You know those days when your little one seems to have boundless energy and a serious case of the “gotta-make-a-mess” jitters? Yeah, been there, lived that (a million times!). As a mom of three, including one veryyy adorable toddler artist, I’ve learned a few tricks to keeping my kids’ creativity flowing AND their meltdowns at bay. The secret weapon, you ask? A well-stocked art bin filled with 8 very specific kids art supplies!
But listen, I’m not gonna share fancy supplies or Pinterest-perfect projects. It’s all about having a handful of toddler-approved art essentials in the house that can spark imagination and turn those wiggles upside down. And get this – many of these kids art supplies can be used for more than just arts and crafts! Ready to hear my complete list of 8 essential art supplies that every toddler mom should have on hand for those moments when creativity strikes?? Let’s go!!
Blank Canvases
Any type of painting on canvas is fun – finger painting, splatter art painting, acrylic painting, or spray painting. Write your child’s name in washi tape and then either color over it or paint over it!! Let dry and remove the tape – as seen in this instagram post. Blow painting with a straw is also a fun one! And glueing crayons to the canvas and blow drying it is one of our very faves and creates a gorgeous work of art every time!
Buy a pack of 9×12 blank canvases HERE.
Naked Crayons
Crayon wrappers are overrated! Ditch them altogether and next time you’re in need of new crayons, buy the naked ones in bulk via Amazon! They are a must-have for your home! One of our favorite things to do with naked crayons is to create rubbings of interesting textures that we find around the house. Here are some other fun ideas: Make Your Own Confetti Crayons, Melted Crayon State Silhouette Art, Melted Crayon Candles
Buy naked crayons HERE.
Big Post-It Notes Paper
These oversized sticky sheets are perfect for impromptu doodle sessions, creating DIY murals, or for making giant special occasion signs! Stick ‘em on the walls, floors, or windows – the possibilities are endless! Here are more ideas: Go Find It!, Find Your Name, Magnetic Word Families
Buy big post-it notes HERE.
Painters Tape
This isn’t just for grown-up DIY projects! Painter’s tape is gentle enough to remove from walls without damaging paint. Get creative! Use it to create geometric shapes for your kids to color inside, make a track, road, and zig zags along your floors for your kids to drive toy cars, or even use it to build a fort! You can also tape your floor with a big tic-tac-toe board and have your little ones use their bodies to play the game, tape a balance beam and have your kids walk along it, tape letters, tape mazes, and anything else you might be able to think of!
With glow in the dark tape, you can do all the activities above, turn off the lights and see your glorious creations in a whole different light – literally. I also think it would be fun to tape your name or make fun designs on a wall really big and then turn off the lights!!
Buy painter’s tape HERE. Buy glow-in-the-dark painter’s tape HERE.
Pipe Cleaners
Bend them, twist them, curl them – they can become anything from wacky sculptures to antennae for a self-portrait. Pipe cleaners are perfect for crafting everything from fuzzy creatures to funky jewelry. Let your little ones explore their fine motor skills as they twist and turn their way to creativity heaven! We also love Build the Caterpillar + here are 24 Pipe Cleaner Crafts for Kids!
Buy pipe cleaners HERE.
Stickers
Stickers are a lifesaver for busy moms. They add instant personality to any art project and come in a million themes and colors. Let your toddler decorate their drawings, create sticker scenes, or even use them as collage materials. We also love to do sticker matching and sorting, where you sort out big stickers and small stickers or sort by sticker colors! Another fun activity is to write your child’s name big on construction paper and then have them put the stickers over the lines. Bonus that it turns into the cutest keepsake!
Buy small reward stickers HERE. Shop dot stickers HERE. Shop big and small stickers HERE.
Construction Paper
From simple cut-and-paste crafts to intricate paper sculptures, there’s no shortage of ways to get creative with construction paper!! Plus, with a rainbow of colors to choose from, the sky’s the limit for your little artists. Making paper airplanes is always fun+ here are 25 Construction Paper Crafts for Kids.
Buy construction paper HERE.
Popsicle Sticks
Popsicle sticks are totally underrated! They’re perfect for building everything from miniature forts to one-of-a-kind sculptures. Plus, they’re a great way to sneak in some STEM learning as your kiddos experiment with balance, structure, and design. These popsicle activities are awesome: Popsicle Stick Birdhouses, Popsicle Stick Picture Frame, and click here for a bunch more popsicle stick crafts!
Buy the jumbo colored ones HERE. Buy the natural wood 4.5″ sticks HERE.
Kids Art Supplies Honorable Mentions:
Dot Markers, Tempera Paint Sticks, and No Spill Paint Cups! Each of these are pretty great in their own right and I’d highly recommend grabbing them too!
Shop The Art Supplies
Final Thoughts
So there you have it, mama! With these simple supplies, you’ll be all set to unleash your little one’s inner artist and in addition, have fun beyond the arts and crafts world! With that said, if you’re anything like me, take some deep breaths and remember to embrace the mess (this is easier said than done, I know!) Let your toddler explore and get creative, and if older siblings want to join in, they should! These kids art supplies aren’t really JUST for toddlers, of course! When all is said and done, though, don’t be afraid to get your own hands dirty as well! Happy crafting!
THROWING ONE OF YOUR KIDS BIRTHDAY PARTIES SOON?
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