How to Choose the Right Pastel Set for Your Child’s Art Class

When preparing a child for an upcoming school art class, selecting the right pastel set can feel surprisingly complex. The term “pastel” covers several distinct mediums, each designed for specific drawing techniques, surfaces, and student age groups. To make the correct purchase, parents must identify whether the school curriculum requires oil-based or chalk-based formulas.

For the vast majority of primary and elementary school art classes, student-grade oil pastels are the standard choice. They are durable, produce vibrant color, generate virtually no airborne dust, and are highly affordable. However, older or more advanced students may require soft or hard chalk pastels to learn complex shading, blending, and fine-line drawing.

Buying the wrong type of pastel can lead to messy cleanups, ruined school uniforms, or an inability to complete classroom assignments. This guide breaks down the technical differences, safety standards, and practical considerations to help you choose the ideal set for your child’s creative journey.

Oil, Soft, or Hard: Understanding the Main Types of Pastels

Oil pastels are formulated using a mixture of pigment, wax, and a non-drying oil binder. This unique composition gives them a creamy, buttery consistency that glides smoothly across various drawing surfaces. Because the oil binder never fully dries, the colors remain workable, vibrant, and highly saturated. A major advantage of oil pastels in a classroom setting is that they produce virtually no airborne dust, keeping the air clear and preventing respiratory irritation for sensitive children.

Soft pastels, often referred to simply as chalk pastels, are made by combining dry pigment with a minimal amount of water-soluble binder, such as gum arabic. This results in a dry, velvety, and highly crumbly texture that releases rich, intense color with very light pressure. Because they contain so little binder, soft pastels are exceptionally easy to blend, smudge, and layer on textured paper. However, this dry formulation generates a significant amount of loose, airborne dust, which can settle on hands, desks, and clothing, requiring careful handling and clean-up.

Hard pastels occupy a middle ground, containing a higher proportion of binder and less pigment than their soft counterparts. This makes them structurally firm and less prone to crumbling or breaking under pressure. They can be sharpened with sandpaper or shaped to a fine point, making them the ideal tool for drawing sharp outlines, fine details, and technical sketches. While they are still chalk-based and produce some dry residue, they generate far less airborne dust than soft pastels, offering a cleaner dry-medium option for structured classroom assignments.

The specific binder used in each pastel type directly dictates how the medium behaves on paper and how it must be managed in a school environment. Oil pastels adhere firmly to surfaces and resist smudging unless deliberate pressure is applied, but they can leave greasy stains on skin and fabrics. Chalk-based soft and hard pastels do not adhere permanently on their own; they sit loosely on the paper fibers and require a spray fixative to prevent the artwork from smudging or fading over time.

When a school supply list simply requests “pastels,” it is easy for parents to buy the first set they see at a local bookstore. However, bringing soft pastels to a class designed for oil pastel techniques—such as sgraffito, where layers are scraped away to reveal colors underneath—will prevent the student from participating effectively. Conversely, using greasy oil pastels for a lesson on delicate chalk blending will yield messy, frustrating results.

Key Selection Criteria: Safety, Pigment, and Classroom Practicality

When selecting art supplies for children, safety must always be the primary consideration. Look for clear non-toxic certifications on the packaging, such as the AP (Approved Product) seal from the Art and Creative Materials Institute (ACMI), or compliance with European EN71 safety standards. These labels guarantee that the materials have been toxicologically evaluated and contain no harmful substances in quantities large enough to cause acute or chronic health issues. This is especially critical for younger children who frequently touch their mouths, rub their eyes, or handle snacks during art class.

Understanding the distinction between student-grade and artist-grade pastels will save you money and protect your child’s supplies. Student-grade pastels are formulated with more binders and fillers, which makes them physically tougher, less prone to shattering when dropped, and highly affordable, typically ranging from ₱150 to ₱500 per set. Artist-grade pastels, on the other hand, prioritize maximum pigment purity and lightfastness with minimal binder. While they offer breathtaking color depth, they are incredibly fragile, break easily in transit, and are far too expensive for introductory school projects.

The tropical climate and high humidity levels in the Philippines present unique challenges for storing and using art supplies. During hot days, oil pastels left inside school backpacks or non-air-conditioned classrooms can soften significantly, sweat oil, or even melt together into a single mass. Soft pastels are highly hygroscopic, meaning they readily absorb moisture from the humid air, which can cause them to become soggy, lose their structural integrity, or develop mold over time. To combat these issues, parents should look for sets packaged in durable, airtight plastic cases or sturdy tin boxes rather than flimsy cardboard sleeves.

