A classroom supply box holds crayons, oil pastels and textas side by side, and a five-year-old reaches straight for the oil pastels because the colours look the brightest. Ten minutes later, there are oily smudges on the desk, the pastel has snapped in half, and the teacher is reaching for the wipes. This illustrates why choosing art materials involves more than colour alone. The child's age, experience, the activity and the level of supervision all matter. 

This guide compares crayons, oil pastels and textas directly, with a focus on which suits which age and situation. It is part of our classroom art supplies guide for Australian schools.

Quick answer

Crayons are often a practical starting point for younger children because they are firm and generally less messy than oil pastels. Oil pastels offer rich colour and blending but can smudge, transfer to surfaces and break under pressure, so they may be easier to manage when a child has more control or adult guidance. Textas (felt-tip markers) suit a wide range of ages, with washable varieties often a practical choice for younger children. The best option depends on the child's development, the activity, product age recommendations and the school booklist.

The Three Tools, Explained Simply

Each of these three drawing and colouring tools is built differently, which is why they behave so differently in a child's hand.

In Australian usage, “textas” commonly refers to felt-tip markers. These come in washable and permanent varieties, so check the product label before buying. 

Crayons: Strengths and Best Age Range

Crayons are the most forgiving of the three tools, which is exactly why they work so well for young children.

Strengths

• Generally firm and less prone to crushing than softer oil pastels, although crayons can still break if bent or pressed hard. 
• Generally less messy than oil pastels or wet-ink markers, although wax marks can still transfer to some surfaces and fabrics. 
• No lid to lose and no ink to run dry.
• Inexpensive to replace, which matters since younger children go through supplies quickly.

Best suited to

Crayons suit toddlers through to early primary years particularly well. Children at this stage are still developing grip strength and fine motor control, and a crayon's firmness and forgiving nature make it easier to use with confidence. Crayons remain genuinely useful at any age for quick sketches, since the lack of mess and fuss means they are often the easiest tool to simply pick up and use.

Our guide to visual art diaries and scrapbooks covers which paper format suits early crayon and drawing work, since a scrapbook's lighter paper holds up well to this kind of use.

Oil Pastels: Strengths and Best Age Range

Oil pastels are a step up from crayons in both colour richness and the skill needed to use them well.

Strengths

• Rich, vibrant colour, generally more saturated than a crayon.
• Blendable, which allows for shading and more advanced colour mixing.
• Good for covering larger areas with bold, buttery colour.

Considerations

• Softer and more prone to breaking or crushing under heavy pressure from small hands.
• Messier than crayons, since the oil-based pigment can transfer to skin and surfaces.
• Can smudge on thin paper, so a sturdier page helps.
• Best suited to

Oil pastels can be easier for children to manage independently once they have developed sufficient control to use a softer medium without excessive pressure. Upper primary can be a useful general starting point, but readiness varies between children and products. Younger children can also use suitable oil pastels in supervised activities, provided the product's age guidance is followed and an appropriate work surface is available.

Key Note: Paper choice matters more with oil pastels than with crayons or textas. A thin page can smudge or tear under the oily pigment. A sturdier visual art diary page, rather than standard copy paper, generally holds up better.

Textas: Strengths and Best Age Range

Textas sit differently to crayons and oil pastels, since they are a wet-ink tool rather than a wax or pigment stick.

Strengths

• Bold, flat, saturated colour with very little pressure needed.
• Fine and broad tip options suit both detail work and large areas.
• Washable varieties are designed to be easier to remove from skin and some fabrics, but results vary by product and material. Follow the packaging instructions and treat stains promptly. 

Considerations

• Permanent textas can stain skin, clothes and furniture, and need closer supervision with younger children.
• Tips dry out quickly if the cap is left off, which is a common source of frustration and waste.
• Colour can bleed through thinner paper, so matching paper weight to the task matters.

Best suited to

Textas can suit a wide range of ages when the type matches the activity. Washable markers are often a practical option for younger children, although stains are not always completely removable. Permanent markers are better reserved for activities that require permanent marks and should be used according to the manufacturer's instructions, with adult supervision where appropriate.

For general writing paper used alongside art classes, our notebooks and paper for school guide explains paper weight and how it affects ink show-through, which applies to texta use as much as pen and pencil writing.

