Encouraging creativity is one of the most important things we can do for our kids. Most of them love to paint, color, and draw, and giving them gifts that allow them to express themselves makes us happy too! Here are some of the best art gifts for kids.
(Note: WeAreTeachers may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. We only recommend items our team loves!)
Best Art Gifts for Kids Ages 5–7
1. Dot Markers
These markers fit perfectly in little hands and will provide your art lover with hours of fun. They are washable, nontoxic, and come with a bonus activity book to help your child learn about letters and numbers.
Real teacher review: “As a teacher, I’m always on the lookout for quality, not-too-expensive school supplies and all kinds of things for crafts. Let’s just say this was a bingo! The students love it, and they get to use it as a reward. Glad I got it since it does motivate them to treat it with respect.”
Buy it: Dot Markers on Amazon
2. Low-Mess Crafts for Kids by Debbie Chapman
This helpful book is full of easy-to-follow projects that will allow your kids to get their creative juices flowing without making a huge mess. Added bonus: Many of the projects use things you already have lying around the house!
Real teacher review: “This book is amazing. I’m having lots of fun digging into it with my 3-year-old and my young ESL students. The crafts really are low-mess. The pictures are beautiful, and the creations are fun.”
Buy it: Low-Mess Crafts for Kids on Amazon
3. How To Draw 101 Animals by Dan Green
Learning to draw recognizable animals will make your child feel empowered and satisfied. This is a great guide with lots of pictures and detailed instructions that will help improve their concentration skills and keep their mind occupied for hours.
Real teacher review: “The easy-to-follow directions and step-by-step process made it easy for my first grade students to create their pictures.”
Buy it: How To Draw 101 Animals on Amazon
4. Crayola Washable Finger Paints
Grab some paper and let your kids create a masterpiece without worrying about staining a thing. These Crayola paints are nontoxic and come in squeezable bottles with flip-top caps to keep spills to a minimum.
Real teacher review: “These are very good, vibrant finger paints. I am a preschool teacher, so I am well versed in finger paint. They are a good consistency (not too thick, not too runny), and they washed off of my students’ hands easily without staining.”
Buy it: Crayola Washable Finger Paints on Amazon
5. 3D Texture Paintbrushes
Add new dimension to painting projects with these texturized brushes. They are easy to clean and have easy-grip handles for hours of creating.
Real teacher review: “I got these for my kindergarten classroom, and they were an absolute hit. The kids were so happy with their ‘stars’ and ‘flowers’ and experimented by twirling the brushes around and sliding them across the paper.”
Buy it: 3D Texture Paintbrushes on Amazon
6. Rock Painting Kit
This rock-painting kit comes with standard and metallic paints, art transfers, googly eyes, gems, and much more. Rocks included!
Real teacher review: “This was fun for my class. There are 10 small rocks, 12 paints, stickers, glitter glue, googly eyes, paintbrushes, a sponge, and gems in this kit … everything you need for 10 children to have craft time. They will have to share and take turns because there are only 2 paintbrushes and 1 sponge unless you have more somewhere.”
Buy it: Rock Painting Kit on Amazon
Best Art Gifts for Kids Ages 8–10
1. Fantastic Spinner
Your kids can make amazing art with this spinning kit—no batteries required. They can create one-of-a-kind cards and pictures. It’s so fun, you may want to join in!
Real teacher review: “Have used it several times with my students. They love it. Easy to do and great fun.”
Buy it: Fantastic Spinner on Amazon
2. String Art Kit
A string art kit is a great way to sharpen hand-eye coordination and let your kids get creative with a medium other than paint or markers. The canvases allow for easy hanging when they are done.
Real teacher review: “My students love playing with these. I usually buy a few at the beginning of the school year, and they make great indoor recess projects, or I save them as a prize if we are running a reading contest.”
Buy it: String Art Kit on Amazon
3. I Am Confident, Brave & Beautiful: A Coloring Book for Girls
This coloring book is a #1 bestseller for a reason. It not only promotes creativity with 22 pages to color, but it opens the door to have empowering conversations with our girls about self-confidence and what it really means to be beautiful and brave.
