View a PDF of our Consumer Craft Safety Guide here

Crayola considers the safety of children our top priority. The purpose of this guide is to inform adults who engage in arts & crafts activities with children to ensure safe and successful experiences.

  1. Adult supervision is required for any arts & crafts project. Observe children closely and intervene as necessary to prevent potential safety problems and ensure appropriate use of arts and crafts materials. Some craft items, particularly beads and buttons, are potential choking hazards for young children. Avoid use of small parts with children younger than 3 years. Craft items such as push pins and chenille sticks may have sharp points or edges. Avoid use of functional sharp points by children younger than 4 years. Read all manufacturers’ safety warnings before using arts and craft supplies.

  2. Adult assistance is required for any arts & crafts project that contains steps in the instructions that could be dangerous or difficult for children (for example, using ovens, irons, electric sharpeners, blenders, or cutting and poking holes in cardboard).

  3. Age grading—Follow the age grading that is recommended for each craft or stated on the product packages, whichever age is older. Age grading for crafts is based on the products used and supplemental materials recommended. Adults are responsible for ensuring the crafts are not accessible to children younger than the age grading states.

  4. Safety Guidance Pertaining to Crayola Product Usage:

    • Allergies—Products that are currently manufactured by Crayola (not including products manufactured under license) do not include any of the following ingredients that are associated with common allergies: peanuts, shellfish, fish, tree nuts, eggs, or milk. Gluten (wheat flour) is an ingredient in Crayola® Dough. Other Crayola modeling materials, including Model Magic® modeling material, Model Magic Fusion™, Modeling Clay, and Air-Dry Clay are gluten-free. These products are produced on the same machinery. Although the machines are cleaned prior to the start of each production run, there is a slight possibility that trace amounts of gluten from Crayola Dough may be present in the other modeling materials. For information regarding specific ingredients or allergic concerns, please call our Consumer Affairs department at 1-800-272-9652 weekdays between 9 AM and 4 PM EST.

    • Crayola Color Explosion™ and Color Wonder™—Wash hands well with soap and water after use.

    • Crayola Fabric Crayons or melting Crayola crayons—Whenever crayons are heated for an arts & crafts project, melt crayons in a well-ventilated area. Overheating wax crayons during melting or ironing may release irritating fumes. Ironing must be done by an adult.

    • Crayola Glitter Glue, Color Explosion™ Magic Sparkle Wand, or Squeezables™ 3-D Paint—

      • "warningWARNING: CHOKING HAZARD—Small parts. Not for children under 3 years. Not for use on skin." The caps on these products are small parts.
      • These products are not to be used as body/face paint.

    • Crayola Modeling Materials including Crayola Model Magic, Model Magic Fusion, Crayola Air-Dry Clay, and Crayola Dough—

      • Keep away from open flames. Do not use to make candleholders, hot plates, trivets, or other similar objects that will be used or placed near fire and other heat sources.
      • Do not put in an oven, microwave, or kiln.
      • Do not make into vessels/containers that will hold unpackaged food.
      • The use of modeling material to make items that look like food is discouraged for children younger than age 5 to avoid their confusion with real food.
      • Unless sealed with a water-resistant glaze, do not make projects exposed to or immersed in water, such as boats or outdoor bird feeders. They would disintegrate when exposed to moisture.
      • Crayola Dough—contains gluten (wheat flour) as an ingredient.
      • Crayola Air-Dry Clay, Crayola Model Magic and Model Magic Fusion do not contain gluten (wheat flour). However, they are produced on the same machinery as Crayola Dough which does contain gluten. Although the machines are cleaned prior to the start of each production run, there is a slight possibility that trace amounts of gluten from Crayola Dough may be present in the other modeling compound products. For information regarding specific ingredients or allergic concerns, please call our Consumer Affairs department at 1-800-272-9652 weekdays between 9 AM and 4 PM EST.

    • Crayola Washable Paints—Not for use as body/face paint.

    • 3-D glasses—Should only be used for viewing 3-D images. Do not wear for long periods of time or while performing physical activities. Not to be used as sunglasses.

    • Photosensitivity to Flashing Lights and Patterns—Crayola Color Explosion Spinner® contains safety information that should be followed when using this product to make arts & crafts. "warningWARNING: People who are photosensitive (have had seizures induced by flashing lights and patterns) should not use this toy without first consulting a doctor. There is a possibility that photosensitivity may occur in children who have no history of prior seizures or epilepsy."

    • Scissors—"ATTENTION: The cutting edges of scissors are sharp and care should be taken whenever cutting or handling." Blunt-tip scissors should be used only by children 4 years and older. Pointed-tip scissors should be used only by children 6 years and older.

    • Silly Putty®—"Direct contact can cause product to stick to hair, including eyebrows and eyelashes. Not intended for use as ear plugs. WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD—Small parts. Not for children under 3 years."

  5. Safety Guidance Pertaining to Popular Crafts:

    • Costumes and masks—"warningCAUTION: When children wear hand-crafted costumes and masks, make sure the crafts do not obstruct the child's vision and hearing, or impede movement. Keep away from open flames." Do not use feathers, fabric, or raffia on wearable costumes and masks because these items do not pass costume flammability tests. Wearable masks are those held in place on the face with elastic, yarn, or other materials.

