Coloring is a great way to encourage children’s artistic abilities. However, your children may find it difficult to use paintbrushes just yet. Thus, you could give them the best colored pencils for kids to start with.
Crayons and colored pencils are a must-have for children, whether at home or school. These come in sets of primary colors, ethnic colors, and special effect colors. In this post, we bring you a selection of some high-quality colored pencils that you may get for your children to boost their creative and motor skills.
Top Picks
- 1
- 2
![]()
- 3
![]()
- 4
![]()
- 5
![]()
- 6
![]()
- 7
![]()
- 8
![]()
- 9
![]()
- 10
![]()
10 Best Colored Pencils For Kids
1.Best With Thick Tips:Sargent Art Premium Coloring Pencils
The pack of 50 assorted colors is suitable for children aged three years and above. The pencils have thick lead tips of 3.3mm diameter. The colors are subtle and nice, with a variety of shades and hues. There are 48 different shades with an extra black and white pencil. These smooth colored pencils come in a fixed see-through windowbox. Check outthis videoto know more about this product.
Pros
- Environment-friendly
- Non-toxic
- Pre-sharpened铅笔
- Ideal for illustrating and drawing purposes
Cons
- May not be adequately pigmented
- Some shades may be pretty similar
2.Best Non-Toxic:Crayola Colored Pencils
Your child would love these vibrant colors that could highlight details of an image in coloring and drawingbooks. The colored pencil set includes 50 different color pencils that could be used for school assignments andhome crafts. They are durable and give a long-lasting smooth finish.They are safe to color and non-toxic and are recommended for children of ages 12 and above. Before buying, have a look atthis videofor more details.
Pros
- Ideal for DIY projects and crafts
- Pre-sharpened
- Smooth leads are easy to shade with
- 提高smoothly without breaking the lead
Cons
- May have similar shades
- Shades like gray and grayish purples may look dull
Caution3.Best Break-Proof:U.S. Art Supply 50 Piece Colored Pencil Set
Unleash your child’s creative and artistic side with this set of 50 colored pencils. The wax-based pencils are suitable for drawing, coloring, sketching, crafting, and scrapbooking and are sure to keep your little one entertained for hours.They are high in pigment and produce colors that are bold, crisp, and vibrant. Moreover, the color of the pencil matches the color of the lead, making it easily recognizable.
Pros
- Comes with pre-sharpened tips
- High-quality wax-based lead
- Richly pigmented pencil
- Easy to hold
- Produces a smooth finish
- Comes with a case
Cons
- May not be suitable for shading
- Some shades might be limited
4.Best For Soft Strokes:Stabilo Woody Multi-talented Pencil Set
The Stabilo pencil set is suitable for drawing and painting on many surfaces apart from paper and cardboard. It has 18 coloring pencils that can be used as watercolor pencils and wax crayons too.The thick-shaped standard pencils allow a good grip while giving thick and soft strokes. The woody 3-in-1 pencils include a brush and sharpener and its break-proof pencils offer high opacity and vibrant color intensity.
Pros
- Thick and smooth gliding lead
- Can be used on glass surfaces as well
- Easy to remove the color from glass surfaces
- Intense color on dark surfaces
Cons
- Pencils may bleed when they come in contact with wetness
- May stain if used on dry-erase board
5.Best Easy-To-Store:Castle Art Supplies 72 Colored Pencils Zipper-Case Set
Unleash the artistic side of your little one with these 72 vibrant color pencils. These colors are intensely pigmented and are rich and creamy, making coloring an enjoyable and effortless experience. Moreover, these hard core pencils come in a zipper case, enabling easy storage and quick selection. This set of art-quality pencils also includes a five-step fold-out coloring tutorial to help beginners understand the concept of coloring.
Pros
- Has soft cores with a velvet finish that does not crumble
- Suitable for various surfaces like paper, canvas, and wood
- Each pencil has its elastic holder slot
- Each pencil is numbered
- Smooth and durable
Cons
- 并不在clude a sharpener
- 并不在clude metallic colors
Did you know?6.Best For Smooth Finish:Faber-Castell Triangular Colored EcoPencils
The range of 24 colors in Faber-Castell’s eco pencils is suitable for everyday drawings and coloring books. The triangular-shaped pencils are easy to hold and give better control. The vibrant and specially formulated colors provide a smooth finish and do not flake. The wooden barrel made from reforested wood makes these coloring pencils break-resistant and more accessible to sharp. They are recommended for children aged over five years.
Pros
- Dual display windows
- Non-toxic
- Vibrant pencils
- Prevents hand fatigue
- Conforms to ASTM standards
Cons
- May not be easy to sharpen
- May have limited shades
Quick fact7.Best Eco-Friendly:Faber-Castell World Colors EcoPencils
Another set of Faber-Castell colored pencils for kids that come with skin tone and traditional color shades, these allow your kid to create illustrations, portraits, and more. The set contains 12 colored pencils, three super-soft portrait coloring pencils, and a grip trio sharpener. These eco-friendly sketching pencils are made of wood certified from sustainable forestry, have break-resistant leads, are easy to sharpen, and last long.