The physical mess generated by pastels is a major practical factor in a classroom setting. Oil pastels do not produce dust, but their waxy, greasy residue can easily smear onto school desks, hands, and uniforms, requiring heavy scrubbing with soap or grease-cutting detergents. Soft pastels do not leave greasy stains, but their fine, dry dust can easily spread across a classroom, settling on nearby students and floor surfaces. Managing this dust requires students to wipe down their workspaces with damp paper towels rather than blowing the dust into the air, which can trigger allergies or asthma.

Which Pastel Category Fits Your Child's Skill Level?

Matching the pastel medium to your child’s age, motor skills, and school curriculum ensures a frustrating-free learning experience.

Oil Pastels for Younger Children and Beginners

For preschool, kindergarten, and early elementary school students, oil pastels are almost universally recommended. Younger children are still developing their fine motor skills and tend to apply heavy, uneven pressure when drawing. Oil pastels are structurally robust and highly forgiving, allowing children to press down firmly without the sticks snapping instantly. The immediate, vibrant color payoff provides instant gratification, encouraging young artists to explore their creativity without getting discouraged by faint lines.

When purchasing oil pastels for beginners, a basic color range of 12 to 24 shades is more than sufficient. These smaller sets allow children to learn fundamental color identification and basic mixing without becoming overwhelmed by too many choices. It is highly beneficial to choose sets that come in sturdy, molded plastic trays where each pastel stick has its own designated slot. This keeps the classroom organized and prevents the pastels from rattling against each other and breaking inside a crowded school bag during the daily commute.

Despite their ease of use, oil pastels do have specific limitations that parents and teachers should anticipate. Because of their thick, waxy binder, they are much harder to blend smoothly than dry chalk mediums, often requiring specialized techniques like using a finger, a paper stump, or even a small amount of baby oil. They are also virtually impossible to erase with standard school erasers, meaning mistakes must be worked into the design. Additionally, completed oil pastel drawings remain slightly tacky and can easily transfer color to adjacent pages if sketchbooks are closed without protective paper sheets.

Soft and Hard Pastels for Older or Advanced Students

As students progress into middle school, high school, or specialized elective art classes, the curriculum often shifts toward dry, chalk-based pastels. These older students have developed the delicate motor control necessary to handle fragile materials without crushing them. Soft and hard pastels allow them to explore advanced artistic techniques, such as feathering, hatching, scumbling, and creating seamless, smoky gradients that are difficult to achieve with oil-based products.

Working with dry pastels requires a more comprehensive set of tools than oil pastels. Students will need specialized textured paper to hold the loose pigments, along with blending stumps (tortillons) to manipulate the colors without transferring natural skin oils to the artwork. They will also require kneaded erasers, which can be shaped to lift dry pigment cleanly off the paper. Because dry pastel drawings smudge at the slightest touch, a protective fixative spray is essential to preserve the finished work.

When buying dry pastels for an advanced student, starting with half-stick sets is a highly practical approach. Half-sticks are shorter, thicker, and significantly more resistant to breaking during transit to school. They also allow parents to purchase a wider variety of colors at a lower price point. Before investing in a large, expensive set, always check the teacher’s specific syllabus, as some advanced classes may require a specific balance of hard pastels for detailed linework and soft pastels for broad color laydown, or curated color palettes tailored to portraiture or landscape drawing.

Pairing Pastels with the Right Paper and Classroom Accessories

One of the most common mistakes parents make is purchasing high-quality pastels but pairing them with standard, smooth printer paper. Pastels rely on the physical texture of the paper, known as “tooth,” to hold the pigment. Smooth copy paper (usually 70gsm to 80gsm) has virtually no tooth. When soft or hard pastels are applied to a smooth surface, the dry powder has nothing to cling to and will simply fall off the page, leaving a faint, dusty smear. While oil pastels can leave a mark on smooth paper, they will slide around easily, smudge at the slightest touch, and cause the thin paper to buckle and warp under the weight of the oil binder.

