1. Washable Markers – We use Crayola washable markers and like both the regular sizes and the smaller Pip-Squeaks versions. Washability is definitely key. Besides the paper, Maia has drawn all over the table, her body, and her clothes, but the marker hasn’t failed to come out yet.
2. Chunky Crayons – I’m actually not such a huge fan of regular crayons because the intensity of color is poor, they break easily, and are covered with paper making them hard for toddlers to use, but they’re such a childhood staple and we do use them regularly in our house. Melissa & Doug sells nice crayons that aren’t covered with paper. They’re also triangular instead of round so don’t roll off the table. And I’ve been meanting to try the high quality, but expensive, Stockmar crayons and have also heard good things about Chubbi Stumps.
3. Colored Construction Paper – Another staple, whether for drawing on or for cutting up for collages. Quality and price vary a lot. Generally the more you spend, the more vibrant the color and the sturdier the paper.
4. White Drawing or Watercolor Paper – We buy pads of white paper in all sizes and thicknesses. Watercolor paper is more expensive than drawing or sketching paper but is necessary for using watercolors if you don’t want the paper to buckle too much. We also use it for painting with tempera paints and for drawing and collages. I generally buy a cheapie brand of watercolor paper then use it for lots of different things. I like Canson’s Biggie and Biggie Jr. lines of papers.
5. Crayola Twistables Slick Stix – These are awsome! And a million times better than regular crayons in many ways, although more expensive ($3.99 for a 5 pack). They slide on smoothly, are easy to use (Maia’s been using them for about a year now), and the color is very vibrant. I know I sound like an ad for these, but they really are that good.
6. Tempera Paint – Nontoxic, washable tempera paint is a staple for us. We use it all the time, in all different colors. I haven’t found a brand I’m completely happy with yet, but maybe one day I’ll do one of those America’s Test Kitchen types of tests on every brand I can find and let you all know what I think. And, if anyone has any recommendations, please tell! I debated about include fingerpaints on this list. The kids often fingerpaint with the tempera paint, although we do use commercial fingerpaints as well.
7. Watercolor Paint – Watercolor paint is another staple for us. We use the liquid watercolors that come in tubes and mix each color in a separate bowl with plenty of water. Every time I try to use the traditional childhood watercolors of cakes in a pan, Maia just takes her brush, dips it in the water then in every single color which of course means her painting ends up a muddy brown. I’m sure she’ll pass out of that phase one of these days and we’ll give the cakes another try, but in the meantime the tubes of liquid watercolors are great.
8. Paint Brushes – We use a variety of paint brushes but especially like plastic-handled chubby paint brushes. I believe we got ours from Melissa & Doug. With a plastic handle, the brush doesn’t warp or lose it’s paint as some of the painted wooden-handled brushes do if you leave it soaking in water rather than cleaning it immediately.
9. Chalk and Chalkboard – You can’t beat chalk for washability (always important for parents of tots) and for transience. Maia draws on her easel’s chalkboard and has as much fun erasing it as she does drawing. (She also draws around the house and on me.) In the summer she draws with chalk outside on the driveway. We let the rain wash it away or spray it with the hose.
10. Collage Materials – Making a collage is lots of fun for toddlers, and you can use just about any materials you want. We use pieces of colored construction paper cut into geometric shapes, cotton balls, tiny pasta, rice, glitter, stickers, and leaves and other items from nature. Then, of course, there’s squeezable glue, probably one of the toddler’s favorite art materials of all time. The squeezable glue bottle is probably about 3/4 of the reason toddlers like collages so much. We use a white Elmers school glue but there are lots of different kinds out there.
Hi! My name is Jean and I am mama to two daughters -- a four year old and a newborn. I'm trying to parent in a way that encourages creative expression, imagination, joyfulness, and a love of learning. Thanks for visiting!
adrienne said
TEMPRA PAINT can cause chemical burns and infections. Please only use tempra paints labeled child-safe with children.
In college, my husband painted some Maori-style tattoos on his face and arms in black tempra (for an art project). After less than an hour he washed off the paint which was beginning to sting to find chemical burns that took months to heal. He looked like he had been branded on his arms and face and it was painful to any touch for weeks.
