Best Paint Brushes For Toddlers

Are you looking for ways to add some excitement to your art center? Why not make your own paint brush. Experimenting with different materials and methods for making paintbrushes is a great STEAM activity for young kids.

Best Paint Brushes For Preschoolers
Childrens Paint Brushes
What Are The Best Paint Brushes To Use
Best Paint Brushes For Elementary Students
Small Paint Brushes For Kids
Which Are The Best Paint Brushes

Here are some ideas for DIY paintbrushes to get you started.

Painting is an activity that is fun for all ages, toddlers, preschoolers, older kids and even adults will love experimenting with paint to see what marks the nature paintbrushes will make. So get outside, go on a nature walk, collect lots of interesting pieces of nature, and get painting!

Make Paint Brushes from Nature

Grumbacher Goldenedge Acrylic Paint Brush. Grumbacher is one of the most famous brands when. Kids love face painting, finger painting and craft painting with JOANN paint supplies. Shop kids painting supplies, including kids paint sets. Tux Paint is a free paint software for kids through which kids can learn painting with fun. Petite Children’s Earth Paint Kit. (Best value and most earth friendly — $$) Why it’s great: We.

The variety of DIY paintbrushes that you can make from natural materials for your preschool art activities is endless. Let your kids help you come up with some ideas.

Sticks, Straw, herbs or Grass

Bundle some natural materials together with a rubber band or tape and dip them into the paint.

Tree Branches

Evergreen trees are an excellent choice for paint brushes, but you experiment with other tree branches. I attached this evergreen sprig to a small dowel to protect our fingers from the pokey branches.

Flowers

A single flower or a bundle of them will create some exciting designs

Feathers

I recommend that you use feathers from a craft store instead of feathers that you find in the yard. You can purchase feathers that have a more natural appearance, but the brightly colored ones are fun to use as well. Painting with feathers is one of my favorite techniques.

Make Paint Brushes from Craft Supplies

You can stick a variety of things to a small dowel rod or to a pencil to create an interesting paintbrush. Good masking tape or thin duct tape works well to attach the materials.

Straws

Bendy straws work the best for making paint brushes. Cut them off and attach them to a dowel. Kids can bend them in all different directions before they start painting.

Yarn

Experiment with different lengths of yarn, different quantities of strands, and yarn of different varieties. Long pieces of yarn attached to a stick created some of my favorite effects with the paint.

Ribbon & Bubble Wrap

There are soooo many different varieties of ribbons out there. Try out some thin ribbon, mesh ribbon, curling ribbon, wired ribbon, wide, and thin ribbon.

Here, we used the plastic lacing ribbon that used for beaded necklaces. Plus, we tried out some bubble wrap too.

Strips of Fabric or Craft Foam

You can experiment with strips of fleece, denim, cotton, tulle, felt, etc. Craft foam is a little bit more resistant than fabric or ribbon, but it creates some nice effects.

Pipe Cleaners

Here is another fun and flexible material that you can use. Experiment with the length of the pipe cleaners and with how you bend them (swirls vs zigzags etc.)

Wire & Plastic Tablecloths

Like pipe cleaners, you may be able to bend wire for different effects. How do the strokes from a wire paintbrush look different than the strokes from a pipe cleaner paintbrush?

Try out some plastic from your recycling bin or cut strips from a plastic table cloth.

Best Paint Brushes For Preschoolers

Silk Flowers

Much like real flowers, you can make paintbrushes with silk flowers as well.

Rubber Bands

Of all of the homemade paintbrushes that we tried, my favorite is the rubberband paintbrush. So Much Fun!

Make Paint Brushes with Clothespin Clips

You can also use a clothespin clip to make paintbrushes. The best thing about this type of brush is that it is also a great fine motor activity.

Kids can attach a clothespin clip to a small sponge and use that as a paintbrush.

Or you can provide a variety of materials so that kids can experiment with all of them.

What Kind of Paint Brush Are You Going to Make?

I hope that I gave you a little bit of creative inspiration and encouraged you to try out some fun homemade paint brushes with your kids. Let me know which type is your favorite.

Creative Resource from the Store

If you like doing creative activities with your kids, you will also like my Maker Mat Resources in the store. Click on the images below to check them out.

Updated on January 13, 2021 by Lyric Fergusson

Whether you’ve suddenly found yourself homeschooling your children or you’re just looking for a way to pass a rainy day, painting is a sure way to entertain you and your little Picasso. Painting is a great way to not only have fun, but also to help young children explore their creativity, learn their colors, and practice fine motor skills. There are endless choices when it comes to paint for kids, but one of the things that is important to us is that they’re nontoxic.

