Choosing art supplies for 1 year old children can be difficult. There are many different products available, it can be overwhelming trying to choose something. Here, we have reviewed some of the best craft products which are suitable for children aged around 12 months old and above. There’s sure to be something your little artist will love here! We also have some tips and advice to help parents and carers find the perfect creative activities for 1 year olds. There are loads of great art projects for 1 yr olds, which we will also take a look at here.
11 Best Arts and Crafts for Toddlers age 1 Year Old
Below, you will find our pick of 11 of the best art supplies for 1 year old girls and boys. There’s sure to be something to give you inspiration, and get your little one having a great time learning new skills!
1. Aquadoodle Mat
The Aqua Doodle is perfect for parents who are worried about the mess made by arts and crafts with young children. The pen contains only water, so if your child draws on anything it won’t leave a mark! The doodle mat folds away for easy storage, or for easy transport. There are also stencils included, so older children can learn how to write letters and draw shapes.
The Aquadoodle mat can be reused again and again, as the drawings disappear after around 15 minutes. Young children will love to watch the colors appear by magic as they draw – there are 10 different colors in stripes which appear when they get wet. The water drawing set is ideal for keeping toddlers entertained when away from home too – it doesn’t take up much room in a bag, and you don’t have to worry about making a mess in someone else’s house!
2. Crayola Mess Free Coloring Board
Mess free coloring is every parent’s dream! This reusable drawing board comes with crayons, which can be easily erased after use. The reverse of the board has some gel inside, so kids can do ‘finger painting’, but without the mess! The Crayola mess free board is sturdy, so it’s perfect for younger children as it can’t be torn up like paper! The crayons are triangular for an easier grip, and there is a crayon holder on the side of the board to keep them handy!
The double doodle board is ideal for keeping children entertained whilst in the car or waiting somewhere ‘boring’, and you don’t have to worry about them making a mess. It’s a good idea to supervise younger children when using the crayons however, particularly if they are still at the stage where they enjoy to taste everything!
3. Self Inking Stamps Pack of 10
This stamp pen set is a great learning activity for 1 year olds. There are 10 stampers included, with each of the digits 0 – 9. So, it’s ideal for helping with early number recognition, and with older children the stampers can be used to make sums fun! Even before children understand numbers, they will enjoy playing with the stampers and using them to decorate pictures and make cards!
The self-inking stamps have the ink built in, so all kids need to do is remove the lid and press down! This can help eliminate some of the mess which usually happens when using ink pads and stampers. And when the stampers dry out, you can still continue to use them by buying a separate ink pad, so they are really great value for money!
4. String Necklace Set
It can be difficult to find string beads which are suitable and safe for younger children. These ones are great because they are big and chunky, so they are easy to grip. It’s important to still supervise younger children when playing with the beads however. Toddlers will love using the threading beads to make necklaces and bracelets – they will love showing off their creations to everyone too! Kids can also use the beads for matching and sorting, making it a great learning activity for 1 yr olds.
5. Toddler Painting Smock 2 Pack
A kids painting apron is crucial when doing arts and crafts for 1 year olds. These come in a pack of two, so there’s one to wear whilst the other is being washed. The art smock has pockets on the front, so children can keep all their art supplies close to hand. The smock is long and has long sleeves, so it is perfect for keeping the clothes clean underneath. The Velcro closure makes it easy to adjust the fit of the smock, and it’s also easy to put on and take off.
6. Magnetic Drawing Board
This magnetic doodle board is the perfect activity for 1 year olds at home. It allows children how to learn how to scribble and draw, without any of the mess! There’s also no risk of children chewing on crayons or pencils with the magnetic drawing board! The board is great because it can be used over and over again for years – it’s very environmentally friendly too.
The magnetic drawing board for toddlers has a carry handle – kids are sure to love carrying the board around to show everyone what they have made! It’s really easy to erase the drawings afterwards too – kids will love to slide the slider and watch their drawings magically disappear!
7. Toddler Painting Set
This kids painting set is a great art gift for 1 year olds. If your child loves to paint, they are sure to be delighted with all these paint brushes, rollers and tools. The toddler paint set also comes with six different colors of Crayola washable paint, so kids can start creating masterpieces straight away. The toddler paint brushes are just the right size for younger children to easily hold and grip. Every piece of the kids painting set is made from high quality and durable materials, so they are sure to last for years.