A Simple Age Guide Across All Three

This table brings the three tools together as a general, practical starting point. Individual children vary, and a booklist or teacher's specific request should always take priority.

Mess, Cleanup and Supervision

Mess level is one of the most practical factors when choosing between these tools, particularly for home activities or classroom sessions involving several children. 

• Crayons are generally easier to manage than oil pastels or permanent markers, although young children still need supervision appropriate to the product and activity. 
• Oil pastels benefit from a wipeable surface and an apron or old shirt, given the oil-based pigment's tendency to transfer.
• Textas, particularly permanent varieties, need the most supervision with younger children. A quick response matters if a permanent texta does end up on a uniform.
  

Our guide on removing paint and texta from school uniforms covers practical methods for different stain types.

Paper Choice Matters Too

The right paper changes how well each tool performs.

• Crayons work acceptably on most paper, including standard copy paper and scrapbook pages.
• Oil pastels perform best on sturdier, slightly textured paper, since thin or very smooth paper can smudge or tear.
• Textas can show through lighter paper, depending on the ink and how much is applied. Paper designed for drawing or marker use may help, but test the markers on a sample page if show-through is a concern. 

Our guide to scrapbook vs visual art diary explains which paper format generally suits which kind of art task, which is worth checking before committing to a full set of any of these three tools.

Mixing Mediums in One Artwork

Crayons, oil pastels and textas can be combined in mixed-media artwork, but it is worth testing the materials together on scrap paper first. Oil pastels can cover or smear existing marks, while wax from crayons can resist a later wash of water-based paint. These techniques allow children to experiment with outlines, colour, texture and layering once they are comfortable using each medium individually.

This kind of mixed-media work generally suits children who already have confidence with each tool individually, rather than being a good starting point for a child still learning to use any one of them.

Drawing and Colouring Options at School Stationery Supplies

The products below are available through our Art & Craft collection. Confirm current stock on each product page before ordering.

Our current range focuses on coloured pencils rather than crayons, oil pastels or textas. Coloured pencils are useful for general colouring and detailed drawing, but they are not direct substitutes when a school booklist specifically requires another medium. Check the required items carefully and source any unavailable supplies separately.

Common Mistakes When Choosing Between These Tools

• Buying oil pastels for a very young child without supervision: The breakage and mess risk is real at this age.
• Assuming all textas are washable: Check the packaging, since permanent textas look similar on the shelf.
• Using thin paper with oil pastels: This leads to smudging and tearing that a sturdier page would avoid.
• Leaving texta caps off between uses: Exposing the tips to air can cause the ink to dry out and shorten the marker's useful life. 
• Assuming one tool suits every task: Most art kits benefit from a mix, matched to the specific activity and the child's age.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between crayons and oil pastels?

Crayons are firmer, drier and less prone to breaking, which suits younger children. Oil pastels are softer, more vibrant and blendable, but need more motor control and generate more mess, which generally suits older children better.

Are oil pastels or crayons better for school?

Both have a place. Crayons suit everyday classroom use, especially for younger students. Oil pastels suit more advanced art tasks, generally from upper primary onward, where blending and bold colour matter more than low mess.

What age should a child start using oil pastels?

There is no fixed age, but many children manage oil pastels well from around upper primary, once they have the motor control to avoid crushing the pastel and the patience for the extra cleanup involved.

Are textas the same as markers?

Yes. "Texta" is the common Australian and New Zealand term for a felt-tip marker. The products themselves, washable and permanent varieties included, are functionally the same as what other countries call markers.

Can crayons, oil pastels and textas be used together in one artwork?

Yes, and mixed-media techniques using all three are common in upper primary and secondary art classes. This generally works best once a child already has confidence using each tool separately.

Choosing the Right Tool for Each Age

Crayons, oil pastels and textas each suit a different stage of a child's drawing and colouring development. Crayons are the forgiving, low-mess starting point. Oil pastels add richness and blending once a child is ready for the extra skill and mess they involve. Textas offer bold, flat colour across a wide age range, provided the washable or permanent type is matched to the child and the task.

For the full picture on building a classroom art kit, see our classroom art supplies guide. Ready to shop coloured pencils and other drawing tools? Browse our Art & Craft collection.

About the Author: 

The School Stationery Supplies Team publishes practical buying guides for Australian students, parents and teachers. Visit School Stationery Supplies for notebooks, paper, pens and school essentials.

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