Ignite Kids' Creativity This Summer With Our Favorite Art Kits (2024)

Whether your child is already showing signs of being the next Basquiat or they just enjoy sketching, crafting, orplaying with color, they can really benefit from arts and crafts. Dabbling in the arts promotes kids' creativity, cognitive development, and self-esteem. The best art kits for kids are age-appropriate and spark your child's interest.

Nadia Paredes, MA, LMFT, ATR, a mom and president of the American Art Therapy Association, emphasizes that while not all kids are going to be great artists, art is an incredible way for them to learn to express themselves. "Art doesn't have to be beautiful in order to be meaningful," says Parades. "Creativity is a cognitive function. [It] works us out, like a mental gym. Creativity helps us adapt."

To select the best art kits for kids, we spoke with aregistered art therapistto learn more about the benefits of art for kids, what to look for when shopping for art kits, and what products in particular they recommend. We assessed the designs and features of dozens of top-rated art kits on the market, ensuring they all aligned with our expert's recommendations. Finally, a pediatric psychologist on ourExpert Boardreviewed this article for accuracy and integrity.

Our Favorite Art Kids for Kids

• Best Overall:Kid Made Modern Arts and Crafts Supply Library
• Best for Toddlers and Preschoolers:Alex Toys Little Hands Picture Mosaic
• Best Sidewalk Chalk:Coconut Float Rae Dunn Jumbo Outdoor Sidewalk Chalk - Doodle
• Best Modeling Clay:Crayola Modeling Clay
• Best Travel Kit:Crayola Color Wonder Mess Free Baby Shark Coloring Set
• Best Social-Emotional Learning Kit:Homer Explore Kits
• Best Glitter Kit:Crayola Sprinkle Art Shaker Activity Set
• Best Coloring Kit:Crayola Inspiration Art Case
• Best Drawing Kit:Prismacolor Technique Animal Drawing Set Level 1
• Best Colored Pencil Set:Ooly Kaleidoscope Multi-Colored Pencils

Best Overall: Kid Made Modern Arts and Crafts Supply Library

Why We Like It

A great choice for big kids, the Kid Made Modern Arts and Crafts Supply Library has everything your little artist needs to make anything they could dream up. Great for encouraging free-form creativity, the set comes withover 1,000 piecesin a reusable box. The kit includes fuzzy sticks, wooden pieces, felt pieces,craft sticks, wooden discs, wooden beads, plastic beads,sticky-back jewels,googly eyes, sequins, glue, needles, and evenscissors.It's a great value and perfect for starting or refilling your craft supply stash.

But Take Note

Lots of small pieces make this kit inappropriate for younger kids.

The Details:

• Age range:8 years and up
• What's included:Over 1,000 pieces

Best for Toddlers and Preschoolers: Alex Toys Little Hands Picture Mosaic

Why We Like It

This kit withhundreds of stickersand shapes is just the thing to help little ones work on their finemotor skills. While creating colorful collages, your child can also practice identifying shapes and colors.The kit contains fivemosaic square pictures, each packaged separately with its own stickers, and allows your little one to create a lion, a house, a birthday cake, a cereal bowl, and flowers.This low-cost kit can help build confidence and improve dexterity.

But Take Note

This kit only includes five single-use projects.

The Details:

• Age range:3 years and up
• What's included:Five mosaic pictures and 984 stickers
  

Best Sidewalk Chalk: Coconut Float Rae Dunn Jumbo Outdoor Sidewalk Chalk -Doodle

Why We Like It

We love this jumbo sidewalk chalk set for its simplicity andease of use. Let your littles scribble all over the sidewalk or driveway, and either rinse their art away with a hose or let the rain take care of cleanup. With20 pieces of chalk, this package includes enough for everyone who wants to doodle. According to Paredes, chalk is great because it's very sensory. Maisonette sells a two-pack of buckets so you can double the fun.

But Take Note

Chalk dust can be messy, easily transferring onto hands and clothes.

