Coloring corner
The best colored pencils for kids, by age, including rainbow pencils
By M.F. Chang · October 2026
A two-year-old and a seven-year-old need very different pencils. The toddler needs something fat that will not snap in a fist. The older child wants more colors, a sharper point and maybe a pencil that does a trick. Below are our picks for each stage, why we like them, what each maker says about safety, and the one thing to know before you buy.
If you only want one box for a three to five year old, our short answer is in The only coloring supply a three-year-old actually needs. This list is for when you want to match the pencil to the child.
What we look for
- A real safety statement from the maker. The strongest is the AP (Approved Product) seal from the Art and Creative Materials Institute, which means a toxicologist reviewed the formula. Next is a statement that the product conforms to ASTM D-4236, the US labeling standard for art materials. "Non-toxic" on a store listing alone is weaker, and we say so when that is all we could find.
- A grip that fits the hand. Jumbo and triangular barrels are easier for small fingers and nudge them toward the tripod grip they will use at school.
- Leads that survive pressure. Young kids press hard. Thick, soft cores break less.
- The right number of colors. Twelve is plenty under five. Older kids enjoy 24 to 50.
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Ages 2 to 4: first pencils
Faber-Castell Jumbo Grip Colored Pencils, 12 count
Best for: toddlers and first grips
- Triangular jumbo barrel with raised grip dots, so the pencil sits in a small hand without rolling or slipping.
- Thick lead that stands up to a toddler's heavy hand.
- Twelve bright colors, enough choice without overwhelm.
Safety: Faber-Castell USA says its products are certified non-toxic by a board-certified toxicologist and conform to ASTM D-4236.
Good to know: the cardboard box wears out. A cup on the table works better.
Ages 3 and up: the everyday box
Crayola Colored Pencils, 12 count, pack of 3
Best for: the kitchen table, siblings, classrooms
- Pre-sharpened, so they are ready the moment the box opens.
- Three identical boxes: one for home, one for the car or grandma's, one for a sibling.
- Classic colors that match what a small child expects: a proper red, green and sky blue.
Safety: Crayola states that its art materials carry the ACMI AP seal and that all Crayola products are non-toxic.
Good to know: these are standard-width pencils, so a two-year-old may find the jumbo set easier.
Rainbow pencils: one pencil, many colors
Rainbow pencils have a lead made of several colors pressed together. Turn the pencil as you draw and the line changes color. Kids love them for swirls, rainbows and big skies, and they turn a plain page into a surprise. They are a treat rather than a workhorse, because you cannot choose exactly which color comes out.
Flag: rainbow pencils are best for ages 4 and up, once kids have stopped chewing on pencils.
Koh-I-Noor Magic FX Pencils, 5 pack
Best for: trying rainbow pencils for the first time
- Five different color mixes in one pack, so every pencil draws a different rainbow.
- Jumbo barrel that is easy to hold.
- Strong, waxy color that shows up well on coloring pages.
Good to know: only five pencils, so pair it with a regular set for solid fills.
Koh-I-Noor Magic FX Pencils, Neon mix, 30 pack
Best for: parties, classrooms, goodie bags
- Thirty of the same neon pencil, so no one argues over who got the best one.
- A small, useful party favor that is not candy.
Good to know: every pencil is the same neon mix.
Mr. Pen Rainbow Pencils, 30 pack with sharpener
Best for: a bulk rainbow set
- Four colors in every lead.
- Sharpener included, which matters because multicolor leads need sharpening often.
Good to know: four-color leads wear down quickly, so keep the included sharpener close.
Ages 5 and up: bigger and erasable sets
Crayola Erasable Colored Pencils, 24 count
Best for: kids who get upset about mistakes
- Erasers on every pencil, so a wrong color is not the end of the page.
- Pre-sharpened, in a box that closes again.
Safety: Crayola lists them as safe and non-toxic for ages 5 and up, and covers all its products with the ACMI AP seal.
Good to know: erasable leads go on lighter, so kids press a little harder.
Crayola Colored Pencils, 50 count
Best for: the child who has outgrown twelve colors
- Fifty colors for skin tones, skies and shading.
- Thick, soft leads that Crayola says are made not to break under pressure.
- Pre-sharpened.
Safety: covered by Crayola's ACMI AP seal statement. Crayola rates this set for ages 5 and up.
Good to know: too many choices for most kids under five.
Ages 6 to 8: a first artist set
Prismacolor Scholar Colored Pencils, 48 count
Best for: older kids who want to blend and shade
- Soft, smooth leads that layer and blend like grown-up art pencils.
- Strong cores that resist breaking.
- Wood painted to match the lead, so the right color is easy to find.
Safety: sold as non-toxic. We could not confirm the certification on Prismacolor's own site, so we recommend this set for ages 6 and up.
Good to know: soft leads wear down fast, so a good sharpener matters.
One sharpener for every pencil
Faber-Castell Double Hole Sharpener
Best for: houses with jumbo and regular pencils
- Two holes, one standard and one jumbo up to 10 mm, so one sharpener handles the whole list.
- Small and metal, so it lasts.
Good to know: the blade is sharp. Sharpening is a grown-up job for little ones.
Something to color
Pencils need pages. Here is the coloring book we made for exactly these pencils.
From Beem Bunnies
Our Halloween coloring book
Big, simple pages drawn for small hands: Pip in his pumpkin suit, two little ghosts, Hana's broom and a wagon full of pumpkins. Bold lines that are easy to stay inside, so every pencil above works on them.
A few of the pages inside:
And if your child is nervous about costumes this year, Pip is too, in Pip and the Scary Halloween Masks.