::kids art supplies::

I love the look of kid art supplies.  All those glorious colors all together and looking so stimulating.  They are art themselves.  But if you want a perfectly organized cabinet than you are in the wrong place.  The point of this shelf is to let the kids use it freely, not to have them scared of getting in trouble for not keeping it perfectly organized.  Ideally it would be in a cabinet with doors, but ideally I would have a walk in closet too.  

When Lily was a toddler I started gathering this stuff and I never had to lock it up.  She always understood that markers were for art not for walls.  But due to Max’s appearance on the scene, paints had to have restrictions put on them and must be put out of reach and sometimes sight.  Also markers and crayons have been moved to the top shelf.  

Here is a look at the constantly changing and evolving list of things I keep on hand for them.  All must be washable except crayons – bless the magic eraser.

List of must haves

Markers

Crayon

White paper

Construction paper

Kid scissors

Tape

Glue sticks

Brown paper lunch bags

Coloring books

Empty notebooks

Idea books

Colored masking tape

Pencils and sharpener

Watercolor paint

Finger paint

Stamp paint

List of bonus items

Old pictures for them to cut up

Pot holder weaver

Feathers

Glitter glue

Sequins

Popsicle sticks

Cotton balls

Coffee filters

Ink pads and stamps

Pipe cleaners

Wax paper

Pompoms

Stickers

Tissue paper

Puffy stickers

Card stock

Ribbon

Twine

Finger ink pads

Tracer light

Hot glue gun (with adult help)

Since many of these things are not very expensive I tell Santa and his cohorts that they make great smaller gifts and stocking stuffers

I store it all in a book case I had in college and about three times a year I go through and throw away the broken stuff. 

I thrive on the art that they bring me.  Sometimes we have a set craft we work on together but usually they just go in and start creating.