These drawing tools are perfect for toddlers and young kids because they promote effective grasp patterns and give kids good control as they learn to make shapes and lines.
*This post contains affiliate links. Read more.
If you live or work with toddlers and/or young preschoolers, you know that their favorite thing in the world to do is…whatever you’re doing. We’ve all been there, checking emails with a toddler in our lap, pounding away at the keyboard. Cooking dinner with a little helper who has to take a turn stirring and pouring every ingredient. Being trailed around the yard by a toddler pushing a toy lawnmower.
While this “monkey see, monkey do” phenomenon can be a little bit frustrating when you’re in a hurry or just trying to get things done, the good news is that when kids copy every little thing we do, they are developing all kinds of skills and becoming more and more independent.
As an OT, some of the most fun toddler development stages to watch unfold are drawing, prewriting, and early writing skills. Toddlers love markers, pens, and crayons! They see older kids and adults using them and before you know it, they’re at the table pretending to “do their work/homework” just like mom, dad, or older brother and sister.
This is the perfect opportunity to set kids up with developmentally appropriate drawing tools that are designed to promote effective grasp patterns and give little hands better control and accuracy as they begin to demonstrate drawing and prewriting skills.
The drawing tools below are great options for free drawing/coloring and can also be used with our simple drawing ideas and basic drawing ideas for kids.
If you’re looking for a fun way to put some of these tools to use, check out these free directed drawing printables!
The Best Beginner Drawing Tools
2 || Crayola Triangular Crayons
3 || Melissa & Doug Water Wow! Activity Pads
4 || Crayola My First Toddler Paint Brush Pen Set
5 || Crayola Color Wonder Mess Free Coloring Kit
6 || Crayola Pip-Squeaks Markers
7 || Melissa & Doug Jumbo Triangular Crayons
8 || RoseArt Mini Colored Pencils Assorted Colors
10 || Yoobi Look On The Bright Side Mini Highlighters
12 || TBC Squeezable Brush Paints
What are your favorite drawing tools for younger kids? Share them in the comments below!
Learn more about why drawing is important for young kids!
And don’t miss our free checklist for 12, 15, and 18 month old milestones red flags!
Latest posts by Claire Heffron (see all)
- The Ultimate List of Baby Milestones: 0 to 12 Months - September 21, 2023
- The Simplest Calming Sensory Trick: Deep Pressure - September 19, 2023
- Therapy toys & Supplies You Need in Your Bag This Year - July 27, 2023
Nice and very interesting blog thanks for sharing.
The drawing tools you share are great. Very safe for children. I really like these drawing tools.
Crayon Rocks are my favorite for drawing with little hands! https://www.amazon.com/Crayon-Rocks-Colors-Red-Velvet/dp/B002EODQBA
I often choose crayon for my kids, gotta try your recommendations. Thank you for sharing!
Travel is not only some letters collecting to each other, but it is also planning for your travel when where, how and why, and the most important is who you travel with.
Our website offers a lot of things for you such as reliable travel guide and vacation ranking platform, alongside advice for picking your most-suitable next destination, clever money-saving tips, low-cost accommodations, and flight guidance, travel activities according to your type of travel, travel insurance must-know information and food and drinks best recommendations! For more tips visit:
plansfortravel
Crayola washable markers are really good pens. Washable, strong tips, and a good size for toddler’s hands. Don’t look any further – we’ve tried the cheaper ones but our kids just ended up with really odd colored hands as the ink wasn’t as washable as it should be. The ink in these comes off with baby wipes.