Best Toddlers Paints for All Situations

1. Petite Children’s Earth Paint Kit

(Best value and most earth friendly — $$)

Why it’s great: We absolutely love this set because of the extra creativity it provides. Made with 100% natural ingredients, this set comes with six pigments that you can mix yourself. You get the basic colors with this set – red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and brown – along with a paintbrush. Adding more water to these colors even gives you the ability to use them as watercolors which provides more flexibility for your little artist. You can refrigerate any paint that you didn’t use for up to two weeks which is perfect if you didn’t get all your painting done in one day. Not only are the paints natural and biodegradable, but the paints are made in the USA and their package is made from recyclable materials and biodegradable as well.

Keep in mind: You’ll need to have some old containers, like glass jars, for mixing the paints.

Good for: Older children who want to experiment with different colors and textures of paint.

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2. Crayola Washable Finger Paints

(Big containers of bright colored fun — $$)

Why it’s great: Everyone knows the name Crayola, and they don’t disappoint with these finger paints. They come in a large squeezable container which is great so you can pour out tiny amounts for small quick crafts. We love the fact that the bottles are EZ squeeze to prevent spills. Cleanup is a breeze as the paints are washable. The liquid is thick which lends itself to finger painting more than brush painting, but also ensures that you won’t have any unwanted splatters when you’re working on your craft. Each of the bottles is a generous 8 oz., and a little goes a long way, so you won’t run out of these any time soon.

Keep in mind: You’ll need some containers to pour these into.

Good for: Better for finger painting.

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3. Finger Paint Set in 12 Colors – Eco-Friendly

(Most eco-friendly colors — $$)

Why it’s great: With 12 different nontoxic colors, these are great finger-paints for little artists. The colors are bright and the caps open easily. With a nice wide mouth, you don’t even have to pour these paints into another container to use. These would be great paints to use for handprints or, because they’re nontoxic, even dog prints!

Keep in mind: Even though they’re nontoxic, make sure that your child or pet never ingests paint.

Good for: Finger painting with young children.

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4. Kids Learn to Paint Set with Smock

(Best whole set — $$$)

Why it’s great: This set comes with everything your child needs to learn to paint. It has paints, a palette to put them in, regular brushes, foam and texture brushes and rollers, paper, and an apron to keep your child clean. It also comes with a case to store everything in, which also makes it easy to take with you wherever you go. The paints are all non-toxic and washable, so clean up is a breeze. Your child will love to paint and create for hours with this set.

Keep in mind: Even with the apron, your child may get paint on their clothes. The paint is washable, but it’s still a good idea to put your toddler in clothes that you don’t mind getting stained, just in case.

Good for: Kids that want to have everything they need to learn to paint.

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5. Squeezable Brush Paints in 12 Colors

(Least messy — $$)

Why it’s great: This is a fun and unique idea that leaves you with a lot less to clean up at the end of your child’s art session. These are tubes of paint and the head is a synthetic paint brush. Your toddler just squeezes the handle of the paintbrush and the paint works its way into the brush. They won’t have to dip into any paint, so you won’t have and drips of paint or palettes to clean. This also means that you won’t be wasting any paint that doesn’t get used, as it just stays in the handle with the lid on. The top screws off so that you can refill them when you run out of paint.

Keep in mind: If your child squeezes too hard, they will get splats of paint, so you’ll need to teach them how to control the flow.

Good for: Families that don’t want to waste paint or have a huge mess to clean up.

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6. VeggieBaby Finger Paints for Toddlers

(Safest paints — $$$)

Why it’s great: These paints are really neat because they are completely made from organic vegetables. Not only are they totally safe for your toddler to use, they’re even edible! You won’t have to stress about younger kids who like to lick their fingers and put everything in their mouths. The vegetables used are also dairy, sugar, nut, preservative, and gluten free. So even if your child has allergies, these paints will be safe for your child to use. The set comes with a few different colors in a powder and your toddler can get creative and make their own colors by mixing them together.

Keep in mind: You’ll need a container for these and you’ll need to mix them with water to get them set up and ready to use.

Good for: Parents with children who are more likely to put the paint in their mouths.

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7. Organic & Hypoallergenic Face Paint Kit

Childrens Paint Brushes

(Best face paint — $$)

Why it’s great: We love that these are made with organic ingredients and mineral pigments, truly unique within the world of kids paints! These are made in Oregon and do not disappoint when you’re looking for face paints. They’re free of parabens so they’ll be sure to provide hypoallergenic fun all day. Reviewers say that they’re able to wash these off with just water even though they last the entire day without getting cakey or dry. That’s a win in our books! With six colors and three applicators included, this is a great set.

Keep in mind: Adult supervision is recommended for younger children.

Good for: Face painting for the whole family.

