PART 3 OF THE “ENJOY CRAFT TIME WITH KIDS WITHOUT LOSING YOUR MIND” SERIES
This article will show you an easy way to make a simple Arts and Crafts Kit for each of your kids. It will help you stay organized so you and your Kids or Students are ready for artsy craftsy fun.
To enjoy any type of Art or Craft along with children, you’ve got to be prepared. If you’ve followed the steps outlined in Part 1 and Part 2 of this series, you’ve created an excellent plan for what will happen when. You’ve gone shopping and gathered the materials and tools you’ll need.
GET READY FOR FUN!
Where is everything you bought now? Is it all in a bag that you tossed into a corner? Did you stuff it all into a drawer or closet? When it’s time for fun, do you find yourself searching for all the necessary materials and, once found, realize you’ve got just about zero time for the lesson?
If you’re teaching in a school that has no Art Teacher or Art Room, just where do you store everything?
WHAT’S AN ARTS AND CRAFTS KIT FOR KIDS?
An Arts and Crafts Kit is a private box for each child or student. It’s a place to store all of their tools. If you start with the right sized box, it’s sized to fit onto a shelf or into a locker. That means, when it’s time for Art or Craft, it’s ready for use.
WHY DOES A CHILD NEED AN ARTS AND CRAFTS KIT?
An Arts and Crafts Kit gives a place for Kids to keep all their own tools. This is a great advantage for many reasons:
- A name can be put onto each item,
- They know what they have and don’t have,
- Each item can be wiped clean after use and stored away,
- The child is organized and knows where to find their supplies,
- They can decorate and personalize their Kit,
- It teaches them to be creative from an ordered jumping off point,
- It teaches them to care for their things
- Having the box saves time since they’ve already got their tools, all they’ll need to do is gather supplies.
Create a box for each of your children and you’ll experience fewer disagreements, fewer arguments and far less squabbling.
WHEN DO I NEED IT?
If you teach in a self contained classroom and have no separate art room in your building, these handy boxes of supplies will make art class setup a breeze. As the kids go get their school art box, you can set the needed supplies out.
Same goes for those of you who teach or play at home. During the time the kids get their boxes, you can set the supplies needed for the lesson out for them.
HOW DO I MAKE A PORTABLE ARTS AND CRAFTS KIT FOR KIDS?
Grab a shoebox, tackle box or buy a plastic storage box that has a lid. Decorate it, fill it and, you’ll be ready to go.
WHAT SHOULD BE IN A CHILD’S ARTS AND CRAFTS KIT?
Since this is a box for Tools, that’s what goes into it. A child’s tools for Arts and Crafts include all the items shown in this picture (plus some that I forgot!- See the list below.)
WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN AN ARTS AND CRAFTS KIT?
PUT THESE TOOLS INTO THE BOX:
- Pencils and Pencil Sharpener
- Erasers
- Rulers, both 12″ and 6″
- Set of Watercolor Paints and Paintbrush
- Sponge Pieces
- Paper Clips
- Cup for Water
- White Glue and Glue Stick
- Crayons in a box or closeable plastic bag
- Sketch Pad
- Scissors
- Paper Folder (the flat, cream colored thing in the bottom left corner of the photo)
- Magnifying Glass
- Tweezers
- Paint Set – Small tubes of Acrylic Craft Paint
- Oil Pastels
- Colored Pencils
- Masking Tape
- Plastic Table Cloth
- T-Square, small
- Protractor, small
WHERE DO I BUY THESE TOOLS?
I always bought my classroom supplies from the Dick Blick catalog or from their website. You can find just about everything listed there.
Also look online at Amazon and Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff. If you’re in a pinch for something take a quick trip and see what the dollar store has. Again, if you need something quickly and don’t mind paying higher prices, Michael’s Crafts, Hobby Lobby, Joanne Fabrics and Crafts and other local stores will likely have what you need.
DO I PUT SUPPLIES INTO THE BOX TOO?
Nope. There’s no room. You’ll want to find a separate cabinet or closet shelf for all the supplies. I’ll provide a list of the items I commonly kept in my classroom at all times. You may or may not need all these items. Do plan ahead and buy it before you need it though!
SUPPLIES INCLUDE:
- White Drawing Paper – White Sulfite is best. It’s similar to white construction paper and can be used as a base for almost every project you can come up with.
- Colored Construction Paper
- Colored Sticky Tape
- Washi Tape
- Craft Sticks
- Pipe Cleaners
- Scrapbook Paper
- Yarn
- Beads
- Plastic Gems
- Buttons
- Newspaper (if you can find it) or Uncoated Absorbent Brown Kraft Paper.
- Magazines
- etc.
HOW DO YOU MAKE AN ART BOX?
EXAMPLE OF A BASIC BOX
Here’s a photo of my own box. I got the tackle box at a rummage sale about 30 years ago and it’s been my “grab it and go” kit ever since. I empty it and fill it with whatever will be needed for whatever lesson I’m running off to. You can see that I scribbled my name on it with permanent marker.
EXAMPLE OF A DECORATED KID’S BOX
If you follow those steps, you’ll be calm, happy, and organized. You’ll be prepared and able to enjoy the company of your kids. Everything your child needs to have a happy arts and crafts experience will be right there and ready to use.
SPECIAL NOTICE: I’VE INCLUDED THE PDF OF THE DINOSAURS IN THE FREEBIE LIBRARY. IF YOU’D LIKE TO HAVE THE SVG AND DFX FILES OF THEM FOR YOUR SILHOUETTE, CRICKET, ETC, CUTTING MACHINES, IT’S HERE IN MY SHOP ON DESIGN BUNDLES. (AFFILIATE LINK)
Within Part One of Enjoy Craft Time With Kids Without Losing Your Mind, I show you the basics of how to use the Craft Fun for Kids Activity Planner Printable.
Next, in Part Two of Enjoy Craft Time With Kids Without Losing Your Mind, I showed you how to take advantage of the Craft Fun for Kids Activity Planner Printable in far greater detail.
Part Four of Enjoy Craft Time With Kids Without Losing Your Mind, will show you how to easily set up an arts and crafts area for your little ones! (COMING SOON)
THIS POST CONTAINS SOME AFFILIATE LINKS FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE (WHICH MEANS IF YOU MAKE A PURCHASE AFTER CLICKING A LINK I WILL EARN A SMALL COMMISSION BUT IT WON’T COST YOU A PENNY MORE)! READ MY FULL DISCLOSURE POLICY.
GET THE PRINTABLES FOR THE KIDS ARTS AND CRAFTS KIT HERE!
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