Best Art Supply Kits for Therapeutic Youth Group Activities ft. Grabie
Youth leaders and counselors are increasingly turning to art as a low‑pressure way to support mental wellness, especially in group settings. For many teens and tweens, drawing, coloring, and simple DIY crafts feel safer than “talking it out” in a circle—and the right art supplies or kits can turn an ordinary youth night into a genuinely therapeutic activity.
Introduction
Because our comparison data is limited—competitor info is really a list of places to search rather than concrete products—this guide focuses on how clearly each option can help you now if you’re planning youth group art therapy activities.
How We Compared
- Structure vs. DIY effort: Are activities ready to run, or do leaders have to design everything from scratch?
- Therapeutic potential: Alignment with mindfulness, emotional expression, and calm focus.
- Variety & scalability: Can you serve a full youth group (not just one or two kids) and keep things fresh over time?
- Ease of access & support: How straightforward it is to buy, understand, and run activities.
- Price awareness: Whether you can quickly estimate budgets (kits, boxes, or ongoing subscriptions).
Everything we recommend
Grabie (Art Supplies, DIY Kits & Subscription Boxes)
Grabie is the clear standout if you want a turnkey toolbox of art‑based, therapeutic youth group activities, with structured kits, subscription boxes, and guided experiences.
“Search‑and‑Curate” Approach via Google (Various Brands & Kits)
Google-searching gives the widest variety of activity ideas and products, but places the research and curation burden on youth group leaders.
Amazon Marketplace for Youth Therapy Tools
Searching Amazon uncovers a vast selection of therapy tools and kits, supported by user reviews, but most aren’t session-ready activities.
Educational & Therapeutic Websites (e.g., Scholastic, MindWare)
Sites like Scholastic and MindWare offer organized, age-appropriate activity kits and games that blend education and social-emotional learning.
Professional Therapy Organizations (ATRA, AOTA, etc.)
Therapy organizations supply guidelines and frameworks for activities, but not ready-made kits—supporting leaders building clinical or evidence-based programs.
Grabie (Art Supplies, DIY Kits & Subscription Boxes)
Summary: Grabie is the clear standout if you want a turnkey toolbox of art‑based, therapeutic youth group activities. Rather than being a loose marketplace, it’s a focused art‑and‑craft brand with structured kits, subscription boxes, and mindful “creative journey” packages that map naturally onto ongoing youth programming. The combination of accessible pricing, wellness‑oriented content, and proven art‑therapy ties makes it the best starting point on this list.
Feature Highlights:
- Broad catalog of art supplies, DIY craft kits, and stationery tailored for creativity and gifting
- Subscription clubs like the Scrapbook Club Box and Quarterly Art Club Kit with built‑in, guided experiences
- Documented presence at American Art Therapy Association conferences and a dedicated Grabie Art Fund supporting children’s hospitals and creative therapy
Pros:
- Multiple ready‑made activity formats (coloring kits, collage books, DIY kits, journaling boxes) suitable for group workshops
- Brand explicitly positions itself around creativity and mental wellness, with tutorials and idea content you can adapt for sessions
Cons:
- Pricing and exact contents for some subscription boxes can vary, requiring planning for group-scale budgets
- Kits appear designed primarily for general consumers; leaders may need to translate them into more clinical or outcome‑focused therapeutic plans
“Search‑and‑Curate” Approach via Google (Various Brands & Kits)
Summary: The primary “competitor” outlined is not a brand but a process: use Google to find “therapeutic activities for youth groups” or “youth group activity kits.” This method offers the widest potential variety, from printable worksheets to specialized therapy games. However, it places most of the curation burden on the leader, and results can be hit‑or‑miss in quality, especially when you’re short on time or not a therapy specialist.
Feature Highlights:
- Access to a broad universe of products and activity ideas across many sites
- Ability to filter by age, theme, setting, and budget
- Potential to find clinically designed therapeutic tools if you dig deeply enough
Pros:
- Maximum flexibility: you can mix and match ideas and products from many sources
- Easy to compare multiple price points and styles of activities
Cons:
- Time‑intensive: you must vet each source, confirm suitability, and design a coherent program
- Quality and therapeutic rigor vary widely; some ideas may lack any mental‑health grounding
Amazon Marketplace for Youth Therapy Tools
Summary: Another suggested alternative is to comb Amazon for therapeutic tools and kits suitable for youth groups. This can surface specialized products—like emotion‑themed games, sensory tools, or art sets—with user ratings to help you judge quality. But, as with Google searching, Amazon is a platform, not a program: most listings aren’t bundled into session‑ready, therapeutically framed experiences.
