83 Nursery/Pre-kindergarten/Preschool Kids (Aged: 3 – 5 years) and Pre-primary/Pre-elementary/Kindergarten Children (Aged: 5 – 6 years) Art and Craft Activities Supply Ideas – Paper Crafting, Painting, Drawing and Coloring, Developing Fine Motor Skills; Videos and Images/Photos/Pictures

82 Preschool and Kindergarten Art and Craft Supplies for Kids, Aged 3-6 Years

Introduction: Igniting Creativity in Little Artists

Welcome to a world where tiny hands transform everyday materials into magical creations! For children aged 3-6 years, preschool and kindergarten art and craft activities are not just about fun; they’re a vital part of their development. At this tender age, art and craft projects serve as a wonderful tool to enhance their motor skills, boost their creativity, and foster a love for learning.

As we delve into this guide, you’ll discover a treasure trove of ideas and supplies that will transform any crafting session into an adventure.

Kindergarten Children (Aged: 5 – 6 years) Art and Craft Activities Supply Ideas 2 Photos: 1. Photo credit: Freepik.

Preschool (Pre-kindergarten) and Kindergarten Art and Craft Activities Supply Ideas for Children Aged 3-6 Years

Paper Crafting Arts Supply Ideas

Here is the list of paper crafting art supplies for kindergarten and preschool kids along with their uses:

1. Colorful Construction Paper
   • Uses: Perfect for cutting out shapes, making collages, creating paper flowers, and other vibrant craft projects. Its sturdiness makes it suitable for various craft activities.
2. Contact Paper
   • Uses: Can be used for laminating artwork, creating stained glass crafts, or making stickers. It’s great for projects that require a protective or adhesive surface.
3. Copy Paper
   • Uses: Ideal for drawing, coloring, folding, and basic paper crafting. It’s a versatile and readily available material for many preschool crafts.
4. Graphing Paper
   • Uses: Useful for creating mosaics, learning to count, block coloring, and introducing basic geometry and patterns to preschool kids.
5. Index Cards
   • Uses: Perfect for making small crafts, flashcards for learning letters and numbers, and organizing small drawings or notes.
6. Newspaper
   • Uses: Great for papier-mâché projects, creating collages, and as a protective surface during messy craft activities. It can also be used for simple printmaking.
7. Paper Bags
   • Uses: Excellent for making puppets, gift bags, and simple storage for small craft items. They can also be decorated and used in imaginative play.
8. Paper Craft Rolls
   • Uses: These can be used for constructing simple structures, making binoculars, creating characters, and as a base for various decorations.
9. Scrapbook Paper
   • Uses: Ideal for detailed crafting projects, making cards, scrapbooking, and creating decorative elements with different patterns and textures.
10. Tissue Paper
    • Uses: Perfect for making flowers, collages, stained glass window projects, and other crafts that require a delicate, colorful touch.
11. Watercolor
    • Uses: Great for painting projects, creating backgrounds for other crafts, and introducing children to the basics of blending colors and painting techniques.

Painting Art and Craft Activities Supply Ideas

Here’s a list explaining each of the painting art and craft activities supplies for preschoolers and kindergarten children and their uses:

12. Canvas Large Paint Brushes

Large brushes with sturdy handles and wide bristles, perfect for little hands to create bold strokes on canvases.

13. Clothes Pins

Used to clip and hold paper or other materials in place while children paint, helping to keep their workspace organized.

14. Cotton Balls

Soft balls of cotton that can be dipped in paint and used for dabbing, creating textures, or applying paint in unique ways.

15. Cut Kitchen Sponges

Pieces of sponge that can be used for painting, making different textures and patterns with paint on paper.

16. Dish Cloth

A cloth used for cleaning up spills and paint messes, helping to keep the painting area tidy.

17. Do a Dot Art! Markers

Markers with a round, sponge tip that allows children to make dot patterns easily and without much mess.

18. Finger Paints

Thick, non-toxic paints that children can use directly with their fingers to create art, promoting sensory exploration.

19.Ink Pads

Pads soaked with ink that can be used with stamps for printmaking activities, adding a fun and different element to painting.