Real teacher review: “This is great to have in my classroom. Girls in elementary school need to start learning about confidence in a different way than I did as a child growing up in the ’80s. There are many great conversation starters.”
Buy it: I Am Confident, Brave & Beautiful: A Coloring Book for Girls on Amazon
4. How To Draw Cool Things by Rachel Goldstein
This book shows kids how to draw cartoons and 3D shapes and take their drawing to the next level while building confidence. Your child will feel so satisfied when they see their drawing jump off the page and come to life.
Real teacher review: “It was a fun and overall a great book! My students loved practicing the impossible drawings and the roll drawings!”
Buy it: How To Draw Cool Things on Amazon
5. Made by Me! Window Art
You’ll get your money’s worth with this kit—it comes with 20 projects. When your students are done, you’ll have stunning light-catchers to hang in the window.
Real teacher review: “I used this in my third grade classroom for a project. Each student made one, and they were really easy and looked great when finished. Note they do take a few days to dry, though.“
Buy it: Made by Me! Window Art on Amazon
6. Marbling Paint Art Kit
Marbling paint is a unique experience that many kids will love. Colorful pigments are used to “draw” patterns on water and get transferred to a surface with strong water absorption, such as paper, wood, cloth, and even plaster!
Real review: “A very fun activity for kids and adults. Less mess than acrylic pouring. Wish there was more paper included. Tips for the solution: Use hands to melt it, and then it’s ready. You don’t need to wait for 12 hours.”
Buy it: Marbling Paint Art on Amazon
Best Art Gifts for Kids Ages 11–13
1. Sketch and Drawing Pencil Kit
This inexpensive kit will provide your young artist with all the professional tools they need to make simple sketches or elaborate drawings.
Real teacher review: “If you are looking for a good set of pencils and other drawing materials, as a former art teacher I would recommend this set. It has more than enough drawing tools and in the appropriate types. The drawing pencils are very good for any type of drawing, from very fine mechanical-type drawing to sketching.”
Buy it: Sketch and Drawing Pencil Kit on Amazon
2. Artify Marker Set
These alcohol-based markers allow for precise lines. The kit comes with 40 colors, and you can even create your own shades by blending with the white marker.
Real teacher review: “I purchased two sets for my junior high art class, and my students love them. You can blend them to make your own colors, and my students enjoy doing that just as much as they like drawing with them.”
Buy it: Artify Marker Set on Amazon
3. Lightweight Easel With Bag
Your budding artist will feel like a pro with this lightweight easel that comes with a bag for easy travel and storage. It can stand on a tabletop or on the ground to adjust to your child’s creativity needs.
Real teacher review: “Love it! Compact, easy to assemble, lightweight. Use it for my mobile art school, and all my students like these easels.”
Buy it: Lightweight Easel With Bag on Amazon
4. Oil Pastels
Pastels are a great alternative to colored pencils and paint. They can be blended to make one-of-a-kind shades. This gift box comes with 50 colors that can be used on paper or canvas.
Real teacher review: “I use this pastel set in the classroom at least 2 to 4 times a month. The pastels never look used and don’t break (so far). They are nice-sized pieces, about 3 inches each and narrow, which is easy for little hands to manipulate. There are plenty of colors to do most every project.”
Buy it: Oil Pastels on Amazon
5. Manga for the Beginner by Christopher Hart
So many teens and tweens are into drawing manga characters, and Christopher Hart’s books come highly recommended. He provides step-by-step instructions that are easy to follow. Your child is sure to be proud of their manga drawings when following this book.
Real teacher review: “Christopher Hart is a genius; he integrates art education with manga technique. I’m an art teacher and tutor, and I gave this one to my student as an incentive prize. He loves it!”
Buy it: Manga for the Beginner on Amazon
6. How To Draw Cool Stuff by Catherine V. Holmes
This drawing guide is designed for both teachers and students, providing a great opportunity to collaborate and create in the classroom.
Real teacher review: “I love the author’s belief about her students! And these are fabulous art exercises that I will use for my classes!”
Buy it: How To Draw Cool Stuff on Amazon
What are your favorite art gifts for kids? Come and share in our WeAreTeachers Deals group on Facebook.
Plus, check out the best gifts for STEM-loving kids.