An art professor told us that when using tempra on skin it should always be mixed with a neutralizing agent (like the dirt in that area) to normalize the Ph (which can be extreme).
We wouldn’t use general tempra any application where it comes in contact with kids’ skin.
s said
Did you ever think that your husband was allergic to the paint? I do not think your statement was accurate was that it was a chemical burn, is that something that you or a doctor determined?
Kristin said
Thank you for creating this list, and for creating this blog. I’m a mom to three boys, two of them twin 2 year olds. I’m always looking for things to do with them to introduce them to the art world.
I’ve got you bookmarked and will check back often to see what you’ve done.
Shawn said
Hi there — found you through Writer Mama. Congrats on reaching your goals! I was wondering if you’ve worked with dry erase at all? I have 2 year old twins, as PP, and for their birthday in January we got them a Step 2 easel.
Like you, I”m very big in to introducing my toddlers to the arts. Plus, I enjoy creating activities to break up our days. We do a lot with stickers, too …
Anyway, I will get some of these things you recommend now that we have a proper toddler table and the easel. Right now they are very big into the markers on the dry erase board. I only have thin black ones right now but was going to purchase some colors for them … is that kid friendly? I just don’t know. Perhaps I should google it. They love that white board, though!
Anyway, we have been suffering through regular, So Big crayons, which don’t break as easily as the large versions. But, they aren’t great color quality. Why do they even sell white crayons? I never got that.
Well, enough babble here … very nice to meet you. Oh, I wanted to say that our library taught us a great tip this week — fingerpaint on cookie sheets and then put a piece of paper down at the end to get an imprint of their work. Let dry and display as normal — and very little mess, plus the paint shows up better that way. We did that this morning because it’s so easy.
Gareth said
@Shawn: Here’s what I always did with white crayons as a kid: Draw a picture using the white crayon, then paint over it with watercolour paints. The paint doesn’t stick to the paper where the crayon is, so once you’ve painted over it your picture magically appears.
Mommy Bee said
GREAT info! Thank you. Where do you buy your supplies? Brick and mortar store or online? My daughter is 3 and I’d love to introduce her to more art fun!
Leanne said
I can highly recommend the stockmar crayons. The cost has been balanced by the fact that in 4 years we have never broken one (unlike cheaper long, narrow crayons that break every time we use them).
Their shape is also great for softly colouring larger areas. My son goes to a pre-school that will only use the stockmar crayons!
Deirdre said
Just so happy to have found this blog and a central place for all this info. We love stockmar crayons too:-)
I’m really looking forward to your future post on setting up an art space for kids. My boys are (soon to be) 6 and 3…the big one wants/needs to have things accessible but then the 3 yr old can destroy so much of it…
Camp Creek Press (which I see listed in your side bar) has been my best resource so far on kids art supplies and organization. I’d like to hear more though about how to instill respect for the high quality supplies (like good paper) vs the every day stuff for drafts, etc.
threesneakybugs said
Any suggestions on mixing powdered tempera? Just add water or is there more to it?
Val said
Add about a tsp of dish soap to the tempera to keep it from clumping. then add drops of water until you get the consistancy you want. Then add food coloring. This mixture can be used to fingerpaint sliding-glass doors. Mix the fingerpaints (child-safe kind) and let the kids go at the door (preferably on the outside) then when their done hose off the door. The soap cleans off the door up to the level where all those little fingerprints are, and the kids have a great time.
Jennifer Lo Prete said
For those of you that use stockmar/beeswax crayons. My children have used them at a Waldorf school, but not at home. Can you get marks from beeswax crayons out of fabric, walls, etc. Thanks!
Lucia said
Great list. Dick Blick is also a great resource for art supplies and large paper orders. Stockmar crayons are wrapped up and ready for Valentine’s Day…looking forward to trying them. Would love to hear your ideas on storage for art supplies. I am in the process of organizing a closet in our kitchen (near the table) for all of our arts/crafts supplies. Trying to create a balance between things that both of my kids can access on a regular basis while also storing some things only for adult access. Any storage suggestions or photos of art storage spaces would be great.
