Best Art Supplies for Kids

Art supplies for kids that produce bright colorful pictures, are non-toxic, and that are fun to use are the best kind for preschool and kindergarten children. The following are some of my favorite art supplies for kids that I have used successfully in the classroom for years.

Crayons

Prang CrayonsPrang crayons are my absolute favorite to use with young children. Why?

  • They are non-toxic
  • The colors are brighter and more intense than most crayons
  • They apply more smoothly
  • The colors blend nicely
  • The crayons do not leave little bits of wax all over the pages and tables
Prang Crayons crayons

Prang crayons come in sets of 8, 16, 24, or 64. These great art supplies for kids also comes in classroom sets of 800. To purchase click on the picture above.

Crayola Markers

Teach kids how to make a broad line with the side of the marker tip or a thin line with the point of the felt. Kids love to make dots of snow, rain, or just colors and these markers are pretty tough. These art supplies for kids are mostly washable but a few colors need more than one washing to come out of clothing. To purchase click on the picture below.

Crayola Classic Original Markers markers
  • bright colors
  • broad tips
  • non-toxic.
  • water-based ink








Prang Ready-To-Use Washable Tempera Paint paint

Prang tempera paint

When I first started teaching kindergarten I had to mix dusty pigment powders with a goopy mixture every week to fill the paint pots at the easel. Not good for the health or the busy schedule! This tempera paint goes on rich and creamy and the kids love painting every day. All young children need daily experiences with paint, large papers, and big brushes. To purchase click on the picture.

  • vibrant, non-settling colors
  • creamy smooth textures
  • ready-to-use formula
  • ideal for pre-kindergarten and elementary children

Blick Tempera Cakes

Blick Tempera Cakes paint

Kids also need experiences mixing colors. Even the most active kids in my class sit still for long periods of time experimenting with trays of tempera paint cakes.

The children are not too interested in creating pictures at first, they just enjoy making new colors, trying them on papers, washing the tray clean after a while, and mixing more color combinations.

Be sure to supply the kids with big brushes, mixing trays of some sort and an assortment of papers. Give them some papers that are more absorbent and some that are less absorbent. These paints teach the children independence as they can get the paint sets off the shelf, help themselves to water at the sink, and then put the paints away and wipe the tables. To purchase click on the picture above.

  • concentrated, brilliant color
  • sturdy plastic tray
  • extra large, measuring 2¼" × 2¼" × ¾"
  • safe, non-toxic, natural ingredients
  • trays are stackable