The best craft supplies for kids are these 20 easy-to-use picks – selected by a mom of five and former teacher! Get the ultimate list.
Let’s face it – kids love crafting! It’s tactile, they can be creative, and sometimes it’s even messy. And what child doesn’t love messy?
One thing I’ve noticed about kids crafts is that sometimes it’s hard to know what supplies to get. What is safe . . . and what do children enjoy making?
Never fear – I’ve pulled together a guide of the top 20 kids’ craft supplies that they’re sure to fancy. These are basics that everyone should have on hand if they want to get creative with their children and have a good time.
Where did I get this list? I actually pulled it together with the help of my mother, who was an elementary school teacher for many years.
Karen (her name) also had five crafty kids. Including me. She’s now a grandmother and I’m an aunt . . . we know what kids like, and what I grew up on. Trust me.
Kids Art Supplies
Before we dive into the ideas, I wanted to address a few FAQs I’ve gotten about this post. If you’re only interested in the items, keep scrolling down and skip this section.
Where can I buy cheap craft supplies?
It can get costly to purchase a bunch of these items at once. My preferred places to shop:
Also don’t forget to look for coupons and sales from the big craft retailers. They have discounts on these items all the time, AND there’s always a coupon in the app. I really like the 20% off everything coupons and tend to wait for those.
What should I look for on the label?
You’ll want to look for ACMI symbol so that you know it’s certified non-toxic and safe for children. It’s an “AP” in a circle. You’ll also want to look at the age recommendation on the package. I *try* to buy things Made in the USA as well . . . or at least as much as possible.
Give me some good ideas for storage.
I’ll be honest, I use anything I can find. My favorite items are clear containers, magazine holders, tackle boxes/art organizers, recycled glass jars or mason jars, over the door shoe holders, mint containers, and baskets.
What can I do with my children’s artwork?
That’s the million dollar question! Learn what to do with children’s artwork, get nine cool things to do with kids art, and find 21 ways to display kids artwork. Thanks to these other bloggers for summing it up so nicely.
Are you ready to jump into the arts and crafts supplies for kids? Scroll down!
Perler Beads
Also known as fuse beads and hama beads. I remember crafting with Perler beads in second grade sleepaway camp – and that was a long time ago! You can melt them, but you can also make some pretty cool crafts by using them straight from the container.
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Pipe Cleaners
These are one of my personal favorite craft supplies for kids. Pipe cleaners can be used to create flowers, fake glasses, mini animals, pencil toppers, and more. I particularly love the glitter stems for holiday crafting.(Get 50+ pipe cleaner crafts!)
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Paper Plates
I know this one seems like a long shot, but paper plates aren't just for parties anymore. You can use them to make masks, animals, frames . . . and they pair well with many of the other supplies on this list!
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Cookie Cutters
Aren't cookie cutters for baking? Well yes – but before kids can draw shapes on their own, they like using them for drawing. I'd get them in plastic to prevent cuts. There are also sets for play dough which is a perfect dual purpose!
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Toilet Paper Rolls
Yes, you can use restroom recycles in your kids crafts! And the truth is, we all have them in our home. Click for 50+ ideas with TP rolls. You'll be amazed.
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Liquid Glue
It's washable – it's inexpensive – it's glue! A lot of fun things are happening with Elmer's these days, including science experiments, slime, and even painting in it using food coloring. You'd be shocked that you can get it with glitter, color changing, neon, scented . . . so many options.
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Colorful Buttons
When I was little, one of my favorite things was playing with my mom's button collection. Which was my great-grandmother's button collection. In addition to making things with buttons, they are great for sorting, learning colors, markers for bingo, and more.(get 25+ button art ideas here!)
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Alphabet Stamps
Not only will littles love stamping, but they'll be learning at the same time. Yes, this is one of those craft supplies for kids that is educational. ALL of my nieces love to stamp out their names and various phrases. You can get larger sets with numbers and additional symbols too.
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Kids’ Paint Sets
There's nothing like putting on one of dad's old dress shirts (a great apron) and getting messy with paint! Crayola makes some great paint sets that are kid friendly and most importantly, washable. There are also paint sticks, paint cakes, and a variety of similar options.
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Googly Eyes
Let's face it, these are just plain fun! Put googly eyes on everything – doors, cups, even your hand. Eyebomb everything around you to get a laugh out of friends and family! PS. they come in a bunch of colors now too.
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Wood Popsicle Sticks
I love that popsicle sticks come in a ton of colors these days. They're being used to construct mini houses, create flowers on canvases, and even for makeshift jewelry. The possibilities are endless.
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Colored Pencils
I LOVE colored pencils! Especially the big packs with 5,472 colors. What I don't love is sharpening them. I actually own the Twistables kind myself, then I don't have to worry! You can get scented ones – glitter ones – erasable – so many options.
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Felt & Foam Sheets
You can buy individual colors of both felt and foam in the kids' section of the craft store, and in bulk online. They are great for cutting out shapes and attaching to other creations. Also, both felt and foam come in glitter sheets AND adhesive sheets. Ask me how I know (love these still as an adult!).
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Washi Tape
If you haven't heard of washi tape, it's a paper tape that is removable and comes in thousands of designs (and solid colors too). It's a way to add an instant, colorful element to a project without having to draw it.
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Paper Punch Sets
If you want to dress up a card or create confetti, paper punches are the way to go. Teaches dexterity to younger kids and are safe for any age. Even tweens will love a collection of punches with cool designs.
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Pom Poms
If you like fuzzy balls (and who doesn't), pom poms add awesome dimension to any kind of kids' creation. They're great for faux fashion projects and holiday items as well.
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Low Temp Glue Gun
My mom says my 7-year old niece loves to use a glue gun like grandma, and a low-temp option is a way that kids won't get burned. Just make sure to always use a glue gun, even a low-temp one, with supervision.
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Packs of Stickers
When a child is struggling to come up with a project, stickers are a great way to get them started. They can create a design that can be colored, glued, and much more. One thing I've learned – limit the number of stickers you put out at one time. You don't want kids to blow them all on one picture.
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Coloring Crayons
In a list of craft supplies for kids, you can't forget crayons. Crayons have changed a lot since I was young. They come in a wider variety of colors, and include specialty selections such as washable, neon, and glitter. And the truth is – you never stop loving coloring. Try it with your children!
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These items are my favorite arts and crafts supplies for kids. What are yours? Let me know in the comments!
