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The Best Art Kits For 9-12 Year Olds

Last updated on February 9, 2023

We looked at the top 9 Art Kits For 9-12 Year Olds and dug through the reviews from 13 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Art Kits For 9-12 Year Olds.

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Kids are full of creativity, and giving them the tools to express their ideas through art provides them with another avenue of communication and expression. From paints and paintbrushes to colorful markers to pipe cleaners and pom poms, there are many different types of art kits and supplies kids can use to showcase their creativity. Providing them with a variety of art materials helps them explore their interests and find a medium they love.

There are many benefits to letting kids use art kits and supplies to make fantastical creations. Using art supplies helps younger kids to develop their fine motor skills. Using scissors to cut paper, using paintbrushes to make strokes on paper and sculpting with clay can help them strengthen their coordination and dexterity. Building these skills translates to other academic skills later on in life. In fact, a study from Americans for the Arts found that kids who participate in artistic activities are four times more likely to excel in their academic achievements.

For kids, art is not only a pastime or hobby, it’s also a form of communication. Kids use the sensory element of art to deal with feelings and process their experiences. They often don’t have the vocabulary to describe what they want to, but they can show it through art. That’s why kids often draw situations that are familiar to them, and their family and friends are often featured in their artwork.

Using art kits to create little masterpieces helps children to build their confidence and self-esteem. While participating in art, they get to make independent choices, such as which color to use. This form of autonomy and decision-making shows them just what they are capable of. As they see their artistic skills bloom, they also strengthen their self-assurance and feel proud of their abilities.

Our Picks For The Top Art Kits For 9-12 Year Olds

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Product Overview
Our Take
Pros
Cons
 Top Pick

Y YOFUN Decorative Button Flower Art Kit For 9-12 Year Olds, 142-Piece

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Y YOFUN

Decorative Button Flower Art Kit For 9-12 Year Olds, 142-Piece

Real flowers are beautiful, but quickly wilt away when brought in the house and placed in a vase. With this art kit for 9-12 year olds, your child will be able to create a long-lasting faux flower bouquet using colorful buttons. The kit even comes with a vase that can be decorated with string!

Overall Take

Colorful PickOnce this art kit for 9-12 year olds is put together, it can be displayed on a mantel or given away as a gift.

 Runner Up

Dan&Darci Creative Rock Painting Art Kit For 9-12 Year Olds

Dan&Darci

Creative Rock Painting Art Kit For 9-12 Year Olds

With this art kit for 9-12 year olds, preteens will be able to paint rocks to decorate their rooms or to give to loved ones as gifts. The kit not only includes the rocks and paints, but also plenty of accessories to encourage creativity. These include googly eyes, design transfers, gems and glitter.

Overall Take

Accessories IncludedA total of 12 different paint colors are included in this art kit for 9-12 year olds.

Pros
" That isn’t so bad for a child’s kit, considering the price and the exciting shimmery accessories that accompany the kit to grab kids’ attention and spark a lasting interest in the activity. It is highly giftable and little ones will..."
Cons
"Some reviewers say they received rocks too jagged or small to paint on."
 We Also Like

Art 101 Painting & Drawing Art Kit For 9-12 Year Olds, 142-Piece

Art 101

Painting & Drawing Art Kit For 9-12 Year Olds, 142-Piece

Everything your preteen needs to get started with drawing and painting is provided in this art kit for 9-12 year olds. The kit comes in an attractive wood case that is not only durable, but also helps kids stay organized. Included in the set are watercolors, oil pastels, colored pencils, crayons, sketch pencils and mixing palettes.

Overall Take

Great Starter SetWith this art kit for 9-12 year olds, kids can draw, shade, color, blend and paint.

Pros
" It comes with a deluxe wooden carrying case. A great choice for drawing and coloring. Equipped with 24 premium core colored pencils. It has multiple coloring and painting mediums. Lightweight and simple to use."
 Strong Contender

4M Magnetic Fridge Tile Painting Art Kit For 9-12 Year Olds

4M

Magnetic Fridge Tile Painting Art Kit For 9-12 Year Olds

This art kit for 9-12 year olds is made up of magnetic tiles that look great on locker doors, the family fridge and any other metal surface. Kids will love expressing their creativity by painting each of the 10 tiles using their own designs. Included with the kit is a set of paints and a paintbrush.

