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There’s nothing quite like watching a toddler discover that the crayon in their fist leaves a mark. That first scribble is a big deal. It’s cause and effect, hand strength, color and pure joy all at once, and it’s the very beginning of art.

This guide is all about toddlers exploring art, roughly ages 1 to 3: chunky crayons and markers, washable paints, easels, sensory and mess-friendly art, smocks and mats, and board books about colors and art. There are close to 50 art gifts for toddlers here in three budgets (stocking stuffers, mid-range gifts and big splurges), chosen to make early art time easy, happy and as tidy as toddler art can be.

A quick note on safety first. Art with toddlers is always a together activity. Stay close while they create, keep caps, small pieces and anything that fits in a mouth out of reach, and put supplies away when art time is over. Please check each product’s age label before you buy. I’ve included the age given on each listing, and you’ll notice that many art supplies, including some made with toddlers in mind, are labeled for ages 3 and up. For a one- or two-year-old, look for the items labeled younger, and use the 3+ ones as gifts to grow into.

How to Choose Art Gifts for Toddlers

Process over product. At this age, the art is in the doing: the swirl of paint, the squish, the stamp, the scribble. Toddlers aren’t trying to make a picture of something, and they don’t need to. Choose gifts that invite them to explore color, texture and movement, and try to resist the urge to “fix” what they make.

Think chunky and easy to grip. Little hands hold crayons in a fist long before they hold them like a pencil. Palm-grip and triangular crayons, thick markers, dot markers and fat-handled brushes let toddlers make bold marks without frustration, and the triangular shapes don’t roll off the table.

Plan for mess (and make it easy on yourself). Washable supplies, a smock or long-sleeved bib, a wipeable splat mat and spill-resistant paint cups mean you can say “yes” to paint more often. Mess-free options like Color Wonder and Water WOW are brilliant for car rides, restaurants and days when you don’t have the energy for cleanup.

Set up a little art space. A low table where their feet touch the floor, a few supplies in a basket they can see, paper taped down so it doesn’t slide, and a spot on the fridge for finished work. That’s all a toddler art studio needs. Short, frequent art times work far better than long ones, so keep it simple and stop while it’s still fun.

Give yourself some ideas, too. If you’d like simple art projects to try as your little one grows, my Free Art Lesson Library is full of seasonal art lessons and printables. Many are perfect for preschoolers and big siblings, and they’re a lovely way to keep art time going.

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Stocking Stuffers for Toddlers Exploring Art

Small, inexpensive gifts that make a toddler’s first art experiences easy and joyful, plus the board books I’d want on every little artist’s shelf.

First crayons and markers

Crayola My First Palm-Grip Crayons, 6 Count: Rounded crayons designed to sit in a toddler’s fist, which is exactly how most little ones hold a crayon at first. The listing gives a minimum age of 12 months and describes them as non-toxic.

Crayola My First Triangular Crayons, 8 Count: Chunky triangular crayons that don’t roll off the high chair tray and are easy to grip. The listing gives a minimum age of 24 months.

Crayola Triangle Toddler Markers, 8 Count: Easy-grip washable markers with a triangular barrel for small hands. The listing gives a minimum age of 24 months.

Faber-Castell Beeswax Crayons in Storage Case: Jumbo triangle beeswax crayons in a sturdy case, described on the listing as non-toxic and labeled for ages 3 and up. A lovely, natural-feeling first box for a three-year-old.

Do A Dot Art! Markers, 6-Pack Rainbow: Washable paint dot markers that make big, satisfying circles of color with every stamp. Labeled for ages 3 and up, and a favorite for building hand strength.

Mess-friendly fun

Melissa & Doug On the Go Water WOW! Animals: Brush water over the page and hidden colors appear, then dry and disappear so it can be used again. Labeled for ages 3 to 8, and wonderful for travel.

Crayola Washable Finger Paints, 6 Count: Washable finger paints for big, sensory, hands-in painting. Labeled for ages 3 and up.

READY 2 LEARN Triangle Grip Toddler Paint Brushes: Six chunky, easy-grip brushes in bright colors. Thick handles are so much easier for small hands to control than skinny brushes.

Melissa & Doug Reusable Sticker Pad Bundle: Jungle, farm and under-the-sea scenes with stickers that can be peeled off and placed again. Labeled for ages 3 and up, and great for fine motor practice.

