My Favorite Materials for Drawing with Young Artists
I have loved putting these guides together for you and I hope you have found them helpful! I’m sharing my favorite materials for drawing with young artists below. Drawing is often the first place that most parents and caregivers start with. It is an exciting moment to see your child grab a crayon for the first time! Drawing is the foundation for all art making and is an important practice to foster at a young age. Luckily, there are endless tools available to provide young artists with a drawing experience that is developmentally appropriate, pleasing to the senses, and fun. I always recommend using the tools that you already have at home, but, if you are looking to expand your collection of supplies or get your child started in their artistic practice, these drawing tools provide a perfect start. I use affiliate links and any purchases you make from the links below may result in a small commission for me. Thank you for supporting Start With Art!
Construction Paper Crayons
These are my favorite crayons, ever. While they are labeled as construction paper crayons, they can be used on any kind of paper which is what makes them special! Their color is more opaque and saturated than other crayons and they can write and draw on dark paper. I always recommend these and they are a material that I’m asked about frequently!
Triangular Crayons
I love the shape of these crayons for a first drawing experience. The triangular shape provides an easy grip for very young children and they won’t roll off the table. Their thick shape makes them harder to break too when they are inevitably thrown!
Chunkies Paint Sticks
Every child that I have seen use Chunkies, loves them. They are a thick paint stick that glides seamlessly across the page. They feel great on paper and the color can’t be beat. Best of all? They dry FAST. Meaning no mess for you while your child still gets a paint-like experience. These are available locally in St. Louis at Honeycomb. If you need to use up a gift card or some points, there’s a link to them on Amazon above.
Write Start Colored Pencils
I love to expose children to pencils at a young age since so much technical drawing utilizes this tool—something they will hopefully be interested in and exposed to as they get older! These are a lovely place to start. Crayola always makes a quality product at an affordable price and these provide the experience of colored pencils with a chunkier feel that is perfect for young artists.
Ultra Clean Broad Tip Markers
When I’m buying markers in bulk (which happens to me a lot), I always reach for these. They are the marker I have found washes out every time, doesn’t skimp on opacity, and provides a wide variety of colors. I have washed these out of clothes with water alone that’s how washable they are. If you are scared of markers, these are for you!
Colors of the World Crayons
Once children move beyond the stage of gestural drawing and start to create more symbolic drawings, I recommend having these on hand. Just as it is important for children to see a wide variety of people, cultures, and traditions in their lives through their community, books, and media, it is also important to have the tools on hand for them to express that diversity in their art. Children should be able to depict themselves, family, friends, and community members in the beautiful rainbow of skin tones that make up humanity. This particular collection also includes markers and colored pencils if you prefer one of those mediums to crayons.
Have fun and keep on creating!