    • Food-related crafts—Art materials should not be used on food, such as egg shells, if these foods are intended to be eaten. Art materials should not be used to make or decorate containers intended to hold edible food if the food would be in contact with the art material.

    • Kites—"warningCAUTION: Do not fly over or near electric power lines, trees, buildings, radio-TV antennas, or any other obstruction. Avoid flying over spectators, moving traffic, within 5 miles (8.05 km) of an airport, or more than 400 ft. (121.92 m) high. Fly in an open area. NEVER fly a kite in extremely high winds, in thunderstorms, or with wire, wet twine, metallic string, or cord containing any conductive or metallic materials whatsoever. Do not try to recover a kite from electric power lines or other high or dangerous places."

    • Outdoor crafts—Choose safe outdoor areas, away from traffic and dangerous equipment. Close adult supervision is required.

    • Pretend play and crafts—should not encourage or depict violent behaviors.

  6. Supplemental Materials Safety Guidance:

    • Balloons—"warningWARNING: CHOKING HAZARD—Children under 8 years can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons. Adult supervision is required. Keep uninflated balloons away from children. Discard broken balloons at once." Mylar® balloons may be used with children younger than 8 years.

    • Feathers, fabric, and raffia should not be used in crafts that are wearable costumes or masks, due to flammability risks.

    • Functional sharp points or edges—"warningCAUTION: Crafts that involve use of a functional sharp point should not be done by children under 4 years." (For example, use of staples, chenille stems/pipe cleaners, wire, pins, jewelry backings, sewing needles, or push-pins/thumb tacks.) Close adult supervision is required and adult assistance may be needed. Under no circumstances should open-blade craft knives or carving knives be used by a child of any age or used near children.

    • Magnets—"warningWARNING: Only use common magnets that have a weak attractive force, for example, magnetic tape or flexible refrigerator magnets. Never use permanent, high-attractive-force magnets, for example, rare earth magnets or magnets used in motors." If magnets being used are small parts,
      "warningWARNING: CHOKING HAZARD—Small parts. Not for children under 3 years."

    • Mirrors, picture frames, and clay pots—Close adult supervision is required when children use craft materials that could shatter or break.

      • Handheld mirrors, picture frames with glass, ceramic pots, and similar breakable items may be used only by children 8 years and older.
      • For children 7 years and younger, use unbreakable materials such as wood or sturdy plastic picture frames, unbreakable mirrors, and plant pots that will not shatter into sharp edges.

    • Modeling tools—Use the least dangerous point or edge sufficient to do the job. For example, toothpicks, craft sticks, plastic knives and forks, and cookie cutters can cut or carve modeling materials.

    • Plastic bags—"warningWARNING: Plastic bags can be dangerous. To avoid danger of suffocation, keep bag away from babies and children."

    • Protective coating & fixatives—Avoid using spray paints, solvents, and nail polish as fixatives for any craft. Instead, laminate with clear plastic adhesive paper such as Con-Tact® paper, coat with a diluted mixture of equal parts Crayola School Glue and water, blend paint with Crayola Tempera Mixing Mediums, or coat with a nontoxic acrylic glaze, as suitable for the project.

    • Recycled household items—Whenever a Crayola arts & crafts project involves recycled materials, any item that has sharp edges or potential for hazardous exposure must be avoided. Additional safety guidance for use of recycled materials in arts & crafts projects:

      • Recycled cardboard tubes—should be paper towel tubes, gift-wrap tubes, or long cardboard tubes that can be cut to any length. Health professionals caution against using recycled toilet paper tubes for arts & crafts projects because of potential fecal contamination.
      • Recycled containers—must be clean and safe. Do not use containers that contained bleach or other harmful chemicals (for example, household cleaners or dishwasher and laundry detergents.) Do not use recycled metal cans that have sharp edges (for example, lids removed by household can openers.)
      • Recycled egg cartons—Foam cartons must be washed with hot soapy water prior to use. Cardboard egg cartons cannot be sufficiently cleaned and should not be used.
      • Recycled foam produce trays—should be washed in hot, soapy water. No meat or poultry trays should be used.
      • Recycled shower curtains—should not be used as drop cloths for arts & crafts projects. Instead use old beach towels, tablecloths, or bed linens to cover surfaces.

    • Sponges, foam, and other expandable materials—Should not be used with children 3 years old and younger.

    • String, raffia, lacing, yarn, ribbon, and similar materials—Close adult supervision is essential whenever children use these string-like materials.

      • Children 3 years and younger should not be given any string-like material that is longer than 12 inches.
      • When crafts are to be worn around the necks of children 8 years and younger, attach the ends of the string-like material with clear adhesive tape, which allows easy release of the bond. When crafts are to be worn by children older than 8 years, the ends may be tied or knotted.

    • Windows—Be sure windows are securely closed and locked before decorating. An adult must closely supervise the activity.

    • Wood products—By its nature, wood is rough and may contain splinters or sharp points.

This guide is based upon recommendations from the Crayola Product Safety Department, the Child Safety Protection Act, best practices pertaining to arts & crafts activities, and the Voluntary Toy Standards followed in the toy industry. Additionally, the guidance is based on knowledge of child development and consumer expectations.