The Details:

• Age range:3 years and up
• What's included:20 pieces of chalk
  

Best Modeling Clay: Crayola Modeling Clay

Why We Like It

This eight-piece kit comes in vibrant, bold colors and is non-toxic. It alsodoesn’t dry out—something that can be frustrating foryoung artists. Thesoft molding compoundis easy to play with, can be reused many times over, and is fun to mix together to create new shades. This is a great low-mess art activity that builds fine motor skills.

But Take Note

The packaging is not reusable, so you'll need a sealed tub to keep the clay from drying out between uses.

The Details:

• Age range:4 years and up
• What's included:8 pieces of modeling clay

Best Travel Kit: Crayola Color Wonder Mess Free Baby Shark Coloring Set

Why We Like It

Take creativity on the go with thismess-freeset by Crayola. Caregivers will appreciate that the markers only work on the coloring books, while kids will love that they have18 Baby Shark-themed pagesto color. From restaurants or doctor's appointments to car trips and plane rides, this is perfect for keeping your tots entertained in any circ*mstance where little hands need to be kept busy without a mess.

But Take Note

While Crayola's mess-free markers can’t be used on regular paper, they can be used on any of the company's mess-free paper and coloring books.

The Details:

• Age range:3 years and up
• What's included:18 pages and 5 markers
  

Best Social-Emotional Learning Kit: Homer Explore Kits

Why We Like It

Big feelings can be difficult to navigate, so we love that the Homer Explore Feelings Kit allows preschoolers through kindergartners to explore all those overwhelming, scaryemotionsthey’re experiencing. Throughstorytelling, acting, coloring, and games, your child will have fun learning more aboutverbalizing their feelingsand engaging in social-emotional learning. This kit can help build emotional intelligence and social skills.

But Take Note

The crayons may break easily.

The Details:

• Age range:3 years to 6 years
• What's included:Magnetic story box, 50+ magnets, felt Yeti mask, activity book, and more

Best Glitter Kit: Crayola Sprinkle Art Shaker Activity Set

Why We Like It

Perfect for any sparkle-loving crafty kid, this isn’t exactly glitter, but that's part of what we love about it. Glitter can be troublesome, so this is a great alternative. Kids cancreate their own designsusing the included glue stick or apply the glue to line art wherever they want sprinkles to stick. Once the glue is applied, they can close the cover, insert thesprinkle tubeinto the chamber, andshake to see their designtake on a shiny look. The excess sprinkles flow back into the tube to limit waste and mess. The kit comes with the art shaker, sprinkles, and coloring pages.

But Take Note

Kids may find it difficult to keep the colors separate, and the craft may require a grown-up’s help to use until kids get the hang of it.

The Details:

• Age range:5 years and up
• What's included:12 project sheets, glue tubes, art shaker, and bottles of sprinkles

Best Coloring Kit: Crayola Inspiration Art Case

Why We Like It

For the child who shows a real interest in visual art, thisgiant portable kithas everything they’ll need. It includes colored pencils, crayons, washable markers, and blank coloring paper. With140 toolsfor drawing and coloring, this is a great value starter kit for your budding young artist that encourages free-form creativity.

But Take Note

This set includes lots of little pieces, but it comes in a handy carrying case where everything has a place.

The Details:

• Age range:5 years and up
• What's included:Case with 140 pieces
  

Best Drawing Kit: Prismacolor Technique Animal Drawing Set Level 1

Why We Like It

Older kids will love learning the fundamentals of drawing and shading through theonline lessonsincluded with this animal drawing colored pencil set. It contains 18 colored pencils, two markers, a magic rub eraser, a drawing pad, and many more tools to create an animal masterpiece. Plus, with access to hours of drawing content, they can move at their own pace.

But Take Note

This kit focuses on just one animal, and while the online instruction videos are educational, they may defeat the purpose if your intent is for some screen-free activity time.

The Details:

• Age range:Not listed
• What's included:26 pieces and online lessons

Best Colored Pencil Set: Ooly Kaleidoscope Multi-Colored Pencils

Why We Like It

Your budding artist will be blown away by this set of seemingly simple colored pencils. While the pack includes just five pencils, each one delivers aprism of five vibrant colors—in all you get 25 shades in just five pencils. The unique pencils have a chunky barrel shape to help younger kids comfortably grip them while they draw.

But Take Note

These multicolor pencils could frustrate kids looking for specific colors.