20. Kwikstix Solid Tempera Paint

Solid paint sticks that glide smoothly on paper, providing vibrant colors without the mess of traditional paints.

21. No Spill Paint Cups

Specially designed cups with lids that prevent paint from spilling, making painting activities less messy and more enjoyable.

22. Paint Pens

Pens filled with paint, allowing for precise application and vibrant colors, great for adding details to artwork.

23. Paint Tray

A palette or tray with multiple sections to hold different colors of paint, making it easier for children to mix and use paints.

24. Painting Smocks

Protective clothing worn by children to keep their clothes clean while they paint.

25. Paper Towels

Used for wiping brushes, cleaning up spills, or drying wet paint areas, essential for maintaining a clean workspace.

26. Q Tips for dot painting

Cotton swabs that can be dipped in paint and used for making small dots or detailed designs in paintings.

27. Sponge Painting Brushes and Rollers

Brushes and rollers with sponge tips that can create different textures and patterns when used with paint.

28. Standing Easel

A tall easel that holds paper or canvases upright, allowing children to paint while standing, which can be more engaging.

29. Standard Paint Brushes

Basic brushes with different sizes and shapes of bristles for applying paint in various ways.

30. Tabletop Easel

A small, portable easel that sits on a table, providing a stable surface for children to paint on while sitting.

31. Tempera paint sticks (they come in so many vibrant colors!)

Similar to crayons, these paint sticks are solid and easy to use, providing bright and bold colors without the mess of liquid paint.

32. Washable Kids Paint

Non-toxic, easy-to-clean paint designed specifically for children, allowing for worry-free creativity.

33. Water Cups

Small cups used to hold water for rinsing brushes between colors, essential for watercolor painting and keeping brushes clean.

34. Water Color Paints

Paints that are mixed with water to create translucent colors, perfect for creating layered and soft effects in paintings.

35. Watercolor Pencils

Colored pencils that can be used dry or with water, allowing for a watercolor effect when brushed with water.

By using these supplies, preschool children can explore a wide range of artistic techniques and develop their creativity in a fun and engaging way.

Pre-kindergarten and Preschool Arts and Crafts Painting Supply Ideas 3. A photo of DIY equipment; paintbrush; clothespin; needle; safety pins; acrylic paint tube; buttons; diy blocks and measuring tape isolated on white backdrop. Photo credit: Freepik.

Drawing and Coloring Art Supply Ideas

Here is the listed drawing and coloring art supplies for kindergarten and preschool kids, explained in details:

36. Charcoal

Charcoal sticks or pencils are used for drawing and shading. They produce rich, dark lines and can be smudged for different effects. While more commonly used by older children and adults, preschoolers might enjoy using thick charcoal sticks with supervision.

37. Colored Pencils

These are pencils with colored cores that can be used for drawing and coloring. They are easy for small hands to grip and control, allowing children to create colorful pictures with fine details.

38. Color Crayons

Crayons are a classic art supply for young children. They are easy to hold and come in a variety of bright colors. Crayons are great for coloring large areas and creating vibrant artwork.

39. Drawing Glove

A drawing glove is a special glove that covers the pinky and ring fingers, helping to prevent smudging on the paper while drawing. It’s more commonly used by digital artists but can be helpful for any child learning to draw to keep their work clean.

40. Eraser

An eraser is used to remove pencil or graphite marks from paper. For preschool kids, soft erasers are recommended as they are gentle on the paper and easy to use.

41. Gel Crayons

Gel crayons are similar to traditional crayons but have a smoother, more gel-like consistency. They glide easily on paper, providing bright and bold colors. They are less messy and can be used to create watercolor effects when mixed with a wet brush.

42. Graphite Pencil

A graphite pencil is used for drawing and writing. It comes in various hardness levels, but for preschoolers, a standard HB or 2B pencil is ideal because it produces a clear, dark line and is easy to erase.

43. Pastels

Pastels are sticks of pigment that come in various colors. They can be soft or hard, with soft pastels being more suitable for young children. Pastels are great for blending and creating smooth gradients of color.

44. Pencil Sharpener

A pencil sharpener is used to keep pencils sharp and ready for use. For preschoolers, a simple, manual sharpener is best, as it’s easy to use and safe under supervision.

