The Best Art Supplies for Kids and Toddlers

Crayola products offer some of the best quality out there, which will ultimately last longer. The colors are more pigmented and the wax is firm, allowing control of the pressure, letting kids (and adults) have better control over shade and color.

This kit is a great starter. It offers 64 crayons, 20 short colored pencils, 40 washable markers and 15 pieces of 9×13 inch paper, all in a convenient storage box. As always, their products are washable and nontoxic. The only downside to this kit is they did not include a crayon or pencil sharpener.

These kinds of crayons are wonderful for developing fine and gross motor skills. Plus, this has the added benefit of a box to store the egg crayons, because they are weirdly shaped after all and not likely to fit in a regular pencil box. Recommended for ages 12+ months with adult supervision. The egg shape is also less likely to break than other shapes on the market.

We’ve used these in the library for years and they hold up well over time for the amount of use they get, we also have been able to wipe them down with nontoxic sanitizing wipes and they still work great.

If you have even the slightest concern about chemicals used in art supplies for kids, these should be your go-to item. They are made from 100% beeswax and use food-grade pigments, so even if your child takes a bite, they are totally nontoxic. The potential for taking a test bite might be a tiny bit higher here as they smell like honey, so do be mindful of that.

They also come in a variety of sizes for different levels of motor skills. Pictured here are the original version which are extra chunky for small hands to hold onto better, but they also offer “thins,” which are still a little thicker than the standard crayon, and “longs,” which are slightly thinner than the original and a bit longer.

Technically this paper roll is a refill, but whether you are using the dispenser or just unrolling it and taping it to the table, an expansive roll of blank white paper that can be rolled out for hours of art activities and the pulled up and tossed (or treasured forever) is a beautiful thing. The paper is thick, there is 75 feet of it and it isn’t super expensive.

We use these rolls of paper at the library by rolling it out and taping it to large tables and simply layering it if needed to cover the full width of the table. It is much cheaper than full sized rolls of butcher paper and makes for either great process based art or as a table cover for other projects.

Imagine a world where you know your child is happily painting and you don’t ever hear the dreaded “Oops!” from the other room. The cups have an interior lid that tapers down with a hole for the paint brush, and an exterior lid that can be snapped on to keep paint fresh for the next time. They are also dishwasher safe. Order them individually or in sets of 10.

We started using these in the library rather than bowls or cups of paint and it drastically cut down on the stray paint flying all over the place on art day.

Like egg crayons, the egg shape of the handle in these brushes allow small hands to get a better grip while they learn to develop their fine motor skills. These are a jumbo sized brush, so they are best for painting large patches of color, rather than fine detail, which should be just fine for your toddler. They come in a pack of four, wash off easily with warm water and soap. This particular set comes in a pouch making them a little easier to store, since they are oddly shaped.

These paint brushes are ideal for process-based art with toddlers. Doing art as a “process” rather than with the goal of making a specific thing allows toddlers to work on their motor skills and to focus on the feel of painting rather than the pressure of creating a specific thing and is overall the best way to do art at that age.

If you don’t have the space to dedicate to a standing easel, this table top easel is a great option. It is double sided, offering a dry erase and a chalk board, as well as a roll of paper that can be pulled down for painting or drawing, and the whole thing can be folded flat for storage. It comes with a dry erase marker and eraser, five colored chalks, a 50 foot roll of paper and 36 letter and number magnets. The only potential downside is that it works best for smallish art projects since it is just set up for table use.

It is important to always use left handed scissors for your left handed child. This may seem like a small thing, or something that shouldn’t matter, but go ahead and turn a pair of scissors over and cut with them. Even in your dominant hand, you won’t get a straight line and the process will be infuriating. Ambidextrous scissors don’t work either, so just get the left-handed kind and save yourself (and your child) the frustration.

Using the correct scissors will also help improve your child’s fine motor skills. This set even comes with two in a pack! Best for 5+ because the finger holes are on the large side.

These wipeable and machine washable smocks come in short sleeve, long sleeve and bib styles. All options have velcro closures in the back (no strings to tie) and pockets in the front. The long sleeve version features elastic at the wrist for a close fit. There are a huge variety of fun patterns, from graphic prints to super heroes. The company also makes zip bags for packing snacks or messy items, as well as splash mats.

Just slip one of these on your kid before painting (or eating) and pull the whole thing off and away from the clean clothes underneath when they’re done! We use them for the very young kids on art day at the library and they are easily wiped down and sprayed with a non-bleach sanitizing spray after each use.

These craft trays are an absolute must have for kids who enjoy an art activity. They are large enough to fit a piece of large paper or construction paper making them a good choice for painting projects. If you frequently raid your kitchen for bowls for your child’s beading projects, these will be a great option. No more chasing down pony beads or any other small bits of art projects. The trays are heavy duty plastic, measure 12×16 inches and 1.25 inches deep, and come with four in a set. Do yourself a favor and get a set of these.

We like these on art day because they serve a few purposes. They can either be handed out to each child for them to work off of by placing their project in the tray, or they can be used to corral supplies. We will use one tray for beads, rhinestones, glue sticks, scissors or whatever else we are using that day. That way the kids know where to return extra supplies and it helps keep them organized.

If the idea of a mess is keeping you back from experiencing art with your little one, or if you do messy art on the regular and want some help to keep it neater, you need these splash mats from Kaplan. They are vinyl, measure 46×36 inches and fit nicely under highchairs, art stations, easels and more.

We use these repeatedly in the library and they always wipe up easily, ready for the next messy event.