8. Crayola Washable Finger Paint
This crayola finger paint is a fantastic art supply for 1 year old children. A variety of colors are included, so kids can make any picture they can imagine! The paint bottles are easy to squeeze (although we recommend that adults do this part for young children!). The paints are washable, so there’s no need to worry about the mess that often comes along with finger painting. The texture of the paint is perfect for finger painting, although it can also be used with brushes and rollers if preferred.
9. Melissa and Doug Deluxe Standing Easel
The Melissa and Doug easel is great for art projects for 1 year olds. It has three different height adjustment levels, so it can be used from when your child is able to stand up, until they are of school age. There are loads of different ways your child can draw and create with this board. There’s a chalkboard on one side and a dry-wipe board on the other side.
There are also large clips at the top which can be used to hold up large sheets of paper. There is a tray on either side of the toddler easel to hold chalks, pens and other supplies. The trays can easily be removed for cleaning, too. The easel folds flat for easy storage, so it can be put away after use to save space.
10. Goliath Paint Station Easel
The Paint Station is an excellent way to introduce young children to painting without some of the mess. The kit includes paint pods, which don’t spill even when turned upside down! There is also an easel included which holds the paint pods in place, and can be used to hold a piece of paper in place for painting on.
The Paint Station Easel is great for taking on vacations, or when visiting friends or family. It folds up neatly and holds everything inside, and it will keep kids occupied for ages! The water based paint can easily be wiped from surfaces and will wash out of clothes and materials, so there’s no need to worry if your child hasn’t had much practice at painting yet!
11. Dauber Dawgs
These do a dot markers are perfect for children to make works of art! This set comes with some pages to color and decorate, and there are also many more available in PDF format on a digital download. The bingo pens are easy to hold and use, so even younger children are sure to love getting stuck in! They are non-toxic and non-spill, so they are safe for young children to use. There is a great range of colors included, so kids can create a beautiful rainbow artwork!
12. Dreamingbox Scratch Art
This colorful craft is sure to be enjoyed by any little toddler. There are 100 plain notes included, as well as a wooden stylus which is used to scratch off the surface. Once the surface has been scratched, you will find many bright colors underneath! Toddlers will love to experiment with making different shapes and patterns on the notes, and as they learn to draw and write, they can eventually be used for this, too.
13. Button Art
Next on our list of toddler crafts is this fun button art game from Fansteck. It comes with 12 pictures and almost 50 colorful buttons that are used to complete the pictures. This is a great activity for developing hand-eye coordination as well as fine motor skills. The set has fun pictures that are sure to appeal to your toddler, such as a frog, a fish, a rocket, and a truck. Parents will love the included bag, which is ideal for storing the buttons safely together when they are not being used.
14. Make-a-Zoo Stickers
Our next toddler art supply is this fun sticker activity. It comes with 24 sheets in four different designs. Each sheet has an animal body as well as facial features and accessories which can be used to make crazy and funny animals, or monsters! Stickers are always popular with toddlers, and they will love creating funny pictures with these ones! They are fun for a rainy day at home or for giving in a party bag, or doing as a party activity.
15. Melissa & Doug Water Wow
Melissa & Doug make some great arts and crafts toys, and parents and children alike will love these magical coloring books. They come with a special pen that is filled with water, and when it is used on the coloring pictures, they magically appear colored! The pages can be reused over and over again, and the pen is stored inside the cover, making this great for travel. There are four different themed activity books included in this set, each with a different theme. These are farm, under the sea, and on safari.
16. Fun Felt Shapes
Next on our list of fun activities for one year olds we have this felt art set. There are over 100 felt pieces included in a range of colors, shapes, and sizes, so toddlers can use their imagination to create anything they can dream up! The set comes with a board that unfolds, giving a space to stick the shapes on to. No adhesives are required, though, as the felt simply adheres to the background. There is a zippered pocket inside that can be used to store all the pieces neatly together when not in use, so they don’t get lost.
17. Finger Paint Pad
Finger painting is a very popular toddler art activity, so if you are looking for some good-quality paper for them to paint on, this pad is just what you need. It comes with two pads each containing 50 sheets. The pages are 12 x 18 inches, so there is plenty of space for toddlers to paint on. The paper is glossy and non-absorbant, so it can be used on both sides. Or, if preferred, the paper can easily be removed from the pad to display the artwork around the house!
