Our Favourite Sensory Play and Art Supplies.

Last week my kids and I shared a list of our favourite toys and games for toddlers to tweens. This week I am answering another reader question and sharing a list of our favourite sensory, art and creative play supplies.

Where I can I will share a link to where you can find these items or to posts on my blog that give you more information – none of them are affiliate links so I do not make money if you buy via the links, but I have been lucky enough to work with some of these brands on my blog and have loved all of them.

This is not a comprehensive list of all the things you must buy, this is a list of added extras, the special little things, all the sensory play and art supplies that we use over and over and over.

Our Favourite Sensory Play and Art Supplies.

Art Supplies

Apart from the basics of markers, paints, brushes, glue and paper, these are some of the special art supplies that my kids and I love and use over and over and over.

Micador Fluro Washable Paint Discs – We used these again, and again, and again. They are easy to get out, low mess, and easy to pack up and the vibrant fluro colours are awesome! (You can win some of these great paints if you keep reading to end of this post!)

Oil Pastels – We choose oil pastels over crayons for their vibrant colours and the way they glide onto the paper. They are great for little hands and big ones.

Koh-I-Noor Progresso Coloured Pencils – These special woodless coloured pencils are a little bit of a splurge but my drawing mad kids love them. The colour is right the way through the pencil so you can draw and shade in all kinds of ways.

Liquid water colours – I’ve finally got my hands on some of these again and they are just as fab I remember them. They are a little like food dyes but stain less and come in beautiful colours.

Water Colour Paint Tubes – if you can’t justify the expense of the liquid water colours then a simple set of water colour paints in tubes is also fab. You can thin these down with water and use them for lots of things.

Metallic Paint – every time we use these metallic paints I am amazed at the shiny, shimmery, metallic sheen.

Tape – Noah is in love with sticky tape and we’ve got quite a collection of different kinds of tape now. Clear tape, electrical tape, masking tape, washi tape, duct tape etc. We also got some tape dispensers this year which makes using tape much easier for little hands.

A big roll of paper – big sheets of paper are fabulous, but a big roll of paper provides endless opportunities! We stock up every time we visit Ikea!

Sensory Play

We all love sensory play, even the big kids, and it doesn’t have to be super messy, or super fancy, or super expensive.

Water beads – water beads are the coolest things ever! You have to try some if you haven’t already!

Eye Droppers – a set of plastic eye droppers gives a whole new spin on simple water play and can be used for so many sensory play and art activities!

Supermarket supplies – You can buy so many inexpensive sensory play supplies at the supermarket. At the moment Noah is obsessed with vinegar and baking soda, but I’d also put corn flour (corn starch) and rice on your shopping list, as well as the ingredients for your favourite play dough recipe.

Modelling clay/plasticine – little hands are all about soft squishy play dough, but as my kids have gotten older they are loving modelling clay for a slightly different medium. These sets with modelling clay and funny body parts are loads of fun.

Little Extras to Add to your Collection

Often it is the little things that get used over and over and make art and creativity fun and easy. Most of these things can be found at the supermarket or local cheap shop, or in the recycle bin!

Cotton Buds – or q tips, or ear buds, or whatever you call them! Buy some cheap ones and throw them in the art cupboard for painting, collage, loose parts play and lots more.

Contact/Sticky backed paper – super useful for loads of art activities, low mess collage, covering prtinables and more. But a giant roll when you see it on special at back to school time!

Loose parts – so much of our creative play (like these cool crazy faces) involves little bits and pieces we’ve collected. Things like glass gems, rocks, plastic ‘diamonds’, beads, icy-pole sticks, little wooden blocks, gum nuts, mosaic tiles, tree slices, shells – any little things that you can collect a group of.

Containers – having a collection of containers of all sizes is very handy. We use an under bed storage box for sensory play, a simple plastic tray to contain art, an plastic Ikea cutlery tray, and various recycled containers for paint and storage.

Books for Inspiration.

When my kids were little we didn’t use many art books, I had a whole load of ideas in my head after years of teaching, but now that the kids are older they LOVE looking through art and craft books for ideas and inspiration.

Time to Create by Christie Burnett – I may be slightly biased as Chrsitie is my friend and my kids’ art work feature in this book, but it is full of great ideas and good, down to earth, explanations about why process art is so important for young children.

101 Kids Activities That are the Bestest, Funnest Ever! By Holly Homer and Rachel Miller – there is a huge variety of ideas in this book and my big kids can flick through, pick one and easily follow the instructions.

150+ Screen-Free Activities for Kids by Asia Citro – We recieved a review copy of this book recently and my kis and I love it! Loads of fun creative and sensory play ideas, my kids have bookmarked about 20 pages! The book has sold out of it’s first print run and is on back order at most Australian retailers, but Asia has shared information about the best way to get your hands on a copy here.

Win a Micador Art Pack!

This competition is now closed – congratulations to our winner Alison.

Thanks to my blog partner Micador, I have a fabulous art pack to give away. It includes some of our favourite art supplies and a few extra goodies!

To enter just leave a comment on this post and tell me what your most favourite, or least favourite art supply is and why. The most interesting and funny story will win!

Entries are open to Australian residents only and close midday December 17 2014. See below for for full terms and conditions.

Competition Terms and Conditions.
You must be an Australian resident to enter.
You must provide a valid email address and entries are limited to one per household.
Entries close Wednesday December 17 2014 at midday EST
Entries will be judged on merit and creativity.
One winner will each receive a Micador Art hamper as show above.
Winners will be contacted by email and announced on this post by Monday December 22 2014, or as soon as they contact me.
The winner must contact me within 5 days or the prize will be re-drawn.
The winner agrees to have their contact details passed on to the appropriate PR company or brand representative who will send out/organise the prizes directly.
Please note: Prizes are not guaranteed to arrive before Christmas

{Disclosure: we were given a copy of 101 Kids Activities and 150+ Screen-Free Activities for Kids to review. I have worked with some of the brands linked to but I was not asked nor obligated to mention them in this post. This post is not endorsed by any brand or company. All opinions are my own. }