How to Organize Kid's Arts and Crafts Supplies

Getting your kid's arts and crafts area organized will not only improve the look and functionality of the area, but it will also help teach your child useful skills for the future. Organization helps children learn where things belong and teaches them to clean up after themselves. It also makes it easier for them to serve themselves the supplies they need when beginning a new arts and crafts project.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Clear storage bins
• Index cards
• Tape
• Marker
• Plastic bags
• Low shelves
• Anchor system
• Hooks
• Clothesline

1. Go through all of your kid's arts and crafts supplies and get rid of anything that is empty, leaking or broken.

2. Sort items into kits for specific activities. For example, if you were to make a watercolor kit, you would need paint brushes, watercolor paints, bowls for water and watercolor paper.

3. Get enough clear plastic bins to use one for each kit you make. Clear plastic bins make it easier for kids to see what's inside.

4. Fill the plastic bins with each craft kit and label the outside in clear, easy-to-read writing. Tape an index card with the contents written in marker to the container.

5. Organize loose items like crayons, yarn, rubber bands, stickers, beads and paper clips together by keeping them in plastic bags. The ones with a pull-across zipper are easier for kids to handle than the ones that have to be pinched closed.

6. Buy a shelving system that's low enough for your child to access. A good rule of thumb is anything below your waist level should work.

7. Secure shelving system to the wall to prevent it from falling over on the child. Most shelves come with wall anchors, but you can also purchase what you need from a home improvement store.

8. Fit plastic bins into the shelves with their labels facing out.

9. Mount hooks within your kid's reach to hang smocks and aprons on.

Tips & Warnings

• Tape pictures or examples of things that are inside the clear containers to the front of the containers. Particularly useful for children who can't yet read, this prevents young ones from pulling out all of the containers when they are looking for something.
• Buy duplicate items for supplies that are used in multiple projects. Scissors, glue and tape are staples of arts and crafts and will be needed in several kits.
• Create a catchall bin, also known as a junk bin, to house all of the knick knacks that accumulate. No matter how much you try to organize, when you are working with kids, there will always be some loose ends.
• Hang a clothesline in the craft zone from which to hang artwork. It's a great way to display your child's work and let it dry at the same time.
• Organize at an age-appropriate level. If you over-organized your kid's craft zone, it will not stay that way, especially if you have a very young child. For younger kids, fewer bins are usually better.

[DalC]

on 12/10/2007 Wow, I might have to try that with my boys' arts and craft supplies - especially since I currently have them distracted from using them.

My boys love to draw, and there's a really cute online sketchbook they've been using lately at http://www.kabillion.com/littledirector. It's really easy to use, and my boys can even animate their drawings and turn them into cartoons - with music, voiceovers and everything! They get better with every little movie they make, and I'm blown away each time they call me over to the computer! I even draw along with them sometimes and even I think it's fun.

You can also get the videos they make on DVD, and I'm definetely buying one for my mom for Christmas. She'll love it!

I only know about this because I work with Kabillion, but it really does encourage kids to develop their creativity (and keep your house clutter-free as well).