If you have ever opened a craft cabinet hoping to do something fun with your kids — only to realize you are missing one critical supply — this post is for you.
When I do activities with my kids, I notice something: the same supplies keep showing up in activity after activity. Construction paper. Washable paint. Glue sticks. Tape. Nothing exotic, nothing expensive. Simple supplies to keep on hand to unlock a world of play for all ages.
I call it the PlayPrep Starter Kit. Stock it once and you will almost never be caught without something great to do. Here is exactly what is in it, why each item earns its spot, and what you can actually make with it.
Crayola Construction Paper Bulk Pack (480 Sheets) — $11.76
Shop on Amazon →This is the foundation of the entire kit. 480 sheets across 10 colors means you are not going to run out anytime soon — and with kids, you will go through paper faster than you think. The 9×12 size is perfect for most projects: big enough for full paintings, small enough to manage at a kitchen table.
Construction paper is the canvas for paper bag puppets, collage art, greeting cards, tissue paper flowers, and dozens of cutting and pasting activities. It holds up to markers, glue, and light paint without immediately falling apart.
Amazon Basics Cardstock Paper (250 Sheets) — $12.55
Shop on Amazon →Where construction paper is your everyday workhorse, cardstock is what you reach for when a project needs to hold its shape. At 65 lb, it is sturdy enough for handmade books, DIY flashcards, stencils kids cut and reuse, and anything that involves folding, standing upright, or being handled repeatedly.
White cardstock also takes paint beautifully — better than regular printer paper, without the bleed-through you would get on thinner stock. We use it for watercolor art, science project displays, and anything going on the fridge or into a frame.
Crayola Washable Paint — 12 Colors, 16 oz Each — $48.97
Shop on Amazon →This is the premium pick on the list and the one I would encourage you not to skip. Sixteen ounces per color means you are not rationing paint or running out mid-project. These are the bottles you set out for process art sessions, pour painting, sponge painting, roller painting — the big, joyful, messy stuff.
Crayola's washable formula genuinely washes out of clothes and off surfaces. That matters enormously when you are doing this regularly. The 12-color set covers primaries, secondaries, and extras — enough for color mixing lessons with older kids and simple stamp-and-paint fun with toddlers.
Watercolor Paint Set — 16 Colors with Palette, Pad & Brushes — $12.50
Shop on Amazon →Watercolor is a completely different experience from tempera paint — and kids respond to it differently. The translucency, the way colors blend on wet paper, the softer finish — it opens up a whole category of projects that washable paint cannot replicate.
This set comes with a mixing palette, a paper pad, and eight brushes, making it an exceptional value at $12.50. Great for nature journaling, watercolor resist art (paint over crayon drawings to reveal clean lines underneath), greeting card making, and quiet independent art sessions.
Crayola Ultra Clean Washable Markers — 40 Count — $18.04
Shop on Amazon →Forty colors is the right number. Plenty of variety to keep kids genuinely engaged. The broad line is versatile — detailed enough for coloring, bold enough for posters and signs.
The Ultra Clean formula holds up well: these wash off skin and most surfaces without much effort. For families doing activities regularly, that reliability matters more than it sounds. Use these for labeling, decorating envelopes, creating DIY sticker charts, and anything requiring sustained color work.
Elmer's Disappearing Purple Glue Sticks — 30 Count — $9.97
Shop on Amazon →Thirty glue sticks sounds like overkill until you have watched a seven-year-old use an entire stick to attach one piece of tissue paper. The disappearing purple formula is genuinely useful: it applies purple so kids can see exactly where they have glued, then dries completely clear.
Glue sticks are the right tool for collage work, paper crafts, making books, and attaching tissue paper — any project where you want adhesion without the mess or dry time of liquid glue. These are the ones we reach for first.
Elmer's Liquid School Glue — 4 oz, 12 Count — $17.99
Shop on Amazon →Some projects need more than a glue stick. Liquid glue is what you want for slime making, paper mâché, fabric collage, building cardboard structures, and anything needing a strong lasting bond. Classic Elmer's is also the only slime glue that actually works — important if your household has hit the slime phase.
A 12-pack is the right quantity for regular use or group activities — individual bottles run out fast, and having extras means you are never stopping mid-project to hunt for more.
Painters Tape — 4 Rolls, 88 Total Yards — $5.99
Shop on Amazon →Painters tape is the unsung hero of this entire kit. It creates tape resist art (press tape in patterns, paint over everything, peel to reveal clean geometric lines underneath), marks off roads and tracks for toy cars on the floor, holds paper in place while kids work, and creates targets for movement games.
At $5.99 for four rolls this is the most affordable item on the list — and consistently the one parents are most surprised by when they start using PlayPrep activities. No residue, easy removal, repositionable, and kids genuinely love the peel-reveal moment.
Fiskars Training Scissors — 3-Pack — $8.00
Shop on Amazon →Cutting is a foundational fine motor skill, and having the right scissors matters more than most people realize. The Fiskars training scissors use a spring-action lever that guides the opening motion — kids squeeze to cut, and the scissors spring back open automatically. This dramatically reduces frustration for 3–5 year olds still building hand strength.
A 3-pack means siblings or a small group can work simultaneously. These are specifically designed to not cut skin, which parents of preschoolers will appreciate greatly.
Carl & Kay Arts & Crafts Supplies Kit — $16.97
Shop on Amazon →This is the bonus all-in-one pick that fills the gaps. The kit includes pipe cleaners, pom poms, googly eyes, foam stickers, and an assortment of mixed media supplies that unlock a whole category of activities: character crafts, puppet making, sensory exploration, and open-ended creative building.
Having these on hand means kids can build creatures, decorate projects, and add dimension to flat art without a separate shopping trip. Especially valuable if you are stocking a playroom, homeschool corner, or art station for the first time and want immediate variety.
The Full Kit at a Glance
| Supply | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Crayola Construction Paper (480 sheets) | $11.76 | Shop → |
| Amazon Basics Cardstock (250 sheets) | $12.55 | Shop → |
| Crayola Washable Paint 12ct (16 oz) | $48.97 | Shop → |
| Watercolor Paint Set with supplies | $12.50 | Shop → |
| Crayola Washable Markers (40ct) | $18.04 | Shop → |
| Elmer's Glue Sticks (30ct) | $9.97 | Shop → |
| Elmer's Liquid Glue (12ct) | $17.99 | Shop → |
| Painters Tape (4 rolls) | $5.99 | Shop → |
| Fiskars Training Scissors (3-pack) | $8.00 | Shop → |
| Carl & Kay Arts & Crafts Kit | $16.97 | Shop → |
| Total | ~$163 |
What to do with it all
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