10 Art Supplies Every Preschooler Should Have

Art is messy.  But as long as you approach it with the right mind set-knowing it is going to get a little messy, and with the expectation of cleaning up a mess- it can be an enjoyable experience even for the most neat-freak moms on the planet.  Art is fun, and kids love it.  Not only do they love it, but in my opinion, they NEED it.  I’ve spoken with some moms who would love to do more art projects with their kids, but aren’t sure where to start or what supplies to buy beyond a box of crayons.  One of my favorite places to order art supplies is Discount School Supply.  They have similar products at Lakeshore Learning too, another of my favorite stores!

Here’s a list of basic supplies:

1. Big paper: I prefer to use 12×18″ or larger so the littlest artists have plenty of space for big brush strokes, plenty of room to paint with enthusiasm!  Right now we’re working with Discount School Supply’s White Sulphite Paper-it’s not too thick, but holds up well to big globs of paint and watercolors without bleeding or tearing.

2. Chubby Paint Brushes: These brushes are just the right size for little hands.  They’re easy to grip and hold up well to the roughest painters (The Littlest Apple is one of those!)

3.  Plastic Trays:  These trays are so versatile!  You can put paint directly on them, use them to corral project supplies, or even for serving snacks.  They wash easily- I even put mine in the dishwasher.

4.  Easel: Okay, we don’t actually have one of these yet.  But it’s definitely on our wish list.  I occasionally tape our big paper to the wall or fence outside for an upright painting experience, but I’d really like to get an easel.  Easels are great for developing the muscles of the arms in a different way that simply painting on a table can.  And there’s the additional exercise and full body experience of standing and painting in front of an easel.  I think this would be great for my fidgety guy who can’t sit still for anything!  If you don’t have room or choose not to leave one out in your home, then look for one that can collapse for easy storage.

5.  Washable Tempera paints: Obviously washable is the key phrase here.  The Colorations Simply Washable Tempera Paints from Discount School Supply are the ones we use at home and for our Art Playgroup, and they clean easily off of clothes, skin, walls, white slipcovers (first hand experience with all of those).  I’ve linked to a set, but you can also order the bottles individually.  The colors are vivid, and the paint lasts a LONG time.

6.  Liquid Watercolors:  These are a million times better than those little watercolor cakes-the kind you have to dip your brush in water to use.  Those are just a little too difficult for little artists.  But these liquid watercolors are amazing!  Use them directly out of the bottle for super-vivid colors, or add water for a more muted (but still plenty bright!) effect.  There are so many different uses for these, and I’ll discuss those in an upcoming post.

7. Do-A-Dot Markers: These are definitely a good place to start if you’re afraid of just letting your child loose with paint.  (Not that I would ever advise just letting your kids loose with paint, but you know what I mean).  There are no big spills to clean up.

8.  Glue/Glue Stick:  You can make all sorts of creations using glue!  I like to create theme collages with cutouts from magazines or newspapers. We’ve done vacuums, baking, pumpkins, hearts, and flags.  It’s also fun to glue ribbon, pasta, buttons, beads, feathers, cereal, glitter.  The options are endless, and if your child is anything like mine, he/she will be totally fascinated by glue.  I like to present the glue in different forms.  Sometimes we use glue sticks (and these are best for the youngest artists who can’t squeeze the glue tube yet), sometime we use Elmer’s, and sometimes I mix it with water and let him paint it on with a paintbrush or apply it with a q-tip. If we’re using fabric or heavier buttons, I like to use Tacky Glue.

9. Markers: We’ve got a great set of Crayola Pipsqueak markers, with nearly every color you could need (and then some).  These are the perfect size for little hands.

10. Chalk/ Chalkboard:  This is becoming a new favorite at our house.  My son loves to write on his chalkboard then erase it.  We’ve also had fun with chalk outside, using it to draw on the patio and even on the bricks of our house!  I’m going to try making my own sidewalk chalk sometime soon, so stay tuned!

What are your favorite preschool art supplies?