Children's Watercolour Paint Set - 8 Colours & Brush

What is in the box: 8 colours and 1 brush

The box holds a palette of 8 watercolour paints and 1 brush, so a child has everything needed apart from water and paper. It measures 22 x 6 cm, roughly the length of a pencil case, and it is sold individually.

Eight is a good number for a young painter. It is enough to paint a sky, a garden and a family portrait, and few enough that a three-year-old can take in the whole choice at a glance and decide without help.

A first child's painting set from age 3

This watercolour paint and brush set is for children aged 3 and up. It contains small parts and is not suitable under 36 months.

At 3 and 4, painting is mostly about the gesture: wetting the brush, rubbing it on a colour, watching a mark appear on the page. Expect big patches, colours laid over each other and a great deal of water. That is exactly what this age should be doing.

Around 5 and 6, the same palette is used differently. Children start to plan a picture, keep colours apart, and discover that two colours mixed give a third. A palette of 8 becomes far more than 8 once mixing begins.

How to paint with it: water, brush and the right paper

Set out a pot of clean water, the open palette and one sheet of paper. Show the three steps slowly, without saying much: dip the brush, stroke it over a colour until the bristles are loaded, then paint. Rinse the brush before changing colour. Most children copy the sequence after seeing it twice.

Paper matters more than people expect. Thin printer paper buckles and tears as soon as it is wet, which is hard on a child who has just made something. Choose thick paper instead: watercolour paper or a heavy drawing pad, ideally 200 gsm or more. Taping the corners to the table keeps the sheet still.

A tip from the shop floor: use a low, wide pot for the water and fill it only a third of the way. It is harder to knock over, and less water in the pot means less water on the table. A folded sheet of kitchen roll beside the palette lets the child dab a brush that is too wet.

To get more shades, let the child mix on a spare saucer or straight on the paper: a little of one colour, a rinse, a little of another, then a stir with the brush. More water gives a paler tint, less water a stronger one. That single discovery can fill a rainy afternoon.

8 colours or 12, watercolour or gouache

The shop also has a larger box: the watercolour paint set with 12 colours and a brush. Choose the 8-colour version for a first palette, for a younger child, or for painting away from home, since the slim box slides into a bag. Choose 12 colours for a child who already paints often and asks for shades the smaller palette does not have ready-made.

Watercolour and gouache behave differently. Watercolour sits dry in its palette and only wakes up under a wet brush: it gives light, transparent colour, needs almost no setting up and is packed away in a minute. Gouache, such as the children's liquid gouache we sell in 250 ml bottles, is thick and opaque. It covers large surfaces and suits sponges and wide brushes, but it calls for pots, an apron and more clearing up. Many families keep watercolour for quiet, everyday painting and gouache for big projects.

Looking after the palette and the brush

After painting, rinse the brush under the tap until the water runs clear, reshape the tip with your fingers and leave it to dry lying flat. A brush left standing in the water pot loses its shape quickly.

Wipe any muddy puddles off the colours with a damp cloth, then leave the palette open until it is completely dry before closing the box. Closed while wet, the colours stay sticky. As for stains, deal with them while they are fresh: wipe the table straight away and rinse clothes in cold water before washing. An old shirt worn back to front remains the best protection.

Because this watercolour paint and brush set is slim and needs only water, it travels well: to grandparents, on holiday, out to the garden table. It makes an easy present paired with a pad of thick paper, and it works alongside the brush and sponge set from our art range for a child who wants to try different marks. Both sit with the creative materials in our shop of wooden Montessori toys.

Questions parents ask about this paint and brush set

What age is this watercolour paint and brush set suitable for?

From 3 years. It is not suitable for children under 36 months because of small parts. At 3 and 4 children enjoy the simple gesture of painting; from 5 or 6 they begin to mix colours on purpose.

Is a brush included with the paint set?

Yes, 1 brush comes in the box: it is a complete watercolour paint and brush set, so only water and paper are needed to start.

How many colours are in the set?

The palette has 8 colours. Mixed together with a wet brush, they give many more shades.

What paper should children use with watercolour paints?

Thick paper that stays flat when wet: watercolour paper or a heavy drawing pad of around 200 gsm. Ordinary printer paper wrinkles and tears.

What is the difference between watercolour and gouache for children?

Watercolour is activated with water and gives light, transparent colour with very little mess. Gouache is thick and opaque, better for covering large areas, and needs more preparation and cleaning.

Specifications

• Contents: palette of 8 watercolour paints and 1 brush
• Box size: 22 x 6 cm
• Age: 3 years and up
• Sold individually
• Guarantee: 2 years

Warning: Not suitable for children under 36 months. Small parts. Choking hazard. Retain this information.