“We want to have our kids develop creativity,” explains art therapist Nadia Paredes, MA, LMFT, ATR, and president-elect of the American Art Therapy Association. “Creativity is our ability that helps us adapt basically to realize. Creativity—it’s a cognitive function. [It] works out, as if we had a mental gym.”
The best art kits for your kids will be easy for them to use on their own or with minimal guidance, align with their developmental age, and encourage their creativity over time. Since every child’s version of creativity is different, it is important to allow your child to guide their own artistic expression in a way that feels comfortable for them.
Based on Paredes’ advice, feedback from the kids in our lives, and our research, here are the best art kits for kids of all ages.
Price at time of publication: $40
“I feel like with the older kids, [collages show] them they can still do art, but [it] does not necessarily need to look a certain way because you can’t copy your collage,” says Paredes. The kit contains five square pictures, each packaged separately with its own stickers, and allows your little one to create a lion, house, birthday cake, cereal bowl, and flowers.
Price at time of publication: $12
Price at time of publication: $9
Price at time of publication: $9
Price at time of publication: $11
Price at time of publication: $35
Price at time of publication: $15
Price at time of publication: $27
Price at time of publication: $34
Price at time of publication: $30
Price at time of publication: $9
Price at time of publication: $22
Price at time of publication: $30
Price at time of publication: $30
Price at time of publication: $41
Price at time of publication: $20
Price at time of publication: $20
Price at time of publication: $20
Price at time of publication: $10
Price at time of publication: $24 (monthly), $22 (monthly for 3 months), $20 (monthly for 6 months), $19 (monthly for 12 months)
Price at time of publication: $24 (monthly), $22 (monthly for 3 months), $20 (monthly for 6 months), $19 (monthly for 12 months)
We also consulted with mom and art therapist Nadia Paredes, MA, LMFT, ATR, and president-elect of the American Art Therapy Association.
What to Look for in Art Kits
Paredes emphasized that while not all kids are going to be great artists, art can be a way they learn to express themselves. “I think it’s very important for parents to allow their children to express themselves—not expecting beauty out of art,” Paderes explains. “I think that is very important: That art does not have to be beautiful in order to be meaningful.” With that in mind, there are a wealth of products to choose from, ranging from free-form creative kits to more regimented projects; and for all age levels. Here are some criteria to help you narrow down your choices.
Age Level
Most art kits for kids will give you guidelines about appropriate ages, usually right on the box. Smaller kids won’t need very complex projects to engage them. It is more important to prioritize something that they can play with safely—and without small pieces. Older kids can handle written instructions and will find satisfaction in following them to completion. Paredes says following 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 of these kits, but not all. However, you may need to help small children by demonstrating any new skill or technique, like doodling with sidewalk chalk or using modeling clay. All of our more complex picks were selected because the instructions were clear and concise. Paredes also cautions against overwhelming children, especially younger ones. “Give them two or three options, and of course the younger they are, the fewer the options, because it can be overwhelming.” “With the older [kids], you can definitely give [them] way more options and just ask, ‘What do you feel like doing today? What’s calling your mind and your heart?’” she continues. “Then they will know what they need because there’s an intuitive connection to it.”
Engagement Over Time
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.
Why Trust Verywell Family
Tanya Edwards is 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 that 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! 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. 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.” “Childhood is where we are at our most artistic,” Paredes explained. “Children express themselves naturally through the arts.”