Board books about color and art

Mix It Up! Board Book Edition by Hervé Tullet: Readers tap, tilt and smudge the page, and the colors seem to mix. It’s the best introduction to color mixing I know for little ones.

Press Here Board Book Edition by Hervé Tullet: Press the dot, shake the book, and the dots respond on the next page. Pure joy for toddlers, and quietly all about color and pattern.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?: Eric Carle’s bold, painterly collage animals and a rhythm toddlers can join in on. A perfect first “art book” for little ones.

Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh: Three white mice discover jars of red, blue and yellow paint and start mixing. A sweet story that teaches primary and secondary colors without trying.

Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni: Two blobs of color hug and become green. A gentle, classic story about friendship and color mixing.

Andy Warhol Colors Board Book: A bright board book of colors featuring Andy Warhol’s art. A fun way to show even the littlest ones real artwork.

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Mid-Range Art Gifts for Toddlers

Everything you need to say “yes” to paint, plus mess-free coloring, drawing boards and stamping for busy little hands.

Smocks, mats and setup

Melissa & Doug Art Essentials Artist Smock: A one-size-fits-all artist smock. Putting on a smock becomes part of the ritual of “art time,” which toddlers love.

BIBaDO Attachable Long Sleeve Bib: A long-sleeved coverall bib for babies and toddlers that’s easy to clean. It’s made for mealtimes but works beautifully for painting at the high chair.

Blissful Diary Splat Mat: A large, wipeable, washable splat mat to put under the high chair or art table. It makes saying “yes” to paint so much easier.

Melissa & Doug Spill-Proof Paint Cups, 4-Pack: Paint cups with snap lids and an airtight seal, so leftover paint keeps for next time. Labeled for ages 3 and up.

Melissa & Doug Wooden Tabletop Paper Roll Dispenser: A wooden roll of paper that sits on the table, so there’s always a fresh sheet ready. Labeled for ages 3 and up.

Paint and mess-free coloring

Crayola Washable Kids Paint, 6 Count: Washable paint in bright colors, labeled for ages 3 and up. Pair it with chunky brushes and big paper.

Crayola Mess Free Finger Painting Station: Finger painting with the mess kept contained, described as washable and non-toxic on the listing. The listing gives a minimum age of 12 months.

Crayola Color Wonder Mess Free Coloring Pad: Special paper that only shows color with Color Wonder markers, so walls and couches stay clean. You’ll need the markers below to go with it.

Crayola Color Wonder Marker Refill Set, 20 Count: The Color Wonder markers that only show up on Color Wonder paper. Labeled for ages 3 and up.

Crayola Color Wonder Toddler Mess Free Coloring Activity Set: A Color Wonder set made for little ones, labeled for 36 to 60 months. A good all-in-one gift if you’d rather not buy the pieces separately.

Crayola Color Wonder Magic Light Brush: Mess-free painting with a light-up brush on Color Wonder paper. Labeled for ages 3 and up.

Melissa & Doug Water WOW! 6-Pack Bundle: Six reusable Water WOW pads in one bundle, labeled for 24 months to 7 years. The water pen means no paint at all, just color that appears and fades.

Drawing boards and stamping

Crayola 2-in-1 Doodle Board: A squishy, erasable drawing tablet that’s handy for travel. Labeled for 36 months to 10 years.

B. toys Magnetic Drawing Board with Animal Stamps: A magnetic sketcher with stamps that wipes clean with a slide. The listing title gives the age as 18 months and up.

Water Doodle Mat: Draw with water on the mat and the colors appear, then fade as it dries. The listing title describes it for toddlers 2 to 7.

Melissa & Doug My First Wooden Stamp Set: Eight chunky wooden stamps with handles and two washable ink pads. Labeled for 36 months to 5 years.

Large Washable Ink Pads, 8 Pack: Big washable ink pads in bright colors, large enough for handprints and footprints. Lovely for keepsake art (with lots of grown-up help).

More books

Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert: Lois Ehlert’s bright cut-paper flowers in every color of the rainbow. Her collage style is a beautiful first introduction to cut-paper art.

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes: Pete steps in strawberries, blueberries and more, and his shoes keep changing color. Toddlers love joining in on the song.

The Color Monster: A story that connects colors to feelings. Lovely for talking about emotions, and a natural lead-in to painting how you feel.

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Big Splurge Art Gifts for Toddlers

An easel or a toddler-height table is one of those gifts that gets used every single day. These bigger pieces give little ones a real place to create, and most of them grow with your child into the preschool years.

