Toys & Play

21 Great Gifts for Kids Who Love to Draw

Stephanie Ganz
Stephanie Ganz
Once a professional chef (in the lifetime before she had two kids), Stephanie Ganz has written and developed original recipes for Bon Appetit, Eater, The Kitchn, and Virginia Living, and is a regular contributor to Richmond Magazine.
Megan Gray
Megan Gray
Estate sales, yard sales, and antique shops were regular weekend destinations for my brother and me as kids. My parents, always on the hunt for period-appropriate decor for our Staten Island 19th-century house, made sure of it. Since then, I’ve had a love for home design and…read more
updated Dec 15, 2025
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Boy painting during art class
Credit: andreswd/Getty Images

Drawing is one of the best ways for kids to develop a ton of essential skills, from motor skills to imagination and creativity. It’s also a kind of open-ended play with no wrong answers and lots of (potentially) quiet time. Both of my kids, ages 12 and 6, love to draw. In fact, it’s one of the few things they genuinely enjoy doing together, so I’m always keeping the craft closet stocked with markers, sketchpads, and how-to-draw books to keep them inspired. Here are 21 of my favorite gifts for kids, like mine, who love to draw.

3Doodler Start+ 3D Pen Bundle
$80$60

Until now, drawing has been a decidedly two-dimensional experience, but with the 3Doodler, kids can watch their drawings come to life. This set is easy enough for a 6-year-old to use and fun enough for a 13-year-old to enjoy. It includes everything they need to get creating — a 3D printing pin with refill strands, Maker Challenge Cards, and a Doodle Pad.

$60 at 3Doodler
How to Draw Everything: 600 Simple Step-by-Step Drawings
$17$14

This handy manual offers simple, step-by-step instructions for kids aged 4 to 8 to draw over 600 fun and cute images. Covering everything from animals and monsters to faces and dinosaurs, the manual enables them to sketch anything with a little practice.

$14 at Amazon
SmART Sketcher
$80$75

Budding artists will love the SmART Sketcher Projector. This gadget projects an image onto paper and guides them with step-by-step instructions on how to draw it. The more they use the projector for practice, the more their independent sketching skills will improve. Their talents will grow in no time!

$75 at Flycatcher
STABILO Multitalented Pencil Woody 3-in-1
$38$28

As soon as you start drawing with these thick wooden pencils, you notice how vibrant the colors are. Designed for little hands, they're easy to grip and glide smoothly across paper. Plus, for an extra creative touch, you can add water for a watercolor effect. Most importantly for parents, they easily wash off surfaces like floors and furniture (I speak from experience!) and can even be used to draw on glass.

$28 at Amazon
Create Your Own Comic Book Kit
$32

If your kid was born to draw, chances are high that they have some ideas for the next great comic. Help them see it to fruition with this create-your-own comic book set, which comes with all the instruction and supplies they need to put their vision in the frame. When they’re done drawing, send off the raw materials, and before you know it you’ll get their professionally-bound comic back in the mail.

$32 at Uncommon Goods
Honeysticks Bath Crayons Triangles 10 Pack
$22

Little kids come with a pre-programmed desire to draw all over everything, including the walls, and bathtime is actually the perfect occasion to let them go for it. With these safe, non-toxic bath crayons, the little one in your life will get all pruny making masterpieces in the tub, and when they’re done you can wash away their creations with warm water (just take a picture of it first!).

$22 at Walmart
Switch-Eroo Color Changing Markers
$15

Color-changing markers were one of my favorite gifts when I was growing up, and I remember spending hours contentedly drawing, coloring, and changing colors with them alone and with friends. This set of 12 vibrant color-changing markers from Ooly will have a similar effect on your budding illustrator.

$15 at Ooly
How to Draw Mushrooms & Woodland Creatures for Kids
$15$13

Even avid artists need a little push sometimes, and this book, designed for kids ages 7 to 12, includes not only ideas for what to draw but instructions for how to do it well. The mushrooms and woodland critters are so thoroughly charming, you’ll want to commission a few drawings for displaying on the fridge.