The Details:

• Age range:3 years and up
• What's included:5 colored pencils
  

Best Subscription for Toddlers and Preschoolers: KiwiCo Koala Crate

Why We Like It

Looking for asubscription boxfor your artistic kiddo? Koala Crate, one of several lines in KiwiCo’s subscription model, sends outmonthly arts and crafts projectsto little ones just learning how to turn those new motor skills into works of art. A rainbow-themed project, for instance, includes everything you need to make a stained-glass landscape out of colorful squares and cut-out shapes of mountains and trees. A cute detail that we love is thatKiwiCo addresses each kit to your kiddo, so they will be thrilled to get their own mail.

But Take Note

Many activities may require adult assistance.

The Details:

• Age range:3 years to 4 years
• What's included:Book (optional), colorful squares, and more
  

Best Paint by Numbers: Hiolife Paint by Numbers

Why We Like It

This pre-printed textured art kit will provide hours of fun for kids who want to express themselves creatively but may not know quite where to start. To create their masterpiece, your kiddo will simplyfind a number on the canvas, apply the paint that corresponds with that same number, and then repeat. While the final piece will probably take a few days, they will be pretty impressed with the results.

But Take Note

This project will take a while to finish, so perseverance and patience are required.

The Details:

• Age range:6 years and up
• What's included:Art canvas, paints, brushes, and hanging tools
  

Best Dotting Kit: Insnug Mandala Dotting Tools Painting Kit

Why We Like It

One dot is just a dot, but with this kit, many dots create a colorful, whimsical design worth displaying. The86-piece setcomes with everything older kids will need to get started, including acute mini wooden easel. While the set also includes an instruction manual, there's plenty of room for creativity with these supplies.This is a perfect craft for teaching focus and patience.

But Take Note

The tedious, repetitive nature of this craft means it requires patience, but also that it's soothing.

The Details:

• Age range:Not listed
• What's included:86 pieces and a mini wooden easel

Best Jewelry Kit for Younger Kids: Biranco Pop Beads Jewelry Making Kit

Why We Like It

Little kids will love getting in on the jewelry-making fun with this easy-to-use pop bead kit. Kids can make rings, necklaces, bracelets, and hairbands by simply popping the beads together. The kit comes with a wide variety of bead shapes, sizes, colors, and textures. This craft can help kids build fine motor skills.

But Take Note

This kit includes small parts, so is not appropriate for children under age 3 or kids who are still putting objects in their mouths.

The Details:

• Age range:3 years and up
• What's included:520 pieces

Best Big Art Kit for Teens: Vigorfun Deluxe Art Set

Why We Like It

For the teen who is really getting into visual arts, thiskit has it all: oil pastels, watercolors, oil paint, acrylic paint, colored pencils, brushes, three canvases, and more. Everything is packaged in a very mature-looking,tiered wooden carrying casethat will help keep their supplies organized and in great condition. It's a great way to encourage their skills and expand their exposure to different media. It's also a great value.

But Take Note

There's no guidance for beginners, so this would be best for kids at an intermediate level in art or higher.

The Details:

• Age range:Not listed
• What's included:85 pieces in storage case
  

Best Craft Kit for Teens: Craft-Tastic String Art Kit

Why We Like It

If your teen is into room decor, they will jump at the chance to make their own display pieces with this string art kit. Highly engaging, this kit featuresthree shapes to choose from, and once your kid gets the hang of creating with the string, they can even make up their own design. The kit comes with clear,concise directionsthat make creating wall-worthy art simple.It's great for helping kids cultivate focus.

But Take Note

Too much tension can pull pins inward, so it may take some trial and error to get it right.

The Details:

• Age range:10 years and up
• What's included:Three string canvases, pins, and yarn (181 pieces total)
  

Best Jewelry Kit for Teens: Craft Crush Bracelet Box Kit

Why We Like It

With this kit, your teen can make up to eight chic boho-style bracelets. They will have everything they need to get started, including beads, strings, and clasps—andno extra tools are required. Art can be more than painting and drawing, and they’ll love wearing something they made themselves.

But Take Note

There are only a few crafts to make with this kit.

