Best Coloring Supplies for Kids: Crayons vs. Colored Pencils vs. Markers

Walk into any art supply store or browse online and you'll find dozens of coloring tool options for children: fat crayons, skinny crayons, watercolor pencils, washable markers, brush pens, gel pens, and more. How do you choose? The answer depends on your child's age, their interest level, and what you're hoping to get out of the activity. This guide breaks down every major option, its pros and cons, and which ages it suits best.

Crayons: The Classic Choice

Crayons are the gold standard for young children for good reason. They're affordable, durable, non-toxic, easy to grip, and produce consistent color with minimal effort. Most importantly, they're forgiving — a child who presses too hard won't tear the paper, and a child who presses too lightly will still get visible color.

• Best for: Ages 1–8
• Pros: Affordable, non-toxic, forgiving, wide grip options available
• Cons: Waxy texture limits fine detail, can't easily layer colors
• Top pick: Crayola Classic Crayons (64-count) or Crayola Jumbo Crayons for toddlers

For children under 3, always choose jumbo or triangular crayons — the larger diameter makes them easier to hold with an immature grip. Standard crayons are appropriate from about age 3 onward. By age 6 or 7, many children can handle the full standard Crayola 64-pack and enjoy the large color selection.

Colored Pencils: For Growing Artists

Colored pencils allow much more precision than crayons. Their sharp tips can fill small sections, create fine lines, and blend colors through layering. They're the tool of choice for children who have developed enough fine motor control to hold a regular pencil comfortably — typically around age 5 or 6 and up.

• Best for: Ages 5 and up
• Pros: Precise detail, blendable, erasable (light colors), long-lasting
• Cons: Require more hand strength, tips break if pressed too hard
• Top pick: Crayola Colored Pencils for kids; Faber-Castell for older children/teens

Washable Markers: Vibrant and Bold

Markers produce the most vibrant, saturated color of any coloring tool — which kids love. Washable markers are the safe choice for home and classroom use: they clean up from hands, clothes, and most surfaces easily. The downside is that markers bleed through thin paper and can run outside lines if used quickly, which can be frustrating for perfectionist children.

• Best for: Ages 3–10 (washable); ages 8+ for fine-tip
• Pros: Vivid color, fast coverage, easy to use
• Cons: Bleed-through on thin paper, hard to control, dry out if caps are lost
• Top pick: Crayola Washable Markers (broad-tip) for young children; Crayola Supertips for older

If you're printing DrawColor pages and plan to use markers, print on 24lb paper or heavier to reduce bleed-through. Standard 20lb copy paper works fine for crayons and colored pencils but can be thin for heavy marker use.

Watercolor Pencils: A Fun Hybrid

Watercolor pencils are colored pencils that activate with water — color them dry for a pencil effect, then brush water over the finished page to create a watercolor wash. This produces stunning, painterly results that children find magical. They're best suited to children aged 7 and up who have the patience to apply color and then carefully add water.

Our Recommendation by Age

• Ages 1–3: Crayola Jumbo Crayons — chunky, non-toxic, easy grip
• Ages 3–5: Crayola Classic Crayons + Crayola Broad Washable Markers
• Ages 5–8: Standard Crayons + Washable Colored Pencils + Supertip Markers
• Ages 8–12: Faber-Castell Colored Pencils + Crayola Fine-tip Markers
• Ages 12+: Quality colored pencils (Prismacolor) + fine-tip markers + brush pens

Whatever tools you choose, the most important thing is that they feel comfortable and enjoyable for your child. A reluctant colorist who picks up the 'wrong' tool and loves it will color far more than a willing child given the 'right' tool they find frustrating. Experiment, observe what your child responds to, and let them guide the choice.