Want to encourage your children’s creativity?

Give the gift of art.

Bundle a few related art supplies together with an inspiring book or two and give to a young artist in your life. I’ve put together some ideas for themed kids art kits here to get you started. Or create your own based on the recipients particular interests and talents…

6 Kids Art Kits to Make

The following are general ideas to get you started. You don’t need to include all of these items! Pick and choose the ones that you think would best suit the child and your budget.

Also, please note that links to online versions of the following are provided for your convenience. Both so you can click through and see a picture of the item, the price, and (in some cases) reviews and to give you a convenient online location to buy if you prefer to do your shopping online. However, please know that you can find much of these (or similar items) at your local art supply stores, toy stores, and book stores.

You can always include a copy of The Artful Parent for lots of art activity ideas! Or refer to the kids arts and crafts directory for ideas of what to do with the art kits…

Drawing Kit for Kids

For the kid who loves to draw, sketch, and doodle

Ideas for What to Include (from Stubby Pencil Studio, Amazon, and Imagine Childhood)

• A sketchbook
• A set of colored pencils and/or a set of Smarkers scented markers
• A rainbow pencil
• A set of fine drawing pencils
• An eraser
• A pencil sharpener
• A doodle book or a few creativity-inspiring printables
• A stack of challenge drawing pages
• A how-to-draw book (such as Ed Emberley’s Drawing Book of Animals or another Ed Emberley book)
• The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers (make sure to add a box of crayons to the drawing kit if you include this book!)
• Ish by Peter Reynolds
• A tabletop drawing desk

Painting Kit for Kids

For the kid who loves to paint

Note :: If making painting kits for multiple kids, you can divide the paints into small mason jars.

Ideas for What to Include (from Discount School Supply and Amazon)

• Ultimate art paper
• 1-3 stretched art canvases
• 4-6 colors of washable tempera paint or (my favorite) BioColors
• A set of paint brushes in different sizes
• No-spill, double-dip paint cups
• Paint scrapers
• Glitter
• Art mat or art tray
• Washable painting smock (or make your own from a T-shirt)
• Art easel
• I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More! by Karen Beaumont
• Sky Color by Peter Reynolds
• Willow by Denise Brennan-Nelson

Printmaking Kids Art Kit

For the kid who loves to print

Ideas for What to Include (from Amazon)

• Water-soluble printing ink
• Or paints
• A bundle of Q-tips or cotton buds
• A mini trim roller (found in the paint section of the hardware store)
• A hard rubber brayer
• Art paper
• An acrylic box frame
• Rubber stamp-making kit
• Styrofoam sheets
• Foam stickers (to use on a rolling pin or piece of cardboard)
• Bubble wrap
• Art mat or dollar store plastic tablecloth
• Ed Emberley’s Complete Funprint Drawing Book
• Ink pad

A Sculpture Art Kit for Kids

For the kid who loves to build

Ideas for What to Include  (from Discount School Supply and Amazon)

• Toothpicks or bamboo skewers
• A bag of marshmallows or gumdrops
• Wood craft sticks
• A box of wood bits (buy or make or beg off of a woodworker friend)
• Wood glue
• Small hammer and nails
• Styrofoam pieces
• Aluminum foil
• Twisteez wire
• Duct tape
• Pipe cleaners
• Beads and/or buttons
• Cardboard tubes (save up your paper towel rolls and wrapping paper rolls)
• Cardboard boxes
• Glue gun
• Look! Look! Look! at Sculpture by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace and illustrated by Linda K. Friedlaender
• Iggy Peck, Architect by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by David Roberts

Two Different Kids Art Kits for Collage Lovers

A Paper Collage Art Kit

For the kid who likes to cut and paste paper

Ideas for What to Include  (from Artterro and Amazon)

• An Artterro Creativity Kit
• Shizen design paper craft pack
• Fabric and ribbon set
• Washi tape variety pack
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Bottle of glue
• Glue stick
• Markers or crayons
• A hole punch (I recommend the Up and Up brand single hole punch from Target)
• The Art of Eric Carle
• Henri’s Scissors by Jeanette Winter

A “Bits and Pieces” Collage Kit for Kids

For the kid who likes to glue and arrange small art materials

Ideas for What to Include  (from Discount School Supply and Amazon)

• Extra sturdy tagboard
• Cardboard
• Glue bottle
• Glitter glue
• Stationery store stickers such as circle stickers, labels, and hole reinforcement stickers
• Glitter
• Rainbow feathers
• Googly eyes
• Sequins or buttons
• A sorting tray for holding the collage items (an hors d’oeuvres tray or muffin tin works well, too)
• Beautiful Oops by Barney Saltzberg

What do you think? Would you make and give kids art kits to the children in your life?

P.S. Here’s a post about Artful Gifts for parents, families, and teachers.

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