Are you buying a gift for an artsy kid? This gift guide is full of the best art supplies for kids. From toddler safe materials to supplies for elementary-aged artists, explore this complete list of art supplies that make fantastic presents.
Best Art Supplies for Kids (and Why They Make the Perfect Gift)
I love gifting art supplies.
One of my favorite presents for kids isn’t a toy – it’s art supplies. Growing up, my mom always said there’s no better childhood gift than a fresh box of crayons or a brand-new set of watercolors. She was right. A simple art set is like giving a child possibility in a box.
Art supplies work for every kid. Whether you know the child well or you’re shopping for a new classmate, creative materials are an equalizer – almost every child lights up at the sight of new markers, paints, or sketchbooks.
And unlike many toys, art supplies invite open-ended play, spark imagination, and grow with a child as their skills develop. They’re perfect for birthdays, holidays, or “just because” surprises.
When you’re buying gifts this season, consider slipping in a few fresh art materials. New crayons, watercolor sets, sketchpads, or oil pastels can reignite a child’s creativity – especially if they’ve never tried that medium before.
What Art Supplies for Kids Are on This List?
This list is packed with some truly special art supplies for kids. While I’ll always love a classic box of crayons, the art materials here go well beyond the basics.
These are unique, exciting art supplies that meet kids at different stages of artistic development, from early scribblers to confident creators. Some help children explore textures and materials; others invite them to dive into imaginative, open-ended projects.
Each item is chosen to spark creativity and confidence, giving kids the tools they need to bring their own ideas to life in new ways.
Gifting high-quality art supplies isn’t just handing over markers and paper – it’s giving a child the chance to experiment, create, and discover new possibilities they might not have tried before.
Busy Toddler’s List of the Best Art Supplies for Kids
I’ve gathered my very favorite art supplies and divided them into easy-to-view sections so you can quickly find what your young artist needs.
- Art Books – Gift knowledge with books about art
- Coloring Supplies – crayons, markers, and gel crayons
- Paints – kid-friendly watercolor sets, tempera paint sticks, and specialty options
- Miscellaneous Art Supplies – to spark extra creativity
- Paper & Canvases – sketchbooks, mixed-media pads, watercolor paper, and ready-to-paint canvases
Make sure to scroll through each section – you’ll find everything from beginner-friendly basics to unique, exciting materials that help kids explore new techniques and bring their ideas to life.
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Art Books for Kids
The Arts: A Visual Encyclopedia
Part of loving art is knowing art – and this is a fabulous book for helping kids stumble upon famous works of art. It’s a great book to have for all kids, but especially those who are art-prone.
A Child’s Introduction to Art
Another option for introducing kids to works for art – I can’t stress enough how important it is to get things in front of children and let them build context, knowledge, and memories around them.
Coloring Supplies
Fancy Markers
Shopping for a big kid? May I suggest some big kid, double sided markers? These are really nice, and such a gorgeous step up from “standard” markers.
Watercolor Crayons
These are the cooooooolest. You draw with them like a regular crayon but then paint over the top with water and it turns into watercolor paint. It’s such a neat art supply.
Gel Crayons
One of my favorite art supplies – this inexpensive set of gel crayons is thin, washable, and gets the job done. I really love this set and bringing them out for my kids.
Mr. Sketch Markers
Still awesome. Still a great gift. Still want to lick the red one. Just being honest.
Alcohol-based Markers
These are really cool “big kid” markers that are very, very permanent, but also very, very awesome. They are amazing to color with a help kids produce the coolest final product. These are also my favorite…
Magic Markers
Did you have these as a kid? You color with a marker than use a seemingly-white marker on top to reveal a new color. It is MIND BLOWING. These are so much better than the set I had as a kid, and my kids are obsessed.
40 Count Markers
Remember the joy in a BIG box of crayons? It’s the same feeling here but with markers. My 10 year old SQUEALED with delight when we opened this pack. This isn’t a standard set of Crayola markers… it’s something special.
Vivid Pop Markers
One of the best markers I’ve every colored with. I’m obsessed with these water-based paint pens. The color is VIVID (like the name) and they work on all materials from paper to windows to rocks. We’ve had them for years with no complaints and no stains.
Kwik Sticks
These are so neat: tempera paint sticks and they are VERY cool. They create a great painting effect that all ages can be successful with.
Crayola Clicks
These are the best pens and so en vogue right now, No caps. No problem. And no more chasing after loose pens that don’t have their lid. Just click it and move on.
Bees Wax Crayons
This are so nice to color with and they leave behind the smoothest color. Plus they have a triangular shape that makes them easy for little hands to hold.