45. Ruler

A ruler is a straightedge tool used to draw straight lines and measure distances. It’s a basic but essential tool that helps children learn about length and precision.

46. Stencils for Kids

Stencils are templates with cut-out shapes that children can trace around. They help preschoolers create consistent shapes and designs, making drawing easier and more fun.

47. Thick Markers (washable markers)

Thick markers have broad tips that are perfect for coloring large areas. Washable markers are especially good for preschoolers as they are easy to clean off skin and clothing.

48. Thin Markers (washable markers)

Thin markers have fine tips, making them ideal for drawing detailed lines and small areas. Like thick markers, they should be washable to make cleanup easy and stress-free for both kids and parents.

Developing Fine Motor Skills Art Supplies

Here is the list of developing fine motor skills art supplies for preschoolers and kindergarten children and what they are used for:

49. Beads

Description: Small decorative objects, often with holes, used for threading. Fine Motor Skills Development: Stringing beads improves hand-eye coordination, precision, and dexterity as children thread the beads onto strings.

50. Clay

Description: A natural or synthetic material that is pliable and can be molded into shapes.

Fine Motor Skills Development: Manipulating clay enhances grip strength, hand muscles, and coordination through squeezing, rolling, and shaping.

51. Cloud Dough

Description: A soft, moldable mixture typically made from flour and oil.

Fine Motor Skills Development: Playing with cloud dough helps with sensory exploration and strengthens the small muscles in hands as children press, pinch, and form shapes.

52. Hole Punch

Description: A tool used to punch holes in paper or thin materials.

Fine Motor Skills Development: Using a hole punch requires hand strength and coordination, promoting the development of these skills.

53. Large Plastic Needles

Description: Oversized needles made from plastic, safe for children to use.

Fine Motor Skills Development: Threading these needles through fabric or plastic canvas helps refine fine motor control and coordination.

54. Pipe Cleaners

Description: Flexible, fuzzy sticks that can be bent into various shapes.

Fine Motor Skills Development: Twisting and bending pipe cleaners enhance dexterity and coordination, as well as creative thinking.

55. Plastic Canvas

Description: A stiff, grid-like material used for stitching projects.

Fine Motor Skills Development: Using plastic canvas with needles or yarn encourages precise movements and coordination.

56. Play-Doh and Play-Doh Tools

Description: A pliable modeling compound with various tools like cutters and rollers.

Fine Motor Skills Development: Manipulating Play-Doh and using tools to shape it improve hand strength, dexterity, and creativity.

57. Ribbon for Cutting

Description: Strips of fabric or other materials that children can cut with scissors.

Fine Motor Skills Development: Cutting ribbon develops scissor skills, coordination, and control.

58. Slime

Description: A stretchy, squishy substance made from glue and borax or other ingredients. Fine Motor Skills Development: Stretching and squeezing slime helps improve hand strength and sensory awareness.

59. Strong Stretchy String

Description: Durable elastic string used for threading beads or other activities.

Fine Motor Skills Development: Stretching and threading the string enhances fine motor control and hand-eye coordination.

60. Tweezers

Description: Small tools used for picking up and manipulating small objects.

Fine Motor Skills Development: Using tweezers improves pincer grasp, precision, and control, important for tasks like writing.

61. Yarn or Thread

Description: Long, thin strands of fibers used for sewing, weaving, or crafting.

Fine Motor Skills Development: Handling yarn or thread for threading, sewing, or weaving activities helps refine fine motor coordination and dexterity.

Each of these art supplies engages preschool children in activities that promote the development of fine motor skills, which are essential for tasks such as writing, buttoning, and using utensils.

Pre-kindergarten and Preschool Arts and Crafts Coloring Supply Ideas 4. Photo credit: Freepik. 

Other Art and Craft Supply Ideas

Here’s a list of other art supplies for preschool and kindergarten kids along with their uses:

62. Buttons

Buttons can be used for a variety of craft projects. Kids can glue them onto paper to create colorful designs, sort them by color or size, or use them as embellishments for other creations.

63. Canvas

Canvas is a sturdy surface for painting. Preschool kids can use it to create lasting works of art with paint, markers, or other mediums.

