If you’re looking for best art supplies for toddlers, you’re in the right place! Scroll down to check out the supply list! My 2nd and 3rd years of teaching, in addition to teaching Art to all grades, I was also a pre-k classroom teacher.
I got a lot of on the job training, read books, and asked my early childhood education expert sister lots of questions. I also took a lot of naps after school. A Lot of naps…
When my daughter was born, I had my sister to guide me to (and often generously hand down) the right kind of supplies. (Coincidentally, I also took a lot of naps then, too.)
When making art with any child, it’s important to consider their developmental stage and needs.
For this age range (technically 12-36 months, 1-3 years for those of us who prefer not to do math in age estimating ;), this is especially important. There is SO MUCH cognitive, emotional and social development going on behind the scenes for these little ones! In my experience including exploration, variety and movement are all part of success in creation with their little hands.
Developmentally they’re still working hard on basic fine and gross motor skills and will be for quite some time! Choosing supplies that cater specifically to their needs can be tricky.
I think truly at this stage of development all things “art” are really about fine motor development and sensory exploration. Instead of thinking of activities having to accomplish some sort of standard to be considered “art”, I try to just embrace it all. There’s no wrong way to let your child learn, explore and play in the name of art!
(This post may contain some affiliate links, but all opinions are my own. Because of my commitment to honesty and transparency, I will never recommend a product I have not used and tested myself. Any compensation I may receive helps with expenses to keep this blog up and running! Thank you for your support!)
Here are some of my favorite art supplies for toddlers!
- Crayons made for grasping – there is no need to worry about proper writing instrument holding yet!
Grasping with a fist is developmentally appropriate.
2. Construction paper/Copy paper/tissue paper/magazines – any surface will work! Tearing is a great activity for developing hand strength. My daughter loved crumpling and tearing up magazines at this age (nothing special, just what would eventually end up in recycling anyways).
3. Fingerpaint – there are so many different kinds and a variety of qualities or opacity and texture, but washable is my only real goal when working with this age. My little one is actually sensory avoidant, so I often have/ had to encourage her to make a mess. If you have a child who’s more sensory seeking and wants everything in his/her mouth, I would look for non-toxic as well (most are non-toxic these days!). There are lots of edible paint recipes (I’ve pinned a few here)! I use this for finger painting and brush painting.
I like to have all the primaries for early exposure to color theory and mixing!
4. Brushes made for easy grasping – Just like for crayons, there is no need to worry about proper writing instrument holding yet!
Accommodating their age appropriate dexterity and hand strength is the goal.
5. Butcher paper/paper roll (+ painters tape) – this is amazing because you can set it up anywhere. Outside, in the garage, on the porch, cover the table, playroom wall etc.
It also sets them up for crossing the midline while painting or drawing, which is so important for development.
6. Sidewalk Chalk – Not just for sidewalks! If you have a chalk board, that’s amazing. If not, any surface will do and it can be fun to explore various kinds. The tactile drag is really helpful feedback for most kids. Explore texture as they see the effect chalk creates on all different surfaces – different kinds of paper, pavement, stones and chalkboard.
Bonus: it encourages outdoor play!
7. Clay/Dough + tools for exploring them – I love these tools for so many different kinds of play. Another fun idea is to use “tools” you find in nature, sticks, shells, rocks, leaves. Maybe take a bucket on a walk, collect “tools” and use them with clay, dough or even kinetic sand. When it comes to the type of clay, dough or sand, I think variety is the best. Try to think outside the box to mix it up (I have a Pinterest board with lots of ideas you can use – here).
A note for when you are purchasing, I would not choose this as a place to splurge. I choose a price point that would be okay if it’s ruined in one use. Stamps and rollers are also fun exploring tools!
9. Do-a-Dot markers – These are an amazing invention and they seem to be everywhere these days! Kids can use them to make dots or blend. They are designed for small hands and easy to hold. I love that they help kids work on hand strength in a really fun way. They last for a long time and don’t dry out. You could print out some of my free downloadable famous artist inspired coloring pages like the one in the post (on cardstock for a little bit of durability and let your little one also get some Art History in at the same time :).
10. Stickers – In addition to being super fun, stickers are also a developmental GOLD MINE, making them a favorite of this list of art supplies for toddlers! Holding the page and the sticker together works on hand strength.
They are so good for developing the fine motor powerhouse – the pincer grasp.
The very tips of the fingers are needed to grip such a small area. Arranging on the page is developing spacial awareness. Working on literacy is also a great idea if you want to grab some fun letters & numbers, nature themed, musical instrument, etc stickers. I love the foamy, 3D or raised kind for easy first steps. Here are the gemstones pictured below.
11. Artist Board Books – as passionate as I am about art and art history, I am also very passionate about reading with babies and children. Even from the earliest days, it sets the stage for language development, listening, memory and communication skills. There are amazing Art History resources in the form of board books, making it one of my most favorite art supplies for toddlers!
I do think that any exposure to Master Artists is better than none. I REALLY prefer the books that feature the actual work of the artist, over their stylized, illustrated counterparts.
While the illustrated ones are adorable and still worth while, I feel strongly that the exposure to the actual work is priceless. In addition to the ones linked above, you can find some I’ve pinned here. Affirming words from someone much more eloquent than myself:
“We cannot measure the influence that one or another artist has upon the child’s sense of beauty, upon his power of seeing, as in a picture, the common sights of life; he is enriched more than we know in having really looked at even a single picture.”—Charlotte Mason
12. Smock and an old sheet/table cloth – I won’t link anything here because I have found that an old adult sized t-shirt and any old sheet or table cloth works best. This will save you lots of time in clean up.
Remember: process over end product!
I believe this is true for every stage of art, even in my professional work, it is a necessary discipline to focus on the process. But ESPECIALLY at this age, every little stroke, every crazy scribble, every shaky fist grab is a part of them learning valuable skills and building blocks, not just for making art but functioning in our big world!
I hope this list gives you a springboard of inspiration to get messy and busy with your tiny artist. If you have some other supplies that you love please comment below to share!
