How to Choose a Kids Art Set: A Guide by Age and Budget
Which art set suits your child? What to look for at each age, how many pieces you really need, and easy options for birthdays and return gifts.
In this guide
Kids art sets range from a simple water colouring book to a case with more than a hundred pieces. A bigger set is not always better, because a small child will only use a few of the items. Here is how to choose by age, and what to check before you buy.
Start with your child's age
Around 3 to 5 years
Keep it simple and low on mess. The JIKRA water painting book is for ages 3 and above: dip the brush in water, touch the colour tray on the page and paint. The reusable water colouring book shows hidden colours when you brush plain water over the page. They fade in about 10 minutes as the page dries, so a child can colour it again.
Around 6 to 9 years
At this age children enjoy trying different materials. A boxed kit such as the 128 piece drawing kit keeps colour pencils, crayons, oil pastels, watercolour pens and sketch paper together in one case.
Around 10 years and up
Older children often want more range. The 145 piece sketching and colouring kit adds markers and paints to colour pencils and oil pastels.
How many pieces do you need?
Piece counts add up quickly, because every crayon and pencil counts as one. Look at what is inside instead of the total. A set with 24 colour pencils and 18 crayons will be used far more than one padded out with small extras.
Materials compared
| Material | Good for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Crayons | Young children, big areas | Less detail |
| Colour pencils | Drawing and detail | Need sharpening |
| Oil pastels | Bright, blended colour | Can smudge on hands |
| Watercolours | Painting and practice | Need water and a little supervision |
| Markers | Bold lines | Keep the caps on so they do not dry out |
Gifts and return gifts
A boxed art kit works well as a birthday gift, because it comes in its own case. For return gifts, a pack lets you hand out one each: the stationery set pack of 6 has six boxed kits, each with 2 pencils, a sharpener and an eraser. For a single gift with a theme, there is the unicorn stationery set.
What to check before you buy
- The age shown on the product page.
- The full list of what is in the box.
- Small parts, for younger children.
- Whether the case closes well, so that pieces do not get lost.
Keeping the mess under control
- Cover the table with newspaper or an old sheet.
- Use a small cup of water, not a full glass.
- Keep wet wipes close by for oil pastels and paint.
- Stay nearby when young children use small items or paint.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 128 piece art set good for beginners?
Yes. It gives a child several materials to try, and they can settle on the ones they like.
What is the best art gift for a 3 year old?
Something simple and low on mess, such as a water painting book made for ages 3 and above.
Can the water colouring book be reused?
The reusable book can. The colours fade as the page dries, so a child can colour it again.
Related guides
Products in this guide
JIKRA Water Painting Book – Magic Colouring Book for Kids, Paint with Water
JIKRA Water Colouring Book – Reusable Magic Colouring Book with Water Pen for Kids
JIKRA Drawing Kit – 128 Piece Art Set for Kids with Pencils, Crayons & Oil Pastels
JIKRA Colour Pencil Set – 145 Pcs Sketching & Colouring Kit
JIKRA Stationery Set for Kids – Pencil Sharpener Gift Set, Pack of 6
JIKRA Unicorn Pencil Sharpener – Unicorn Theme Stationery for Kids
