The Best Sensory Paint & More Art Supplies for Kids

We do a lot of Messy Play over here as a form of play-based learning. So we need children’s art supplies, especially paint, that are actually washable! I don't mind getting messy, but I want to be done with the mess when my kid and I are finished playing. No lingering stains on my clothes or hands, or my toddler's face or hair (why does he always rub paint in his hair?!). 

 

I started using Discount School Supply's children’s art materials when I was a teacher many years ago because they’re what my supervisors bought for the classroom. I fell in love back then and have stuck with them. Their paints for kids are brightly colored, affordable, certified nontoxic, free from most allergens, and are WASHABLE! They also have a great texture for messy and sensory play.

 

The photo above is from our Messy Play Monday on April 1st with "hidden color fizzies” (which are included in one of my monthly kit subscriptions!). We played with baking soda, citric acid, and liquid watercolors. My toddler was dumping the kid's paint color directly onto his hands, as well as all over the hands of my mother-in-law. I kept saying "This kid’s paint is actually washable!" Still part of me panicked when I saw Baby H dumping dark blue color everywhere thinking, “There's no way this will really wash off.” 

 

BUT IT DID! One quick rinse with hand soap — no scrubbing needed — and my mother-in-law's hands were completely clean. The photos above were taken mere minutes apart. Our clothes all washed clean, our hands and faces (and even my toddler’s hair!) all stripped from paint within minutes. It was just so easy!

The Benefits of Painting for Kids

There are so many benefits of process-based art like painting for kids of all ages, including babies and toddlers! From improving fine motor skills by strengthening the small muscles in their fingers to the development of hand-eye coordination, simple and easy art activities promote brain development through sensory play.

Art activities like painting can also boost children’s self-esteem, as they give kiddos the opportunity to express their unique creativity. Kids can also practice color-recognition and social skills while painting, as they identify differences in art materials then talk about them. Lastly, children can learn how to problem solve and assume responsibility through kid’s painting projects by using a variety of materials and helping to clean up.

The Best Washable Paint for Kids

All of my favorite paint for kids and other art supplies are always available at Discount School Supply. I'm stocking up right now just in time for summer and want to make sure you do too. So be sure to grab your own paint for kids like liquid watercolors and washable dabbers. And don't forget other children’s art supplies too. I've shared more of my favorites below!

Kid’s Liquid Watercolor Paint

I mentioned these above, but these liquid watercolor paints for kids are THE BEST. Since the paints are a liquid, I use them like food coloring to dye sensory materials (not for food consumption). Consider coloring rice and other sensory base materials, making slime, or dying playdough with these easy children’s art supplies. I’m so confident in these watercolor paints for kids that I even use them in my Messy Play Kits all the time! I seriously love them. I have most of the colors but use the main rainbow colors the most.

• Buy on Amazon
• Buy on Discount School Supply
• Buy single colors on Discount School Supply (sometimes a better price and more options)

Tempera Paint

This kid's paint is so beautiful. It's thick, smooth, and so brightly colored. It dries so well, too! This is the paint I ship in my Messy Play Kits designed for children 3 and up, what we use at any events, and what I use with my toddler at home. If you've watched our Messy Play Mondays, you know how he loves feeling the paint between his fingers! The primary colors are great for blending to learn about color mixing too! 

• Buy on Amazon
• Buy on Discount School Supply
• Buy single colors on Discount School Supply (sometimes a better price and more options)

Dabber Markers Paint

Once again, these dabber paints for kids 3+ are WASHABLE! My toddler and I played with them recently. They’re like liquid watercolors that your little one can dab onto paper. My favorite part as the play facilitator is that these kid’s paints dry quickly! My older niece and nephew both loved them, as did the kiddos in my preschool classroom years ago. 

• Buy on Amazon
• Buy on Discount School Supply

Rollable Painters

These rollable kid’s paints have the consistency of tempera paint. They roll, instead of blot. I really like using these with my toddler, as they contain the paint and work more like a paint marker!

• Buy on Amazon
• Buy on Discount School Supply

Shiny Paint

I haven't tried these washable shiny paints for kids yet, but I'm buying them today to give them a try. It's the kid’s tempera paint we already love but with an extra shine and a good variety of colors. 

• Buy on Amazon
• Buy on Discount School Supply
• Buy single colors on Discount School Supply (sometimes a better price and more options)

More Children’s Art Supplies

Glue

Clear Glue

This is the best clear glue to add to your kid’s art materials cubby, especially for slime. THE BEST. Since I use it for slime and DIY Sensory Bottles and have a lot of events coming up where I'll be using it, this is an extra great deal for me! 

• Buy on Amazon
• 1 gallon
• 2 gallons
• Buy on Discount School Supply
• 1 gallon
• 2 gallons

White Glue

If you prefer white glue, this is a great one for your children’s art supply closet! White glue is generally cheaper than clear glue and can be used for kid’s art activities like papier mache, raised salt painting, and opaque slime!

• Buy on Amazon
• Buy on Discount School Supply

FOAM Sheets & Shapes

We love colorful foam sheets and shapes. I use them to add fun shapes to sensory bins (lily pads, monster faces, hearts in the Valentine's Day gelatin, snowman faces, etc.), decorations for creatures, and so much more. I use both the foam sheets that I cut by hand if I need a specific shape, or the pre-cut foam shapes for a faster kid’s activity. 

Foam Shapes

• Buy on Amazon
• Buy on Discount School Supply

Foam Sheets

• Buy on Amazon
• Buy on Discount school supply

Best Paper for Art 

You need paper to go along with all this paint and artwork! 

• Buy on Amazon
• Buy on Discount School Supply

Aluminum Foil Paint Art

 

Or if your kiddo wants to try something a bit different use aluminum foil. Painting on aluminum foil is a great kid’s art activity that mixes up the creative medium! Add a little dish soap to help the paint not flake off the foil.

• Buy on Amazon

Jumbo Wiggly Eyes 

These jumbo wiggly eyes are better than small size. I often use them in kid’s art activities like people, monsters, or for my favorite April Fools’ Day prank: hot gluing them on fridge items!

• Buy on Discount School Supply

Pom-Poms

Great for pom-pom splat (get photos from the Sunny Summer Kit), and I might try this with H soon. Great for decorating all sorts of things! Drop them through empty toilet paper tubes to practice visual tracking too! Use to redirect a toddler who keeps throwing hard things since pom-poms are soft!

• Buy on Discount School Supply

Jumbo Washable Stamp Pad

I love that all the colors in this jumbo washable stamp pad are included in one pad! I expect it won’t get as long a life as separate colors because of color mixing, but that seems worth it for having to manage one stamp pad only at a time!

• Buy on Discount School Supply

Easy-Grip Stamps 

These easy-grip stamps go great with the stamp pad! I don’t have these, but we did in my classroom and they are THE BEST. They’re so durable and easy for kids to use! They have lots of themed sets. This is the sea life one!

• Buy on Discount School Supply

Trays 

I have other ones from Amazon since I needed a ton of them for my classes and events. But I love the dimensions of these and that they come in different colors! A great way to protect your workspace.

• Buy on Discount School Supply

. . . 

I could go on and on! I truly love Discount School Supply's products. And right now is a brilliant time to stock up on anything you think you need for summer! Plus teachers, homeschool families, summer camp staff, and anyone else working with groups — check out their on-sale bulk items! They have bulk children’s art supplies, especially paint, that are perfect for classrooms and camps.