The Details:

• Age range:13 years and up
• What's included:135 pieces
  

Best Diamond Art Kit for Beginners: Dan & Darci Gem Art Diamond Painting for Kids

Why We Like It

Diamond art, where you use jewels to create a painting, is trending right now. This kit, for ages 6 and up, allows your little crafter tocreate sparkly keychains, stickers, and charmsthey’ll be proud to show off. With 11 pieces to decorate and over 3,000 gems in eight different colors, your child will have plenty to work with. It's a great craft for encouraging patience and focus.

But Take Note

Some jewels may fall off or need re-gluing.

The Details:

• Age range:6 years and up
• What's included:11 pieces to decorate, 3,000+ gems
  

Best Diamond Art Kit for Older Kids: Tiny Fun 12-Pack Diamond Painting Kit (12x16)

Why We Like It

This diamond art kitis appropriate for tweens and teens, and would even make a great family activity to do with your kid. The kit comes with a dozen 12x16-inch prints to create. Kids will feel a sense of pride in creating a complex piece of art they can display in their room. This kit comes witheverything you need to glue the diamonds on the prints. The designs are very detailed, and the colors are bright.

But Take Note

This is another tedious, time-consuming activity, but it can be soothing and rewarding.

The Details:

• Age range:Not listed
• What's included:Cube clay, diamond tray, canvas, and hundreds of diamonds
  

Best Subscription for Older Kids: KiwiCo Doodle Crate

Why We Like It

The Doodle Crate will help your young makers age 9 and older express themselves with fun crafts and interesting projects.Each month, they’ll receive everything they need for a brand-new project, and theeasy-to-follow instructionsmean they’ll probably be able to do it all by themselves. Kids will love making gardens out of felt, stitching a faux leather portfolio,creating their own colored soap, and more.

But Take Note

There’s a chance your child won’t like all of the projects, and you may need to have some basic craft supplies on hand to complete some activities.

The Details:

• Age range:9 years to 16 years
• What's included:Faux leather portfolio, felt materials, and more
  

Our Review Process and Experts

To find out what types of arts and crafts are best for kids, we consulted withNadia Paredes, MA, LMFT, ATR, a mom, art therapist, and president of the American Art Therapy Association. To find the best products to align with our expert's recommendations, we researched dozens of art kits on the market, looking at cost, subject matter, age level, and consumer reviews. We also talked to kids and parents who tried several of these kits to gather some additional hands-on insights.

Factors to Consider When Buying Art Kits for Kids

• Age Level:Most art kits offer guidelines about appropriate ages on the box (but not always). Smaller kids won’t need very complex projects to engage them; it's more important to prioritize something they can play with safely—and without small pieces. Older kids can handle written instructions and will find satisfaction in following them to completion. According to Paredes, Viktor Lowenfeld’s theory of artistic development—which outlines stages from scribbling through pseudorealism, roughly based on age—is a good starting point for understanding what kind of kits or projects are best for your kids.
• Ease of Use:Clear instructions are important for some kits, but not all. Many art sets are freeform, while others are self-explanatory. Still, you may need to help small children by demonstrating new skills or techniques, like playing with sidewalk chalk or modeling clay.Paredes cautions against overwhelming children, especially younger ones, as this can lead to frustration.
• Materials:Some kits offer a limited amount of materials, so when kids are done with the project, they’ll need to start something new, or you’ll need to buy additional materials. Others can be visited again and again—although eventually, they’ll run out of pencil or paint.
  

What Should Be Included in an Art Kit?

This varies depending on the kit. For kids who are already into art or crafting, look for tools and raw supplies. Conversely, a child who is exploring their interests for the first time may want something more regulated—a specific project.Paredes says it’s also about the overall mood. “If you want a fun thing where they're just dancing around having fun, paint will be great," she says. "But if you want them to calm down and you see that they're very dysregulated, you may want to offer something that is more controlled.”

Who We Are

Tanya Edwardsis an experienced parent, food, beauty, and health journalist who has been writing and editing parenting stories for over a decade. She’s always doing arts and crafts projects with her nieces and nephews and loves to be the aunt who spoils the kids. One thing she’s learned over the years is that you don’t have to be great at art to enjoy it. Just explore!