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From pipe cleaners and pom poms to cardstock paper and paint, discover the 10 must-have craft supplies every mom should keep on hand for easy kids crafts, rainy day activities, and creative fun at home.
Best Craft Supplies for Kids
Over the years, I’ve learned a thing or two about the best craft supplies for kids of all ages! No matter how old children get, they always love having the chance to create something of their own. Keeping a variety of craft supplies and art materials on hand makes it so much easier to encourage creativity during rainy days, playdates, sleepovers, classroom activities, or quiet afternoons at home.
Crafting is also a wonderful way for kids to practice fine motor skills, explore their imagination, and build creative confidence. Younger kids love cutting, gluing, and creating colorful projects, while older children enjoy thinking creatively and designing their own unique artwork. No matter the age, arts and crafts are always a fun and engaging activity!
10 Must-Have Craft Supplies for Kids
Whether you’re putting together a starter craft kit or simply looking for easy craft items to keep around the house, these must-have craft supplies for kids will make creative time more fun and low prep. Having a few basic art supplies ready to go can turn boredom into creativity in minutes.
Where to Buy Cheap Craft Supplies for Kids
You don’t need to spend a fortune building up your kids craft supplies! Some of our favorite places to shop for inexpensive craft materials are Dollar Tree, Walmart, Amazon, and local craft stores during seasonal sales. I also love grabbing extra basics like cardstock paper, pom poms, pipe cleaners, and googly eyes during back-to-school season when prices are usually lower.
My Top Favorite 10 Supplies for Kids
1. Pipe Cleaners
Bendable, colorful, and always a hit with kids, pipe cleaners are one of the best craft supplies to keep on hand! They’re fun for both crafting and open-ended creative play, making them a versatile addition to any kids craft kit.
Pipe cleaners can be twisted, bent, looped, and shaped into almost anything kids can imagine. We’ve used them for everything from our Pipe Cleaner Rainbow Craft to Egg Carton Flowers and even our DIY Borax Crystals tutorial!
2. Pom Poms
Pom poms are one of those craft supplies that instantly make any project more fun and colorful! Keep a variety of sizes and colors on hand and let kids decide where to place them for their own creative touch. They’re perfect for adding texture and personality to crafts like our Paper Plate Fish and Snowy Pinecone Ornaments.
3. Googly eyes
If you love animal crafts as much as we do, then googly eyes are an absolute must-have craft supply! They instantly bring creatures, monsters, and silly characters to life. Kids always have a blast choosing how many eyes to use and where to place them. We especially love using adhesive googly eyes since they’re much easier for little hands to work with. Try them with our Paper Roll Dragon Craft, Handprint Lion Craft, or Paper Plate Jungle Animals.
4. Paper plates
Paper plates are one of the best craft supplies for kids because they’re inexpensive, versatile, and easy to keep on hand. With just a few simple art materials, kids can quickly turn a paper plate into almost anything they can imagine! Some of our favorite paper plate crafts include our Paper Plate Unicorns, Paper Plate Flowers, and Paper Plate Dinosaurs.
5. Popsicle sticks
Popsicle sticks are a classic craft supply that can be used for everything from picture frames to mini houses and holiday crafts. They’re especially great for building and STEM-style creativity. We love using them for crafts like our Apple Popsicle Stick Frames, Glitter Popsicle Stick Frames, and Back to School Crayon Frames.
6. Glitter and Gemstones
Glitter may not always be a parent favorite, but kids absolutely LOVE it! A little sparkle can instantly make any craft feel extra special. We also love using mess-free gemstones to add colorful accents and shine to projects like our Glitter Bracelets, Tinker Bell Glitter Slime, and Handprint Flamingos.
7. Permanent & Washable Markers
Markers are one of the most useful art supplies for kids because they make adding details quick, colorful, and easy. Washable markers are perfect for younger kids, while permanent markers work wonderfully for outlining and adding finishing touches. We love using them for projects like our Kids Handprint Jellyfish Art and Dinosaur Coloring Activity.
8. Ribbon
Ribbon is such a fun finishing touch for kids crafts! Whether you’re tying bows, creating streamers, or adding movement to a project, ribbon adds texture and color in a simple way. We especially love using ribbon for crafts like our Pom Pom Ballerina Fairy and DIY Princess Wands.
9. Card stock Paper
Colorful cardstock paper is one of our most-used craft materials because it works for almost every project imaginable. It’s sturdier than regular paper and perfect for cutting, folding, tracing, and building crafts. Some of our favorite cardstock crafts include our Spring Roll Toilet Paper Rolls, Pool Noodle Boats, and Paper Bag Turkey Craft.
10. Acrylic paint
Acrylic paint is a must-have art supply for any kids craft stash! It’s bright, colorful, and works wonderfully for everything from painting backgrounds to adding bold details and accents. Keeping a variety of paint colors on hand makes it easy to create fun art projects whenever inspiration strikes.
How to Store Kids Craft Supplies
Keeping your craft supplies organized makes creative time so much easier and less stressful! We like storing our art supplies in clear plastic bins, rolling carts, or divided drawers so kids can quickly grab what they need. Small containers work great for organizing items like googly eyes, gemstones, buttons, and pom poms. Having supplies easy to access encourages kids to create more often!
Frequently Asked Questions
- What craft supplies should every parent have?
Some of the best basic craft supplies to keep on hand include cardstock paper, markers, glue, pipe cleaners, pom poms, googly eyes, paint, and popsicle sticks. These simple supplies can be used for hundreds of easy kids crafts. - What are good craft supplies for preschoolers?
Preschoolers do best with simple, easy-to-hold craft materials like washable markers, jumbo crayons, pom poms, stickers, paper plates, and large pipe cleaners. Adult supervision is always recommended with smaller craft items. - What are the best art supplies for kids?
The best art supplies for kids are ones that encourage creativity while being easy to use. Washable markers, acrylic paint, colored pencils, cardstock paper, glue sticks, and watercolor paints are all great choices for a beginner craft kit.