$13 at Maisonette
The Original BUDDHA BOARD: Relaxing Water Painting with Bamboo Brush & Stand
$35

The Buddha Board offers a simple yet engaging creative outlet for all ages. Kids can start drawing immediately — all they need is a little water and the included brush. As you paint, your designs appear, then gently disappear as the water dries. This makes the board not only a fun activity for kids but also a relaxing and meditative experience for adults.

$35 at Amazon
LEGO Stationery Buildable Ruler with Minifigure
$19

For getting those perfectly straight lines, your young artist is going to need a ruler, so why not get one that includes something else they love like LEGO? Everything is awesome for kids who build their own 6- or 12-inch ruler with clickable LEGO bricks and a special minifigure.

$19 at Amazon
Smencils 10-Pack
$16

I couldn’t get enough of my scented markers as a kid, and now scented pencils, aka smencils, have entered the chat for a new generation to love. With 10 yummy scents like Blue Slushie and Pineapple Swirl, your favorite artist can create art that smells as good as it looks.

$16 at Scentco Inc
Natural Play: Play, Draw, Create Reusable Drawing & Magnet Kit, Dinosaurs
$25

Drawing on the go just got easier, thanks to this play and draw magnet kit from Melissa & Doug. Dinosaur-loving artists will appreciate the included dino magnets and instructions for drawing their favorite prehistoric pals, and the set folds up neatly, which makes this a great choice for road trips.

$25 at Melissa & Doug
We Are Colorful Skin Tone Crayon Set
$12$10

Teach kids to embrace our beautiful and wonderful differences with this set of 18 skin tone crayons in a handy tin case. Representation matters, and these crayons will help kids explore the many different ways people can look.

$10 at Mudpuppy
Sharper Image Pixie Cruiser Doodle
$39$30

Kids will adore customizing this cute remote-controlled car with stickers and erasable markers that let them change the cruiser’s style as often as they want. Winner of the 2024 National Parenting Product Awards, this smartly designed toy is easy to control and perfect for kids over 6.

$30 at Walmart
Tulip Fabric Markers Fine Writers, 20 Pack
$25

Much like the whole drawing-on-the-walls thing, kids also love drawing on themselves, and this set of fabric markers lets them do it safely. With this 20-pack of fabric-friendly markers, they can decorate their own T-shirts, totebags, headbands, and shoes to their heart’s content.

$25 at Michaels
Monster Mix & Match Art Pack
$18

There’s no reason to be afraid of monsters when you design them yourself. This portable kit includes mix-and-match stencils for creating silly, loveable monsters. Everything folds up neatly in the included folio, so kids can take their monster pals wherever they roam.

$18 at KiwiCo
Light Box Drawing Pad
$40$30

On Friday and Saturday nights before I go to bed, I set this light box up on the kitchen table so that, in the morning, when my 6-year-old wakes up way before I’m ready to start moving, she can plop down at the table and draw until I make my way downstairs. She gets time to draw with a special, fun toy, and I get a few more minutes in bed — a win-win for both of us.

$30 at Amazon
Bravokids 10 Inch LCD Writing Tablet
$32$26

These LCD drawing tablets are all the rage right now. Think of them as a brighter, more exciting version of the Magnadoodles we grew up with. Kids can draw with the built-in pen and then erase their drawings easily with the click of a button so they can start drawing all over again.

$26 at Amazon
DSTELIN Blank Spiral Notebook, 3-Pack
$10$9

My 12-year-old is obsessed with drawing, and there is no end to the amount of sketchbooks they need to capture their OCs (original characters) and other doodles, so I always buy sketchbooks in bulk. My artist loves these because they’re spiral-bound with blank pages and have a neutral cover for decorating with stickers.

$9 at Amazon
Crayola Tie Dye Chalk, 5 Count
$8

For little kiddos who love to draw, big chunky sidewalk chalk fits well and is easy to use for little hands. These tie-dye colors will look cool on the sidewalk or blacktop, and they’re easy to wash away when it’s time to clean up.

$8 at Amazon
Two Tumbleweeds Art Dice
$22$20

For a burst of inspiration, these art dice are perfect when your little one is facing artist's block. The set contains nine dice featuring prompts for color, texture, style, and more, helping artists of all ages brainstorm their next masterpiece.

$20 at Amazon

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