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8. Crayola Bathtub Finger Paint Soap

(Most original — $$)

Why it’s great: These finger paints are actually soap! Your child can paint the bathtub walls and their bodies as much as they want and it’ll all rinse off quickly and easily, leaving both cleaner than before. You get five different colors in the set and you can choose to use them one at a time or let them create with all of them at once. They’ll also create some suds and bubbles in the bath for extra fun.

What Are The Best Paint Brushes To Use

Keep in mind: These are small, 3oz tubes, so they likely won’t last that long.

Good for: Children who love to paint and need an incentive to take a bath.

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9. Washable Tempera Paint Sticks

(Easiest to use — $$)

Why it’s great: These are paint sticks and are very easy for any child to use. They work almost like a marker, just with a bit of a thicker, more flexible tip. You get all the features of paint with the benefits and ease of using a marker. They dry quickly, in just 90 seconds, so you don’t have to worry about hanging up all the artwork outside in the sun. They’re non-toxic paints and hypoallergenic, which means they’re safe for body or face painting too. Plus, you’ll get 24 different colors, without all the hassle of pouring and cleaning up paint.

Keep in mind: These do dry fast, so they wouldn’t work for making handprints or trying to use stamps with them.

Good for: Children that love to paint, but struggle with regular paintbrushes.

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10. TBC Artist Paint Palette with Paint Brush

(Best watercolor palette for beginners — $)

Why it’s great: If you have a budding Bob Ross, they will love this 12 color palette! It is lightweight and easy to hold, even for little hands, and has a built in paint brush. We love that the palette is durable enough to use long after the paints run out. The colors in the palette are super vibrant, offering more choices than a lot of other watercolor sets at this price point.

Keep in mind: These are not labeled as washable, so prep your area before use.

Good for: Recommended for 3 and up.

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11. Crayola Mess Free Painting

(Best for beginners — $)

Why it’s great: This set comes with 24 pages that are specially formulated to work with Color Wonder paint brushes. You get 5 different colors that won’t show up on anything, but this special paper. That means you’ll never have to worry about any mess or cleanup! These paint brushes are perfect for beginners who may not know what they’re doing. They can paint and create without splattering, dripping, or spilling paint all over the place. They’ll get a feel for the art of painting without all the hassle that normally comes with it.

Keep in mind: These paint brushes won’t work without the paper, so once you run out, you’ll need to make sure to buy Color Wonder paper again.

Good for: Children just learning how to color and paint.

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FAQs about toddlers paints

1. What paints are best for my child?

Base your purchase on the age of your child and their current fine motor skills. For young toddlers just starting out, finger paints are ideal because they can be creative without having to worry about dropping a paint brush. Once your child has better hand control, you can try out tempera paints that can be easily used with a brush is ideal.

2. What supplies will I need to paint with my child?

There aren’t many supplies that you will need to start your painting projects, and what you will need is easy to gather together. A good smock like the one in our first recommendation is a fabulous idea, but if you don’t have one an old t-shirt of yours or your child’s will work well. A few different paintbrush sizes are a good idea as well as paint stamps or sponges which can make art time super fun. You’ll also need paper to paint on, some jars or cups to rinse paintbrushes, and it’s always a good idea to cover any surfaces you are painting on with either old newspapers, cardboard, or a plastic tablecloth.

3. What are the benefits of painting with my child?

Best Paint Brushes For Elementary Students

Painting can be a wonderful creative outlet for children and adults. For the youngest artists, painting is a great way to learn the names of colors. For older artists, exploring colors with paint is a great way to do an impromptu science lesson about color mixing.

4. What other skills will my child learn from painting?

Painting is a fabulous way to help develop fine motor skills like brush control, as well as hand-eye coordination. Learning to hold a paintbrush and get the paint just where they want it is a great way for children to learn skills that will translate into writing later on down the road.

5. How can I turn painting time into learning time?

Painting with your child is a wonderful opportunity to talk to them and foster their love of learning. Even the littlest artists can learn how to make shapes and trace lines. For older painters, you can draw the alphabet or numbers on paper with a pencil that they can trace over with paint. Another fun activity is to look at famous paintings and try creating your own version of it.

Conclusion

Painting with your child can be a wonderful experience with the right tools and paints. Picking the right paint for the age of your child will make the experience much more enjoyable. Children younger than 3 often have trouble holding a paintbrush well so you might want to opt for finger paints or make sure you get very thick-handled brushes that they can easily grasp. Once your child is a little bit older, tempera paints offer a great texture for painting with a brush while still being easy to clean up, as they’re typically considered washable paint.

Small Paint Brushes For Kids

Painting can also be a wonderful way to preserve memories. There are plenty of creative ways you can capture handprints and footprints with paint. And if your refrigerator is quickly filling up with works of art, you can also think about turning your little one’s creations into one of a kind gifts for family and friends.

Which Are The Best Paint Brushes