I’ve been trying and testing a large variety of children’s paints for years.
Years.
And I keep coming back to the paints made and sold by Discount School Supply.
They are simply the best kids paints for arts and crafts
- Excellent quality
- Low price
- Great color selection
Our favorite kids paints
- Simply washable tempera paints (the best and cheapest tempera paint for kids; if you are budget conscious and just want to buy one kind of paint, go for this one)
- BioColor paints (our favorite kids paint; not as cheap but dries shiny and adheres to more surfaces)
- Activity Paints (a great all-around kids paint, thick and goopy in a good way; we especially love the metallic versions)
- Liquid watercolors (we LOVE liquid watercolors! Super vibrant and great for all kinds of art activities, science experiments, and more)
- Finger paints (great quality finger paints; you get a lot for your money)
Because of the awesome kids paints, and because they have lots of other great products and deals, I buy many of my kids’ art supplies from Discount School Supply and have long referred friends and readers to them.
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15 Comments
Nicki
November 4, 2016 at 2:53 pmWhat a great idea! I love looking through your lists of recommended art supplies – now it will be even easier to find them!
Jean Van't Hul
November 5, 2016 at 6:17 amThanks, Nicki! So glad this is helpful! :)
Poptop Children Parties
November 16, 2016 at 2:53 pmThanks for sharing!
What paints can you suggest for painting the kids hands, feets and face?
Jean Van't Hul
November 17, 2016 at 6:05 amWe use a variety of kids’ face paints and face paint sticks for faces and bodies. And we’ve used washable, nontoxic tempera paint as well, although I prefer not to put it on faces.
Helen
June 30, 2017 at 9:28 amHello. Thanks so much for your inspirational website. I wondered if you knew of good equivalents for these paints that are available in the UK as we don’t seem to be able to get them here.
S
July 19, 2017 at 5:34 pmYes, I would like to know that too! I love your books and website, but it’s sometimes very hard to find the resources here in the UK. Please can you recommend alternatives that are available here?
Jean Van't Hul
July 20, 2017 at 4:18 amI wish I could, but I am not as familiar with what is available in the UK. Perhaps check out a UK-based blog such as The Imagination Tree (https://theimaginationtree.com/) or Red Ted Art (https://www.redtedart.com/). Good luck!
Mary
September 26, 2017 at 2:57 pmWhich of the paints that you recommended would be best for painting on pumpkins? The painters will be young: 2-3
Sara
June 19, 2018 at 11:04 pmHave you tried Blick premium grade tempura. It was recommended to me by someone but I figured I’d ask you opinion before I splurge on it. It looks much thicker and creamier that the tempura I have used from Discount school supply.
Jean Van't Hul
June 20, 2018 at 4:08 amThat’s one that I actually haven’t tried yet, Sara. Will you let me know what you think of it if you try it?
Peggy Rolfsen
June 26, 2018 at 7:21 pmWhat type of paint would be best for stamping with a celery stick?
Jean Van't Hul
June 27, 2018 at 2:44 pmI’d go with a tempera paint, Peggy, especially if working with young children. You can get tempera anywhere but if you’re ordering from Discount School Supply, you can interchange Activity Paint or BioColors for the Tempera. All three work great.
Dani
July 5, 2018 at 7:37 pmHi! Thanks for the super helpful article. I was wondering, what paint would you recommend to use for a project involving kids painting unfinished wood? One that would adhere well and is appropriate for kids use?
Thanks!
Jean Van't Hul
July 6, 2018 at 7:47 amLiquid watercolors look great on unfinished wood! You can see them on wood in this post: https://artfulparent.com/beautiful-art-blocks-melted-crayon-on-wood/
You can also use acrylic paint on wood with older kids, just be mindful that acrylic paint is permanent.
And BioColors work on wood as well.
Good luck!
Karyn
October 15, 2018 at 5:24 amHi which paint do you recommend for a birthday party with different aged toddlers and kids. They will be finger painting and using matchbox cars instead of paintbrushes.