12-01-2011, 07:59 PM
My son is 8, and I can only speak from my experience with him. I'd suggest
#1 extra-soft pencils
a couple good chunky erasers, like Staetdler Mars Plastic
oil pastels (watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHPpxifDPLU to see a 6 year old working with them)
I know crayons and colored pencils are ubiquitous art supplies for young children. I think their popularity has to do with their price, not because they're any good for budding artists. Coloring a large swath with colored pencils is incredibly tricky, not a task for a six year old. Crayons are cute and cheap, but even Crayola brand are one-trick ponies. They let a kid draw with color, but not experiment with it.
Markers are easier than crayons, but like crayons, they're limiting.
I wish somebody would publish a coloring book that looks more like a working artist's sketchbook, so kids could grow accustomed to seeing multiple passes at a line. Never seen one, unfortunately.
#1 extra-soft pencils
a couple good chunky erasers, like Staetdler Mars Plastic
oil pastels (watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHPpxifDPLU to see a 6 year old working with them)
I know crayons and colored pencils are ubiquitous art supplies for young children. I think their popularity has to do with their price, not because they're any good for budding artists. Coloring a large swath with colored pencils is incredibly tricky, not a task for a six year old. Crayons are cute and cheap, but even Crayola brand are one-trick ponies. They let a kid draw with color, but not experiment with it.
Markers are easier than crayons, but like crayons, they're limiting.
I wish somebody would publish a coloring book that looks more like a working artist's sketchbook, so kids could grow accustomed to seeing multiple passes at a line. Never seen one, unfortunately.