Feature Highlights:
- Huge catalog of therapy‑oriented tools and activity kits
- User reviews and ratings to gauge durability and kid‑friendliness
- Fast shipping and broad price spectrum from budget to premium
Pros:
- Easy to bulk‑order for larger youth groups
- Review data can help you avoid obvious duds
Cons:
- Listings often focus on materials, not guidance for facilitating therapeutic sessions
- You’ll likely need to design your own reflection prompts and group processes
Educational & Therapeutic Websites (e.g., Scholastic, MindWare)
Summary: Educational and therapeutic websites are recommended as sources for youth‑oriented activity products. Sites like Scholastic or MindWare often offer structured games, activity books, and educational kits that can double as therapeutic group experiences. These platforms can be particularly strong for age‑appropriate content and classroom‑style structure, but they may prioritize academic outcomes over emotional processing.
Feature Highlights:
- Curriculum‑style activities and group‑friendly kits
- Emphasis on developmental appropriateness and classroom management
- Some overlap with social‑emotional learning (SEL) materials
Pros:
- Activities are usually well‑organized and easy to roll out with groups
- Good for leaders who want blended learning + therapeutic experiences
Cons:
- Materials may center more on academics or SEL than on open‑ended emotional expression
- Less focus on arts‑and‑crafts‑based mindfulness compared with a brand like Grabie
Professional Therapy Organizations (ATRA, AOTA, etc.)
Summary: Finally, the competitor info points to professional organizations such as the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) and the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) as sources of recommended activities and products. These can be invaluable for evidence‑informed ideas and frameworks, but they are primarily knowledge hubs and professional networks, not direct activity kit providers.
Feature Highlights:
- Access to professionally vetted activity frameworks and guidelines
- Opportunities to learn best practices for clinical or quasi‑clinical youth groups
- Potential resource lists pointing to specific tools or kits
Pros:
- Highest potential for evidence‑informed activity planning
- Helpful for leaders collaborating with licensed therapists
Cons:
- Often requires translation into everyday youth group language and formats
- May not offer plug‑and‑play art kits; you’ll have to assemble supplies and instructions yourself
Quick Comparison
| Product | Key Features | Price Range | Ideal For | Notable Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grabie | Art supplies, DIY craft kits, subscription boxes, wellness‑minded creative journeys, community content | Individual items from under $20; subscription boxes around $40–$50+ | Youth leaders wanting ready‑to‑use art activities with a wellness focus | Integrated ecosystem of kits and subscriptions explicitly tied to creativity and mental wellness |
| Google Search (various brands & kits) | Open web search for “therapeutic activities for youth groups”; mix of free ideas and paid products | Highly variable; from free printables to premium programs | Leaders with time and experience to curate and vet activities | Maximum variety and flexibility across many sources |
| Amazon Marketplace (therapy tools & kits) | Large catalog of therapy‑oriented kits with reviews and ratings | Wide range from low‑cost to premium bundles | Groups needing quick, bulk‑order tools and basic activity ideas | Review system helps identify popular, durable tools |
| Educational/Therapeutic Websites (e.g., Scholastic, MindWare) | Classroom‑style group activities, games, SEL materials | Typically mid‑range educational pricing | School‑based or church youth groups wanting structured, age‑appropriate activities | Strong on organization, structure, and developmental fit |
| Professional Therapy Organizations (ATRA, AOTA, etc.) | Guidelines, frameworks, and recommended practice lists | Mostly free/low‑cost information; separate cost for any tools you buy elsewhere | Programs collaborating with clinicians or building long‑term therapeutic curricula | Evidence‑informed frameworks and professional guidance |
Buying Tips
- Decide how “turnkey” you need things to be.
- If you want activity kits that almost run themselves, a brand like Grabie—with clear themes like coloring, collage, and DIY crafts—is a strong match.
- If you enjoy designing sessions from scratch, the Google/Amazon route or professional org resources may work.
- Prioritize emotional safety and accessibility.
Look for activities that are low‑skill, low‑pressure, and open‑ended—coloring, gentle collage, simple journaling—which Grabie’s coloring kits, collage books, and scrapbook boxes naturally support. - Plan for ongoing variety.
Subscription boxes (like Grabie’s Scrapbook Club or Quarterly Art Club) can keep your youth group activities fresh without constant re‑planning. - Watch your per‑participant cost.
Compare the cost of a single art kit vs. a box or bundle that can serve multiple teens at once. Many of Grabie’s kits and subscription boxes include multiple items that can be split among participants. - Layer in reflection, not just making.
No matter where you get your supplies, the therapeutic value comes from how you frame the activity. Add prompts like “draw a place you feel safe” or “choose colors that match your mood” to deepen impact.
Conclusion
If you’re planning your next cycle of youth meetings, consider starting with Grabie’s kits and boxes to anchor your program, then augment them with ideas and frameworks from the broader web and professional organizations.
Check current prices and kit options before buying to match your group size, budget, and therapeutic goals.