Every parent has been there: you want to foster your child’s inner Picasso, but the reality of a craft explosion in the living room or acrylic paint on the walls is enough to make you lock the supply closet and throw away the key. (Or just throw away all of the craft supplies for good!) I’ve been there- we had pink Play-doh on a rug for a year before I finally figured out how to get rid of it. I also have become a master at getting slime out of clothes!
But crafting doesn’t have to equal chaos. Some of my favorite memories with my kids have been while doing crafts at home, indoors or out. Picking supplies that offer maximum engagement for them, and manageable cleanup for you, is truly the key to creativity without chaos. Whether you’re stocking up for a rainy day, summer break, or just trying to survive a Tuesday afternoon (fellow stay at home moms unite!), here is the ultimate guide to the best art supplies and craft kits for kids.
Everyday essentials
Before diving into fancy kits, every household needs a reliable foundation of open-ended supplies. I have a craft bin I keep in one of the kitchen cabinets that I can pull out when the kids need something to do and I can tell they’re feeling crafty.
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I should also back up and say that we have a kids’ size table and chairs in our dining space, and this is where the kids know they should go to do their crafts. We call it “the little table” and it’s where all of the magic happens, because I don’t care if it gets paint on it!
- The “Classic Craft Bin” (Felt, Construction Paper, Googly Eyes, and Pipe Cleaners): Never underestimate the power of these three staples. With a little non-toxic glue, a pipe cleaner and some googly eyes (I like the googly eyes that are self-adhesive – less glue!) can turn a plain sheet of felt (or an empty toilet paper roll) into an afternoon of character building. They are cheap, foster pure imagination, and they clean up easily. Add in washi tape, creative hole punches, gem stickers, and some fun scissors, and you have a craft bin that your kids will ask to take out every day!
- Air Dry Clay: Play-Doh is great, but air dry clay takes it to the next level. It’s wonderfully tactile, less crumbly when fresh, and allows kids to create permanent keepsakes. Once they sculpt their masterpiece, just leave it out overnight to harden—no kiln or oven required. My kids like to make play food with air dry clay!
- Dot Markers (Bingo Daubers): Incredible for toddlers and preschoolers. They get the thrill of painting without the water cups, messy brushes, or accidental spills.
- Water-Based Tempera Paint Sticks: Imagine a glue stick, but it’s vibrant paint. They dry almost instantly, don’t require water, and glide smoothly on cardboard or paper.
- A Roll of Butcher Paper: Skip the tiny individual coloring books. Tape a massive sheet of brown butcher paper across the entire kitchen island or floor and let them go to town.
- Smooth Rocks: If your house quickly piles up with art projects, smooth rocks for painting are a great idea because the kids can create and then take them outside and make a rock garden of their creations!
Mess-free art supplies for kids
When you need 30 minutes to make dinner, but you can’t actively supervise a craft session, these are your best friends. They keep my kids entertained for at least a little bit, and they’re great to travel with, too!
Paint by Sticker: From dinosaurs to underwater and everything in between, my kids have truly enjoyed the Paint by Sticker books. I stock up on them when I see them on sale (they sometimes are listed at more than half off!) and they’ve become a go-to birthday gift add on as well.
Color Wonder: This is my travel go-to and the art supplies I leave out 24/7. The markers only work on the special paper, so there’s no risk of getting the couch or rugs messy with markers, and that’s why I’m comfortable traveling with this to hotels and rentals!
Poke-in art: These are a fantastic, mess-free alternative to traditional sewing or painting. Kids use a small plastic stylus to “poke” colorful pieces of fabric into a foam board to create textured, 3D pictures. It is highly engaging, great for fine motor skills, and completely mess-free.
- Water Reveal Pads: You fill a chunky pen with water, and as they color the page, vibrant designs appear. Once it dries, the color fades, and they can do it all over again. Zero mess, highly portable.
- Scratch Art Paper: Black pages that reveal rainbow colors underneath when scratched with a wooden stylus. It keeps older kids mesmerized for hours, and the only cleanup is a tiny bit of black dust you can easily wipe away.
Best all-in-one craft kits for kids
If you want an activity that comes with everything included—no frantic searching for scissors or glue required—these kits are worth every penny.
Beginner Sewing Kit: Perfect for ages 6-12, a beginner sewing kit is (mostly) mess-free and allows kids to work on their fine motor skills while sewing their own creations.
Gem Painting: Especially popular with the 5-12 girl crowd, gem painting is a detailed art that creates beautiful pieces at the end! They use a wax-ended stick to pick up the gems and place them on the adhesive.
Watercolor Painting Books: Perfect for parents who want everything in one place, the paints and pages and paint brush are all together in one little kit. All you need to add is water!
Wooden Magnet Painting Kit: I like kits that create items we can gift to the grandparents or use elsewhere in the house, so wooden magnets that the kids can paint are perfect. We always run out of fridge space, so these little art creations are a great way to showcase their art in a small space!
3D String Art Kit
Create string art and add lights! It’s a perfect craft kit for girls or boys who like to display their creations.
Sand Art Painting
I used to LOVE these as a kid! Younger kids will need help from an adult, but older kids (like an 8 year old and probably even a 6 year old) can do this on their own. Peel the sticker, put on your sand, and create a very tactile piece of art!
Window Art Kits
Instead of stickers that ruin your windows, grab a window art kit. These usually come with plastic suncatcher frames and tubes of translucent paint. Kids fill in the lines, let them dry, and use suction cups to hang their stained-glass creations in their bedroom windows.
Garden Stepping Stone Kits
Take the mess outside! These kits come with a pre-cast cement stone (or the mix to pour your own) and outdoor-safe paints. It is a fantastic summer afternoon activity, and you get a charming new addition to your flowerbed or walkway once it dries. My kids have painted these over the years, and they’re so cute out in the garden!
KiwiCo Crates
KiwiCo is the gold standard for a reason. Their age-specific crates blend art, science, and engineering. The instructions are completely visual, meaning kids can often complete the projects with minimal adult intervention. These are a little more STEM-focused than arts & crafts, but they still fit!
Glitter: Proceed with Caution
While I’d love to say I have glitter out always and for every craft project, that just is not reality.
Kids absolutely love it; parents fear it. If you are brave enough to bring loose glitter into your home, establish strict ground rules. Mom hack: High-quality “glitter glue” pens instead of loose glitter will make your life 1000x easier. They deliver the sparkle without turning your home into a disco ball for the next six years!
Mom hacks for organizing the chaos
The Cookie Sheet trick: Buy a few cheap, rimmed metal baking sheets from the dollar store strictly for crafts. Containment is key! Beads, air dry clay scraps, googly eyes, and more stay inside the rim, preventing them from rolling onto the floor. When craft time is over, they can just slide the whole tray onto a shelf to dry.
Clear pouches: I store supplies for smaller kits in these clear pouches so that they’re easier to find (and pieces can’t fall out!)
What are your go-to, sanity-saving art supplies? Drop your favorites in the comments below!
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