When you are looking to engage your kids in a craft activity, it can be daunting trying to figure out where to begin.
What kid crafting supplies, you should have on hand in the home depends on your kids’ age, skill level, and interests.
However, when you are looking to build a basic (and not-so-basic) kids crafting supplies list, the choices are endless. You may already have many of these supplies collecting dust in your closet. If not, they can be purchased in any retail store or easily online.
If you’re interested in an arts and crafts subscription box, make sure to check out our article, 10 Arts & Crafts Subscription.
Here are some of the basic and not-so-basic kids crafting supplies you don’t want to forget.
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Dish Soap
Another not so basic kids craft supply is dish soap. The beauty of this one is that we already usually have some stocked up under our kitchen sink anyway.
Dish soap is useful for some craft experiments like making foam or bubbles. KiwiCo shows It can also be used in a number of cool DIY projects.
For other kitchen science experiments, check out our article, 15 Easy Kitchen Science Experiments (With Ingredients You Already Have).
Construction Paper
Construction paper is a must to include on any kid crafting supplies list. You can choose from larger packets containing all different colors, including pink, red, yellow, orange, green, purple, brown, blue, black, and white.
Construction paper is great for crafting with young ones. Each piece usually measures nine by 12 inches, and the kids can use them to draw pictures, fold, practice their cutting skills, and glue.
Tissue Paper
Tissue paper is another product that can assume many roles. While tissue paper can prove challenging to use for smaller kids, especially when it comes to folding, it makes for the best paper to use when creating suncatchers.
Remember, tissue paper can also stick onto gluey fingers, so a bit of patience may be required on the part of the adult AND child.
Streamers
Streamers are a popular decorating item used for birthday parties. However, it is multi-use and versatile and makes for a great crafting material for the kids.
You can do different arts and crafts projects with your older kids, preschoolers, or toddlers. Your child can use the streamers to create their own cloud wind puppet, a crepe paper flag, streamer wands, and windsocks.
If you are looking for projects for older kids, make sure to check out our article, 20 STEM Projects That Are Great for Middle School.
Kids Glue
It never hurts to have a classic like Elmer’s white glue on hand for all your kids’ art and crafts projects. White glue is easy to use, stays where it is put, can be wiped off easily, and is easy for little hands to hold onto.
If you are feeling more adventurous, go ahead and include some glue sticks, colored glue, and even glitter glue in your crafting arsenal.
Scissors
Scissors are another essential kid crafting supply you don’t want to forget. However, you will want to be a little careful with the one you choose. They make scissors for younger and older kids, so be sure to find a pair suitable for your child’s age.
Since these little kid scissors tend to get lost, it’s nice to have a few on hand.
Paint
When we say paint, it sounds like a generalized category, but it encompasses all things paint. From roll-it paint to acrylics to watercolors and so much more, there is such a variety to choose from when it comes to stocking your craft basket with paint for your kids.
Children under twelve years old should use child-grade paints. They are non-toxic and are not hazardous.
Kids Markers
Another basic and essential supply to include are markers. Like with paint, you can find an assortment of different types and colors to choose from, so there is something your little can use for every craft project they embark on.
There are wide tip and thin tip markers, scented markers, and even neon markers. You might want to read the label and make sure they are washable if they are going to be used by your younger kiddos.
Pipe Cleaners
Pipe cleaners are great to have because they can be twisted into any shape your child wants, including fun animals, monsters, and other cute things.
With an assortment of colors, the options really are endless. Pipe cleaners are bendable, flexible, easy to bend and twist, and can curve and wrap to fit most shapes.
Craft Sticks
Remember back when we were kids and we had to eat all the popsicles in the freezer to get the number of sticks we needed for a school art project?
Well, now it is just easier to buy these craft sticks online and stock up whenever they are needed.
Wooden craft sticks offer your child a smooth wooden surface that is sturdy enough for a variety of different arts and crafts projects. They can also be used for other projects like waxing and ice cream making.
Colored Masking Tape
When it comes to masking tape, you don’t want to pick just any. Reach for the colored masking tape since it can be used to make fantastic designs on paper. Choose from a pack of brightly colored or rainbow-colored masking tape packs.
They are easy to peel and easy to stick and are great for beginner projects and even just labeling everything in your craft room.
Crayons
Crayons are perfect alternatives to use in place of markers or paint, if you aren’t in the mood to clean up a big mess (my toddler recently started drawing on the walls). With so many different colors of crayons to choose from these days, your kids will find no shortage of creative fun.
Colored Pencils
What kids’ craft kit would be complete without an assortment of colored pencils? They are great to use for any arts and crafts project or for coloring up a storm in a new coloring book.
They are durable, long-lasting, and vibrant. They are also safe and non-toxic, making them a good choice for your preschoolers.
Beads
Beads come in different shapes, colors, and sizes. They make an impressive addition to your kids’ crafting supplies arsenal. Beads are very versatile and can be used in a number of different projects, including bead weaving, embroidering, sewing, jewelry making, and so much more.
Your child can also make pictures with the beads and glue the beads down on a piece of paper. It is a great time to review colors with your children too.
Yarn
If you consider making a pom-pom set, hair accessories, bracelets, or even a stuffed animal or doll, then you will want to add yarn to your child’s crafting arsenal. It is a relatively inexpensive addition that can be used for hundreds of arts and crafts projects.
Food Coloring
Food coloring is another primary kid crafting supply you can’t afford to forget. You can even make watercolors using food coloring and water. This can relieve you from the burden of buying paint and markers.
Food coloring is one of the essential materials in making the classic volcano eruptions at home and is good to have around for other artsy science experiments at home as well.
Fun Googly Eyes
Googly eyes are perfect for your kids during the holidays to make their favorite characters. Gather up your googly eyes, pipe cleaners, and a popsicle stick, and have your child get to work making Rudolph for Christmas or a 5-eyed monster for Halloween.
Magnets
Magnets can probably be considered one of those ‘not so basic’ kids crafting supplies. However, you can use them to help your kids make some cute DIY magnets for the fridge or they can be used in different science experiments to learn more about how they work.
Your child can decorate a clothespin, glue a small magnet to it and have something to pin up their artwork on the refrigerator.
Other Basic (and not so basic) kids crafting supplies to include on your list:
- Colored chalk
- Hole punch
- Disposable cups and plates
- Tablecloth
- Paint shirt
- Sponges
- Paint brushes
- White copy paper
- Cardstock paper
- Straws
- Rubber bands
- Cotton swabs
- Cotton balls
- Packing tape
- Pom-poms (small little ones)
- Stickers
- Aluminum foil
- Buttons
- Felt
- Non-drying clay
- Oven bake clay
- Kinetic sand
- Shaving cream
- Cornstarch
- Hair gel
- Cookie cutters
- Recycled containers
Final Thoughts
How many of these basic and not-so-basic kids crafting supplies do you currently have in stock?
Remember, you don’t have to have an extensive list like ours above for your child to have fun during arts and crafts time. Their imaginations can soar even when they just have a pencil and a piece of paper.
However, if you do want to build up your kids’ crafting supplies list, then we have included some real winners. Don’t forget to hold onto your recyclables too!
Toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls, egg cartons, cereal boxes, paper grocery bags, and even milk caps are all potential craft materials you can put aside for a rainy day.
