Paints, pencils and brushes for school and art class

Paints and painting supplies for kids and school

Paints and supplies for kids range from the first finger painting in kindergarten to the paint box in art class. In this category you'll find paints, pens, pencils and brushes for school and for painting sessions at home, plus accessories like mixing palettes and water cups. Most school paints are water-based and easy to mix.

Which paint is right for what

For toddlers, finger paints and chunky crayons are a good start because they're easy to use without much skill. In elementary school, colored pencils, felt-tip pens and the opaque paint box come into play. Chalk is also available for chalkboards and sidewalks.

Watercolors are translucent and let the surface show through, while opaque paints and gouache cover more strongly and work well for bold, flat areas of color. The brush makes a difference too: use round brushes for details and flat brushes for larger areas. School brushes, soft-hair brushes and bristle brushes come in different sizes.

• Crayons and chalk for first drawings, chalkboards and sidewalks
• Watercolor and gouache paints with paint boxes
• Colored pencils and felt-tip pens for school and coloring pages
• Finger paints for painting with your hands
• Brushes in different shapes and sizes

Tip: For watercolors and opaque paints, slightly thicker painting paper is worth it, because thin paper quickly buckles. You'll find details on washability and the recommended age on each product page.