64. Canvas Bags

Canvas bags can be decorated with fabric markers, paint, or other materials. They provide a functional project that kids can use to carry their belongings.

65. Cardboard Tubes

Cardboard tubes from paper towels or toilet paper rolls are versatile crafting items. They can be used to create animals, telescopes, or various 3D art projects.

66 Chalk

Chalk is great for drawing on sidewalks, chalkboards, or chalk paper. It comes in various colors and is easy to wash off.

67. Chalk Board

A chalk board provides a reusable surface for drawing and writing with chalk. It’s perfect for creative expression and practicing fine motor skills.

68. Coffee Filters

Coffee filters can be used in art projects such as making flowers, snowflakes, or even tie-dye effects with watercolors.

69. Decorative Scissors

Decorative scissors have patterned blades that create unique edges on paper. They add a fun element to cutting activities and are safe for young children to use.

70. Dry Erase Board

A dry erase board offers a reusable drawing and writing surface. It’s ideal for doodling, practicing letters, and playing educational games.

71. Dry Erase Markers

Dry erase markers are used on dry erase boards. They come in various colors and are easy to wipe clean, encouraging repeated use.

72. Feathers

Feathers add texture and color to art projects. Kids can glue them onto paper, masks, or other creations to enhance their artwork.

73. Food Coloring

Food coloring can be used to dye different materials like playdough, water, or coffee filters. It adds vibrant color to various sensory and craft activities.

74. Glue Sticks

Glue sticks are easy for little hands to use. They’re great for sticking paper, buttons, pom-poms, and other lightweight materials together without making a mess.

75. Googly Eyes

Googly eyes add a fun, animated element to crafts. They come in different sizes and can be glued onto paper, cardboard tubes, and other creations.

76. Laminator

A laminator is used to protect and preserve artwork. Laminated pieces are durable and can be used for making reusable activity sheets or lasting keepsakes.

77. Paper Plates

Paper plates are versatile and can be transformed into masks, animals, or other creative projects. They are easy to cut, paint, and decorate.

78. Pom-Poms

Pom-poms are colorful, fluffy balls that add texture to art projects. They can be glued onto various surfaces to create fun designs.

79. School Glue

School glue is a liquid adhesive that’s safe for kids. It’s used to bond paper, fabric, and other materials and is easy to wash off hands and surfaces.

80. Stickers

Stickers come in various shapes, sizes, and themes. They are great for decorating art projects and can be used to reward and encourage kids.

81. Tape

Tape is used for attaching materials together. Different types, like masking tape or decorative tape, can add functionality or aesthetic appeal to crafts.

82. Wood Rounds

Wood rounds are small slices of wood that can be decorated with paint, markers, or other materials. They provide a natural, rustic canvas for art projects.

83. Wooden Craft Sticks

Wooden craft sticks, also known as popsicle sticks, are versatile for building structures, making puppets, or creating other imaginative projects.

These supplies offer a range of possibilities for creativity and learning in a preschool setting.

Nursery/Pre-kindergarten/Preschool Kids and Pre-primary/Pre-elementary/Kindergarten Children Art and Craft Supply Ideas Videos: 1 and 2

Conclusion

From finger paints to glitter glue, the options for art supplies are endless. Dr. Harper suggests focusing on materials that are safe, easy to handle, and versatile. Items like non-toxic crayons, washable markers, and child-friendly scissors are essential staples in any preschool or kindergarten classroom. But beyond the basics, introducing unusual items such as foam shapes, textured papers, and natural objects like leaves and twigs can spark unique artistic expressions.

Whether you’re a teacher looking to enrich your curriculum or a parent aiming to inspire your child’s inner artist, these suggestions will help you create an environment where imagination knows no bounds. So, gather your supplies, roll up your sleeves, and get ready to embark on a colorful journey into the heart of creativity!

Nursery/Pre-kindergarten/Preschool Kids (Aged: 3 – 5 years) and Pre-primary/Pre-elementary/Kindergarten Children (Aged: 5 – 6 years) Art and Craft Activities Supply Ideas – Paper Crafting, Painting, Drawing and Coloring, Developing Fine Motor Skills; Videos and Images/Photos/Pictures

A photo of preschool art and craft supply ideas. Photo credit: Freepik.