To ensure your child can complete their art assignments successfully, pair their pastel set with appropriate, textured paper. Dedicated pastel paper, heavy watercolor paper (ideally 200gsm or higher), or mixed-media sketchbooks with a noticeable surface texture are excellent choices. These papers feature a rough, fibrous surface that acts like microscopic hooks, catching and holding the pastel pigments securely. This allows for multiple layers of color, enabling the student to blend, shade, and build depth without the paper tearing or the pigment shedding.

A few inexpensive accessories can dramatically improve your child’s experience and keep classroom mess to a minimum. Blending stumps, also known as tortillons, are tightly rolled paper sticks that allow students to blend small details and smooth out transitions without using their fingers, keeping their hands clean and preventing skin oils from ruining the paper. Kneaded erasers are another must-have; these pliable, clay-like erasers can be pulled, stretched, and molded into fine points to lift dry pigment cleanly from the paper without shedding eraser crumbs. Finally, packing a small pack of wet wipes or a damp microfiber cloth in their art kit allows for quick hand cleaning between color applications.

For dry soft and hard pastels, a fixative spray is necessary to lock the loose pigment particles onto the paper permanently once the drawing is finished. However, these sprays contain strong solvents and must only be used in well-ventilated, preferably outdoor areas. For school projects, younger students should never handle fixative sprays; instead, an adult or teacher should apply it. Parents should always check the school’s safety guidelines and the teacher’s syllabus to see if aerosol fixative sprays are permitted on campus, or if students are expected to protect their work using glassine sheets or clear plastic sleeves instead.

How to Verify School Supply Lists Before You Buy

School supply lists can sometimes be written using casual or ambiguous language, leading to confusion at the bookstore. Teachers might write “oil crayons” when they actually mean oil pastels, or they might list “chalks” when they require soft pastels. Wax crayons, oil crayons, and oil pastels are chemically distinct products that behave very differently on paper. To avoid buying the wrong supplies, look for specific technical terms on the list, and pay attention to whether the class description emphasizes dry, dusty blending or thick, vibrant layering.

If the supply list is unclear or simply says “one box of pastels,” do not guess. Take a moment to consult the art teacher directly or check the school’s parent portal for clarified instructions. A quick message asking, “Are we using oil-based pastels or dry chalk pastels for this term?” can save you from the hassle of returning opened products or sending your child to class with unusable materials. Most teachers are happy to clarify, as having the correct tools makes the lesson run much smoother for everyone.

It can be tempting to buy a massive, professional-grade set containing 72 or more colors, thinking it will give your child an advantage in class. However, these large sets are heavy to carry, take up an excessive amount of space on small classroom desks, and are highly prone to damage during transit in a crowded school bag. For school art classes, a compact, high-quality set of 12 to 24 colors is almost always the ideal choice. These smaller sets teach students how to mix and blend colors to create new shades, which is a fundamental learning objective in most basic art curricula.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I use regular printer paper for pastel drawings?

While you can technically use oil pastels on standard printer paper, the results are rarely satisfactory. The thin, smooth surface of copy paper has no “tooth” or texture, meaning dry soft and hard pastels cannot adhere to it and will slide off the page as loose dust. Oil pastels will write on smooth paper, but the oil binder will quickly bleed through the thin sheets, causing the paper to warp, buckle, and tear easily under moderate pressure. For successful pastel drawings, always use textured paper, such as heavy mixed-media paper or dedicated pastel sheets.

How do I clean oil pastel stains from school uniforms?

To clean oil pastel stains from school uniforms, start by checking the garment’s care label to ensure the fabric can tolerate warm water. Gently scrape off any thick, excess pastel residue from the surface using a dull edge, like a plastic spoon, taking care not to grind the pigment deeper into the fabric fibers. Apply a small amount of liquid laundry detergent or grease-cutting dish soap directly to the stain, letting it sit for five to ten minutes to break down the oil binder. Gently rub the fabric together under warm water to lift the pigment, then wash the uniform in the warmest water temperature recommended on the care label.

How should I store pastels in a humid climate?

Storing pastels in a hot, humid climate like the Philippines requires a bit of extra care to prevent damage. Keep your pastel sets inside airtight plastic containers or their original sturdy boxes to shield them from atmospheric moisture. To protect soft pastels from absorbing humidity and turning crumbly, place a few silica gel packets inside the storage container. For oil pastels, store them in a cool, shaded drawer or cabinet away from direct sunlight to prevent them from softening, sweating oil, or melting together during high-heat periods.