Overall Take

Budget-Friendly OptionThe budget-friendly price tag on this art kit for 9-12 year olds makes it an excellent choice for gift giving.

Pros
" Includes all the necessary supplies. Create art from ordinary tiles. Makes lasting artwork."
Don't just take for granted what one reviewer says. Along with our own experts, DWYM analyzes the top expert reviews of the leading products and generates a score you can actually trust.
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Products Considered

We identified the majority of the art kits for 9-12 year olds available to purchase.
9

Products Analyzed

We then selected the leading and most popular products for our team to review.

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Expert Reviews Included

In addition to our expert reviews, we also incorporate feedback and analysis of some of the most respected sources including: The Toy Zone, Glytterati, Momgineering the Future, Top Ten Products, LifeSavvy.

166,049

User Opinions Analyzed

We also incorporate user reviews from the leading retailers including

Our experts reviewed the top 9 Art Kits For 9-12 Year Olds and also dug through the reviews from 13 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Art Kits For 9-12 Year Olds.

DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.

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The Best Bang For Your Buck

Dan&Darci Creative Rock Painting Art Kit For 9-12 Year Olds

Our Expert Score

0.0
2 expert reviews

User Summarized Score

9.4
15,954 user reviews

Our Take

With this art kit for 9-12 year olds, preteens will be able to paint rocks to decorate their rooms or to give to loved ones as gifts. The kit not only includes the rocks and paints, but also plenty of accessories to encourage creativity. These include googly eyes, design transfers, gems and glitter.

What other experts liked

That isn’t so bad for a child’s kit, considering the price and the exciting shimmery accessories that accompany the kit to grab kids’ attention and spark a lasting interest in the activity. It is highly giftable and little ones will be ecstatic to open it.
- The Creative Folk
Included are 10 smooth painting rocks, standard and metallic paints, glitter glue, sticky gems, paintbrushes, a sponge and an instruction guide. The quality paintbrushes work well, and the thick paint gives the rocks a glossy finish.
- KDVR

What other experts didn't like

A common complaint about this kit is the size of the rocks. Up to 3 are medium-sized, but the rest are so small.
- The Creative Folk
Some reviewers say they received rocks too jagged or small to paint on.
- KDVR

What to Look For

  • There are so many options when it comes to art kits and supplies for kids. Think about which medium your kids would like to explore most. Paint, markers, crayons, color pencils, glitter, pastels, pom-poms and colored paper are just a few options. Select an art kit that includes the supplies your child is most interested in, or opt for a set that includes multiple options for them to try.
  • Check to see whether the art kit or supplies come in their own carrying case or if the items are loose. You’ll want to make sure you have a space allocated to house and organize them; otherwise, you may lose some supplies or have them strewn about your house.
  • Depending on the ages of your children, you may want to check whether the art kit supplies are easily washable and removable. This is especially important for young children who are bound to get everything covered in paint or glue. For older children, this is less of an issue, but it’s still good to know so that you can remove those stains from their clothes.
  • If you have multiple children who are interested in exploring their artistic skills, opt for a kit that is designed for more than one kid. For example, if you’re looking to get a kit that includes an easel, look for one that is double-sided so that two kids can paint at the same time on either side. Many art kits come with aprons to help kids keep their clothes clean, so you may need to purchase an extra apron for two kids to enjoy.

More to Explore

If you have a little Picasso on your hands, then you likely have a ton of art supplies at home of all different kinds. Instead of dumping them all in a drawer, try to organize them so that they are easy to find and use. A kitchen cart on wheels is a great way to store your kids’ art supplies and make them easy to take around the house. You can sort items on each shelf and then wheel the whole cart to the table where the kids are ready to use them. Another way to organize your art supplies is in see-through containers. This way, you and your kids can easily see what’s inside without having to open everything up. If kids see what is available, they are more likely to use them.

More to explore