Julie Liddle (ART IN HAND) said
When it comes to all kinds of art materials for young children, Discount School Supply canNOT be beat….for quality, prices, and service. I should get a commission from them, I recommend them to my students all the time and use them exlusively for my classes. While they also carry products by Crayola and Biocolor, I stick with their own brand, Colorations, for most products (except glue and markers, in which case Crayola has proven superior). Their washable temperas and finger paints are the best (no cracking, they maintain much of their brilliance, they are very smooth and creamy, and they don’t smell funky). They also have fantastic liquid watercolors..comes concentrated in bottles, to be used full-strength or diluted. These are so versatile and the colors are lovely. They also have great oil pastels (these could be #11 on your list…I feel the same as you about crayons), although oil pastels are NOT washable, even the kid-friendly ones, but they are oh-so satisfying to use on all colors of paper, not to mention for wax resist with the liquid watercolors! Lots of wonderful papers and other fun stuff for collages too… http://www.discountschoolsupply.com
shan said
as for hte tempra paint i make my own using a recipe and i use food coloring paste ( more bright vibrant color) and a packet of koolaid for smell
if your interested its in the first art book
shan said
love the twistable slick stixs too! they are the best thing ever wish they made a bigger pack!
i have a box i put all materials that can be collaged into it so all we have to do is grab the tops of the pizza hut box, glue a paint bursh ( cuz we paitn onthe watered down glue ) and collage away
i have a newly turned 2 and a almost 8 yr old both love to collage
Carrie said
Okay, I just found your blog and I LOVE it!!! I am no artist by any means, but do love to get crafty. Now that I have a 10 month old daughter I definitely am looking forward to getting crafty with her.
Top Art - 10 Art Materials for Toddlers The Artful Parent | Artist Days said
[...] Jean’s Top 10 Art Materials for Toddlers « The Artful Parent: The Intersection… Resources Art in Hand Art2Heart Barefoot Books Etsy Global Children s Art Gallery International Child Art Foundation Kids Craft Weekly Kids Art Magic Cabin Mary Ann F. Julie Liddle (ART IN HAND) said, April 18, 2008 @ 11:17 pm When it comes to all kinds of art materials for young children, Discount School Supply can NOT be beat .for quality, prices, and service. Would love to hear your ideas on storage… [...]
susan said
How can i make my 2 adn a half yr old be interestd with art? she is not so much into it. can u suggest activities that can spark her interest? thanks.
Auntie Jo Jo said
Always looking for toddler craft projects. Great blog, look forward to following it!
Kathy said
This is a great list, thanks! Paint is and always has been my toddlers favorite art supply – of course it’s also the messiest! We also love to make collages with anything – magazine pictures, leaves and stuff we find outdoors, ribbon, foam cut outs, etc. I think my daughter just likes to use the glue stick! Anyway, great blog and great information. Thanks…
Heather said
Thank you so much for the info. I just bought two of the items for my cousin’s son who will be 1 1/2 by Christmas. I found this page very helpful! Thanks.
Lisa Keegan said
In response to getting the 2 and half year old into art – I would say let it be very free and creative and they may respond to this. I am a contributing artist for the blog http://www.kiddingabout.com, there is a recent article called “Blue trees, a green sun and plenty of scribbles!” – basically about letting toddlers paint the colors they see or want to see. All comments welcome! Hope it helps!
Lisa
Cat in Mallorca said
Jean, I love your blog!
My whole life I’ve been looking forward to making things with my future child as I was very art-oriented and creative as a kid. And now here she is! So exciting! Thing is, my 17 month-old daughter loves to (start) crafts and art projects but mostly tries to EAT ALL THE ART SUPPLIES. Anyone else have this problem? What did/do you do about it? Paint, glue, markers, crayons; you name it, she’ll eat it. *sigh*
Chelsea said
How about letting her finger paint with something edible…like pudding or yogurt. You could add a little food coloring, if you wanted, but I bet she’d be happy without it too.