18. Dab & Dot Markers
Drawing can be a fun craft for 1 year old toddlers, but to make it easier, these dab and dot markers are ideal. They are similar to bingo dabbers, and come in eight different colors. Toddlers can make fun pictures simply by dotting the colors in different shapes and patterns. As your toddler gets a bit older, you can download some of the included PDF files, which are filled with fun activities that can help your child learn. There are different themes to the activities, so toddlers can always learn something new. The pens are easy for youngsters to grab, too, so they can easily make marks compared to using regular pens which can be a bit more difficult.
19. Reuseable Sticker Pad
Stickers are one of the most popular toddlers art activities, which is why we included this great sticker pad from Melissa & Doug. They are reusable, so toddlers can make their own scenes over and over again if they change their mind. There are five different scenes included, and more than 200 stickers to fit the different themes. Some of the themes include school, grocery shopping, and in the hospital – all things you can do in town. When it comes to arts and crafts for 1 yr olds, this is one of the easiest and least messy options!
20. 600 Piece Craft Set
If you have some good ideas on crafts to do with toddlers but are lacking in supplies, this awesome pack of craft materials is just what you need! It has an amazing 600 pieces, including things such as pipe cleaners, wooden sticks, googly eyes, feathers and pop poms. The pieces are lovely and colorful, so they are sure to grab your toddler’s attention. These materials are great for gluing and sticking to make a variety of projects – the only limitation is your imagination!
21. ALEX Toys Sticker Pictures
Last on our list of activities to do with a one year old we have the Tots Sticker Pictures set from ALEX Toys. It comes with almost 150 stickers and six different themed boards to stick them on. Some of the themes included are on the farmyard or what’s for dinner, so toddlers are sure to have loads of fun using their imagination to come up with different ideas. These activities are ideal for encouraging the development of hand-eye coordination, as well as a sense of creativity.
Things to consider in educational activities for 1 yr olds
There are a few things which are important to think about when looking for educational activities to try at home with a one year old. It’s important to ensure the activity is age-appropriate, otherwise it might be too difficult for them to enjoy properly.
Also, make sure any materials used are safe for young children. Arts and crafts should always be supervised, as children this age still tend to enjoy tasting everything! Be sure there are no small parts in any craft sets you buy – these are not suitable until children are a bit older and no longer put things in their mouths. Items like small beads and buttons are not ideal for one yr olds.
What are fun art projects to do with a 1 year old?
There are loads of fun art projects you can enjoy with your 1 year old! Kids this age often love getting messy, so be sure they are wearing old clothes, or have a waterproof smock or overalls on. Making hand and footprints using paints is something children this age usually really enjoy. They like to explore different textures too, so you could try letting them make things with feathers or even ‘painting’ with food. This also has the benefit of being safe if they decide to taste anything!
One year old children are usually starting to develop the skills needed to scribble with crayons, too. So, get a box of different colors and a big piece of paper and let them go wild! Just be sure to protect the floor or table! You can also cut out shapes for gluing and sticking, to make collages and mosaics.
Unique Christmas art projects for one year olds
It’s really nice to be able to involve toddlers in the Christmas preparations. It’s fun to have them help make cards for friends and family, and the recipients are sure to be delighted too! Pine cones are fun to use in Christmas crafts, and children will love to go out for a walk to collect them. You can decorate them with glitter and glue, and hang them up or use them as part of a wreath.
How to pick toddler art supplies
When your child gets a little older, they might enjoy visiting the toy store to choose some art supplies with you. You can give them choices of different items that are safe to use and within your budget. This way, they will be keener to take part in the activity if they have chosen it themselves!
It’s important to follow your child’s lead when it comes to art and craft, and let them do activities they enjoy and don’t be disheartened if your child doesn’t seem interested. Some children aren’t really interested in some crafting activities at the age of 1, but keep trying and they will get there eventually!
Benefits of Art for Toddlers
Art has many benefits for young children. It’s a great way for parents and toddlers to spend some quality time together – you can focus all your attention on them without being distracted by other tasks. Toddlers can also practice many important skills when doing art projects, such as hand-eye coordination, concentration, fine motor skills and many more. They can also work on developing hand control and dexterity, which will help them learn to write later on.
Arts and crafts for toddlers can also help them gain confidence. When you tell them they are doing a great job or they see their artwork hanging up on the refrigerator, toddlers will feel so happy and proud!
Art activities for toddlers can also be useful to help grow and expand their vocabulary. You can ask them questions about what they are making or drawing, and they can also learn to recognize and name the different colors.
Last but not least, being allowed to make a bit of a mess from time to time is great fun for 1 year olds too!