Pros
- Made of graphite material
- Comes in ready-to-use pieces
- Sharpener sharpens smoothly
- Available in 12, 27, 40, and 300 counts
Cons
- Blending colors may not be easy
- May be hard to find the right shade
8.Best Durable:Arteza Kids Colored Pencils
The set of 48 colored pencils are highly pigmented and smooth and can be used for blending, layering, and shading with ease. These pencils are designed in a triangular shape to fit children’s hands easily, enabling them to color effortlessly. These colored pencils come pre-sharpened, so your child can start coloring straight away. This set is suitable for children aged five and above and young teens.
Pros
- Wax-based soft core pencil
- Vibrant colors
- Blendable pencil colors
- Easy to store
- Does not break or crumble
Cons
- May have to sharpen this repeatedly
- Some may find the lead to be a little hard
9.Best For Beginners:Crayola 68-4112 Colored Pencils
The Crayola colored pencils are the best colored pencils for beginners and suitable for classroom and group drawing projects. It is a set of 12 vibrant and bold crayon-length pencils that are pre-sharpened. These colored art pencils have wide barrels that make them easy to grasp by little hands and are recommended for children up to eight years of age.
Pros
- ACMI-certified
- Round-shaped pencils
- Compact size for easy storage
- Provides break-free drawing
Cons
- May be too small for some
- May be difficult to sharpen
10.Best Long-Lasting:Cra-Z-Art Colored Pencils
Give your budding child artist a chance to explore and enjoy their creativity with this set of 72 colorful pencils. Suitable for beginners, these pencils fit little hands well without causing harm or discomfort. Your child can use these artists’ pencils at home or in school for a fun-filled time. Moreover, these fine art pencils come with pre-sharpened leads that allow children to start coloring the moment they get their hands on this wonderful set.
Pros
- Long-lasting
- Highly pigmented pencil colors
- Works smoothly
- Easy to store
Cons
- May not be suitable for professionals
- Tips might break with extended use
How To Choose the Right Colored Pencils For Children?
There are many types of colored pencils available but picking the right one could help your artistic child. Some tips that might be helpful are listed below:
- Oil-based over wax pencils: Oil-based pencils are vibrant, smooth, and easy to blend and work with.
- Thick pencils: Thicker pencils are easy to hold and are better for little hands. Also, at the beginners’ stage, it is good to start with thick pencils.
- Short pencils: Consider shorter pencils, which are the size of your kids’ fingers or smaller as they are easier to control between the thumb and index finger.
- Bright and dark colors: Colors that are bright or dark are better than soft colors. Your children would be fascinated to see what they are coloring or drawing.
- Triangular pencils: They encourage a solid tripod grasp. The three fingers hold the three sides of the pencil.
Why Trust MomJunction?
Wedetso Chirhah is knowledgeable about kids’ products, household items, and books. After researching and comparing several online products, he collated the names of the best colored pencils for kids. These pencils are sure to please the artist in every child. Wedetso discussed their specifications, such as the number of shades, the vibrancy of colors, opacity, and more. He also provided a buying guide talking about important factors to consider when choosing the right color pencils for your child.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why can’t I rub colored pencils?
Rubbing colored pencils will just smudge the color on your paper rather than remove it. Therefore, buy an eraser specifically made for colored pencils and gently use it to erase the color.
2. How do I remove pencil marks without using an eraser?
The easiest way to remove pencil marks without using an eraser is to use an artist tape. Cut the artist tape to the size of the pencil mark you want to remove, then press it on the desired area for a few seconds before gently removing the tape. The pencil marks will stick to the tape and easily come off.
3. Are colored pencils worth the money?
彩色铅笔更容易处理和使用than paint brushes. They’re an ideal tool for beginners to color with. They also help improve your precision, and they are a much faster way to color than paint brushes.
4. Are colored pencils safe for kids?
Colored pencils are safe for children over the age of three years. They are easier to hold and work with than other options such as watercolors and wax crayons. And there is no risk of making a mess, as there is with watercolors or other types of paint.
5. How long do colored pencils last?
Typically, colored pencils can last up to five years. However, it totally depends on their size and how you take care of them.
The Bottom Line
Investing in colored pencils is a good way to introduce your child to drawing and coloring in the safest way. Children tend to put crayons in their mouths and stain their clothes with watercolors, which rarely happens when they use colored pencils. If your child is new to coloring, selecting thicker and shorter pencils for better grip is the best. Since children love bright and vibrant colors, picking well-pigmented colored pencils will help retain their interest in coloring. Our top picks include theStabilo Woody Multi-talented Pencil Set, whose intense colors are easily visible even on dark surfaces, and theCrayola Colored Pencils, which are pre-sharpened and safe for your child. TheFaber-Castell Triangular Colored EcoPencilsare another good choice for their easy-to-grip design.
Infographic: A Buying Guide For Colored Pencils For Children
Using colored pencils can be a great way for your child to express themselves and work on their creativity. However, it is crucial that you find the right set of colored pencils to ensure safety while your child uses them. Follow the infographic to find an appropriate set of colored pencils for your little one.
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Get high-quality PDF version by clicking below.
Download Infographic
Recommended Articles:
