-led artistic process + significantly reduces the need for elaborate planning on my part. Yay! Embracing this practice has proven to be an invaluable asset in fostering their artistic growth while providing me with a sense of ease + flexibility.
