Coloring Supplies for Kids 6–12: The Complete Guide to Crayons, Pencils, Markers, Paper and Tools

For most children aged 6 to 12, the right coloring supplies are a box of colored pencils, a box of crayons and a set of washable markers, all labeled non-toxic, plus a good sharpener and paper that suits them. Everything else is a nice extra for a particular child: twist-ups for heavy pressers, erasable pencils for cautious colorers, skin-tone pencils for drawing people, metallics for a finishing touch. This guide sorts it all out and links to an honest, detailed Meowelo article on every supply.

We don't use star ratings or invented prices. Where we recommend a product, the reasons are written out, along with what it is not good for.

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The starter kit: three tools

Each of the three main tools does one job best. Colored pencils give control for details, faces and shading. Crayons fill big areas quickly and blend well. Washable markers give bright, solid color with no pressure at all. Crayons vs colored pencils vs markers compares them side by side for coloring pages, and concludes that most children use all three on the same page.

A simple starter kit

Pick	Best for	Good to know	Buy
Crayons for big areasCrayola Crayons, 24 Count (Pack of 2)	Bright, even color that shows up well on bold outlines	Standard wax crayons snap under very heavy pressure	$3.99 on Amazon.comSave 39% Price as of Oct 28, 5:00 PM UTC Details Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Check price on AmazonView on Amazon Paid link
Colored pencils for detailCrayola Colored Pencils, 36 Count	36 shades, including useful in-betweens	Needs a sharpener eventually	$6.57 on Amazon.com Price as of Oct 28, 5:00 PM UTC Details Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Check price on AmazonView on Amazon Paid link
Washable markers for bright colorCrayola Ultra Clean Washable Markers, Broad Line, 40 Count	Among the most washable kids' markers from skin and most fabrics	Broad tips aren't for tiny details	$18.99 on Amazon.com Price as of Oct 28, 5:00 PM UTC Details Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Check price on AmazonView on Amazon Paid link

Amazon shows the current price and delivery. Tap any name for our full write-up, including what it’s not good for.

Safety: what the labels actually mean

On children's art supplies, the label to look for is the ACMI AP seal, which means a toxicologist found no materials in amounts known to be harmful. "Conforms to ASTM D-4236" only means the label itself was reviewed, and non-toxic never means edible. Non-toxic art supplies for kids explains each label and what to keep away from younger siblings.

Crayons: size, snapping and when to switch

Large crayons suit younger children and anyone who presses hard; regular crayons suit children of about five or six and up who want smaller spaces and details. Large vs regular crayons helps you decide when to switch. Snapped crayons usually come from pressing hard while hand control is still developing, or from peeling off the paper that holds the crayon together: why your child keeps snapping crayons has six easy fixes, and broken pieces still color perfectly well.

Colored pencils: points, grips and special sets

• Broken points usually come from a dropped pencil, a dull blade or twisting too hard: pencil sharpeners for kids explains how to stop it.
• Grips: a soft sleeve can make holding a pencil more comfortable for some children: pencil grips for kids covers when they help and when to ask an occupational therapist.
• Erasable pencils are worth it for children who hesitate to start for fear of mistakes: erasable colored pencils.
• Skin-tone pencils let children color people the way people really look, including themselves: skin-tone colored pencils.

The fun extras

Once the basics are in place, a few extras add a lot of joy:

• Metallic crayons and glitter markers shine most on dark or already-colored areas, as a finishing touch: metallic crayons and glitter markers.
• Dot markers aren't just for toddlers: pointillism, mandalas and bold cards suit older children too: dot markers for big kids.
• A first watercolor set needs only a washable pan set, two pots of water and thick paper: a first watercolor set for kids.
• All-in-one art cases are a fun gift and a "try everything" kit, less so a child's main supplies: all-in-one art sets.

Supplies for particular hands

Left-handed children smudge less with the paper tilted clockwise, a seat on the left at a shared table and dry, quick-drying tools like crayons and colored pencils: coloring and writing tools for left-handed kids. Hand strength and grip develop at each child's own pace, and coloring helps along the way: coloring and fine motor skills describes the usual grip stages.

Where it all lives: a corner, a caddy and the walls

A coloring corner in a small home needs only one surface, one caddy of supplies at child height and one spot for paper, plus a two-minute tidy-up: see a kids' coloring corner in a small home. Washable supplies and a fixed coloring spot prevent most marks on walls and sofas, and the ones that happen usually come out with the right method: crayon on the wall, marker on the sofa. Finished pages go to the wall, a keepsake box or a photo: how to keep kids' artwork.

Paper and printing

Ordinary printer paper is fine for crayons and pencils; markers and watercolor need heavier paper. The right paper and printer settings for each tool are in how to print coloring pages at home, part of our guide to printables and printing.

For the grown-ups who color too

Many parents color alongside their children, and some want tools of their own. Soft-core pencils blend beautifully, oil-based pencils hold fine detail, and alcohol markers need single-sided pages: colored pencils for adult coloring books, markers for adult coloring books and coloring books for adults cover the choices.

What to buy first, by age

Every article in this guide

New supply articles appear here as soon as they are published.

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The one thing to remember

Three good basics, a sharp blade and the right paper cover almost everything. Add extras for the child in front of you, not for the size of the box.