How to Put Together the Perfect Basic Art Kit for Kids

A basic art kit is essential for budding young artists. Having their own art supplies encourages kids to explore their creativity. Building a basic art kit does not have to be expensive—some things you probably already have, and most, in not all, are available from a dollar store. Holiday and birthday gifts are a great way to expand the basic art kit.

I suggest these items for a basic art kit:

• • Copy paper
  • Scissors: These should be age appropriate—blunt tips for preschoolers. Pointed tip scissors for older kids.
  • Crayons: This can be a basic eight pack to start, then grow to the one hundred and twenty crayon collection.
  • Water-based markers
  • Permanent markers: You might want to wait to include these in the kit until the child knows not to color on the walls😉
  • Basic colors of acrylic paints
  • Watercolor paint set
  • Paint brushes: A set of three nice brushes of various sizes should do it. The brushes that come with most paint sets are horrible and do more to frustrate kids than encourage their art.
  • Paint water container: This can be anything that holds water so paint brushes can be rinsed while painting.
  • White glue
  • Ruler
  • Storage container: This doesn’t have to be a fancy store-bought container. Think shoe box, recycled produce container—anything that your child can store their art supplies in.
  • Art apron: This could be an over-sized old shirt that can go right over their clothes.
  • Flannel-backed vinyl table cloth: This is to protect their work surface, and preserve your sanity. Here’s a pic of mine. It’s one of the best art investments that I ever made—thirty some years ago when my kids were little, and now my grands use it.

Now, here’s a list of add-on items to supplement the basic kit. They’re great as a reward and make wonderful gifts. What grandparent, aunt, or uncle wouldn’t love to have a ready list for gift-giving occasions.

Add-ons to the basic art kit:

• • Air-dry clay, play dough
  • Glitter
  • Colored pencils
  • Alcohol markers
  • Tapes: Scotch tape, double sided tape, washi tape, masking tape
  • Foam sheets
  • Felt
  • Ribbon
  • Fabric
  • Yarn and floss
  • Sketchbook
  • Toothpicks
  • Beads
  • Craft sticks
  • Chenille stems (pipe cleaners)
  • Construction paper
  • Cardstock
  • Bone folder
  • Teflon mat
  • Tweezers

My last suggestion list is fun stuff.

• • Rhinestones
  • Rubber stamps
  • Ink pads
  • Polymer clay
  • Stickers
  • Feathers
  • Deckle and fancy edge scissors
  • Silk flowers
  • Googly eyes

When the kids create amazing artwork with their new art kit why not use it for special gift wrap?

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