Outline Shimmer Markers
I can’t believe these actually work. When you draw with them, an outline appears around whatever you drew. I know. I didn’t believe it either, but they’re so cool that I even gifted a set to a pair of tweens.
Blends Watercolor Brush Markers
Depending on how you add water to these, these markers will behave differently: dip them in water to paint/draw with or put the water on paper and color onto that. It is a very cool way to color/paint and a niche art supply. The draw is that these blend amazingly well on paper.
Metallic Markers
I love a unique marker for kids – and this set is brilliant. The colors, the shimmer, the way they color. These are similar to a paint pen, and really fun for making fancy artwork and fun notes.
Oil Pastels
Ah, they’re just the coolest. Oil pastels are fantastic for art. School-ages kids will know these from the classroom and be tickled to have a set at-home.
Various Paints
Watercolor Paint and Brushes
A step up from the traditional kids watercolor set, as an adult – even I reach for this set. The colors are gorgeous, the brushes are great. I can’t recommend this set enough.
Liquid Watercolors
These changed my world this year! Dump a little into a cup and start painting right away. Here’s an activity idea so you can see the possibilities. No diluting needed (IYKYK).
Washable Tempera
If it’s time for your family to move beyond poster paints and finger paints, this is the next step. Washable tempera paint is where it’s at. This is what I use for all my art activities and used as a classroom teacher. One year, Santa gifted this paint for my kids in their stockings.
Travel Watercolor Set
A very thoughtful gift for a budding artist, this travel watercolor set has been a huge hit for my daughter and many of her friends. We bought it when she was 7 at the recommendation of an 11 year old. It’s been two years and it’s truly a joy to own still.
Miscellaneous Art Supplies
Art Kit
I gifted this to my daughter two years ago Christmas and it’s still being used. In fact, it was such a hit, we gifted one to a neighbor boy who also still uses this 2 years later. It’s got just enough of everything and feels so important and fancy to kids.
Tattoo Pens
A gift from my kids’ aunt, and what an aunt gift it was. These have been a solid hit for us and with every kid who comes to play (ages 4-14). They’re much more forgiving than face paint which is great for kids who like to be “perfect.” The stencils it comes with make these a breeze – and they rinse right off later.
Magic Clay
We love Magic Clay! Another option in the clay realm, but it’s a different, air dry texture and fun for kids to build with. This has been a fun change of clay pace for my kids.
Traditional Face Paint
THE BEST SET. We love having a face paint bin for fun days with friends. This is my favorite pallet, It’s easy to use AND wipes off easily (we use Wet Wipes). 10/10 parenting decision was having a face paint bin.
Paper and Canvases
Friends Art Lab Banner
THE BEST! These 10 foot long banners are hand-drawn and printed on thick, slick paper (it doesn’t bleed through). They come in all styles, seasons, and holidays (I linked to the insect banner). The banners make a fantastic gift along with some art supplies.
Sketch Pad
Nothing like gifting some art AND the canvas to create on. Don’t miss giving kids some form of paper with their art gift (I like this sketch pad a lot).
Painting Canvases
When my kids starting using acrylic paint, they loved using them on canvas. We found that smaller canvases work better – these are 6×6.
Tracing Paper
Remember how cool tracing paper was when you were a kid? It’s still that cool. My kids obsess over this stuff, tracing everything from animals in books to Pokemon cards.
Little Blank Books
My kids love these. It’s a small blank book of possibilities and they get to write, draw, create, and make a story come to life. These are also awesome to travel with for kids who love art-on-the-go.
Watercolor Paper
I didn’t realize this was a must-have until I tried it: watercolor paper aka heavy paper that’s made for both watercolor and liquid watercolor. The paints absorb better on this paper and don’t bleed through. Highly, highly recommend.
Watercolor Journal
This is a small journal is perfect for budding painters that I love to point people to. My daughter loves this manageable way to carry around art and work on her paintings. It’s a great option for kids.
Palettes
Nothing feels fancier than using a palette. It’s a fact. I have no science behind that fact but it feels right. (These also help keep painting tidier and easier to manage here.)
Frequently Asked Questions
This varies child to child. Some will enjoy painting at or before age 2. Some might not until much later. Let your child lead on painting (and arts and crafts) as they show you what they’re interested in. Not all children love arts and crafts – that’s fine!
I store supplies in two main spaces in our home (both have evolved overtime as my children have grown). As toddlers and preschoolers, our supplies were organized like this. Once they got older, we switched to art supplies in a closet where they could access them easier.
We display artwork as best we can, but about every month or so, I take down the art on display, and choose 1-2 special pieces to keep. Having been a teacher, I know how quickly art work adds up in storage. Each child has an art storage portfolio where I put the really important stuff. The rest…yes, I recycle.
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