Easels

Hape All-in-1 Wooden Artist Easel: A height-adjustable wooden easel with a chalkboard, a dry-erase board and paint pots. Labeled for 36 months to 8 years, so it grows with them.

Step2 All Around Easel for Two: A double-sided plastic easel that works for two little artists at once, labeled for ages 3 and up. Great for siblings.

KidKraft Deluxe Wooden Easel: A wooden easel with chalkboard and dry-erase surfaces, a paper roll and paint cups, labeled for ages 3 and up.

Art Easel for Kids 2-4 with Wheels: A height-adjustable 3-in-1 easel with a whiteboard, chalkboard and paper roll. The listing title describes it for ages 2 to 4.

Double-Sided Tabletop Art Easel for Kids: A smaller tabletop easel with a whiteboard and chalkboard. The listing title describes it as a toddler easel for ages 2 to 4.

Tables and art spaces

Humble Crew Toddler Table and Chair Set: A simple wooden table and chairs at toddler height. A low table where little feet touch the floor is the single best “art studio” for this age.

7-in-1 Toddler Activity Table and Chairs Set: A kids’ desk and chairs set, labeled for ages 3 and up (the title says 3 to 7).

Wooden Kids Art Table and 2 Chairs with Paper Roll: A wooden craft table with a paper roll holder and storage shelves, so supplies and paper are right there.

Montessori Sensory Table and Art Easel: A folding sensory table with storage bins and an easel. It’s a lovely way to set up sensory play and art in one corner.

Wooden Rolling Art Cart: A rolling wooden organizer for arts and crafts supplies. Keep the toddler-safe supplies low and in reach, and the rest up high.

Sensory and mess-free splurges

Step2 Rain Showers Splash Pond Water Table: Water play is sensory play, and this water table is labeled for 18 months to 10 years. It’s a wonderful partner to indoor art time on warmer days.

Jasonwell Large Aqua Water Doodle Mat: A big 40 x 32 inch water drawing mat that lets a toddler draw with their whole body. The listing gives a minimum age of 3 years.

Crayola Magic Light Up Bluey Stamper Art Set: Mess-free stamping with a favorite character, labeled for ages 3 and up. A sweet pick for a Bluey fan.

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For the Big Siblings

Toddlers love doing whatever their big brothers and sisters are doing. If there’s an older child in the house, my own books make lovely side-by-side art time gifts. Every page is drawn by hand.

Color All Year: Seasons and Holidays by Ms Artastic: My hand-drawn coloring book that moves through the seasons and holidays, for big siblings who love to color while the little one scribbles alongside.

31 Easy Art Projects for Kids: Step-by-Step Art Lessons and Activities by Ms Artastic: Thirty-one full-color art projects for kids, each with the finished example and my step-by-step written guide. A wonderful gift for an older child, and something to look forward to as your toddler grows.

When Your Toddler Is Ready for More

Before you know it, those scribbles turn into circles, then faces, then whole stories on paper. When your little one reaches the preschool years, simple guided art lessons are a beautiful next step. My Pre-K primary color monster art lesson is a fun way to explore red, yellow and blue, the preschool name art lesson builds fine motor skills while kids decorate their own names, and the kindergarten color mixing art lesson lets little ones discover what happens when two colors meet.

And by the way, if you’re a homeschool family planning ahead, the Artastic Collective is my complete art curriculum for kindergarten through grade 9, along with hundreds of other art lessons, so art can grow right along with your child.

Looking for more ideas? Try this Valentine’s Day handprint art for babies and toddlers, these easy summer drawing ideas for kids, my clean-up routines (they work at home, too), and my gift guides for kids who love art and quality art supplies for the older kids on your list.

Happy Scribbling

The best art gift for a toddler isn’t really the crayon or the easel. It’s the time you spend sitting beside them, noticing the colors they choose and saying, “Tell me about your picture.” Those first scribbles are the beginning of a lifetime of creativity, and I hope this guide helps you find something that makes art time a happy part of your days.

When they’re ready for a little more, you’ll find simple preschool and kindergarten art lessons in my shop, including the ones below.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

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Not Looking for a Whole Curriculum? Grab These Little-Artist Lessons on Their Own

For when your toddler is ready for preschool and kindergarten art, these lessons are available individually in my shop. Tap a cover to see what’s included.