ARTS AND CRAFTS

If kids know where to find everything—the colored pencils are always here, the modeling clay there—they will be more inclined to use it all in exercising their creative muscles. Seeing their own handiwork on display will also motivate them to continue these worthwhile pursuits.

KEEP SUPPLIES UNDER CONTROL

Be sure to do this exercise together to avoid the all-too-common “where’s my [fill in the blank]?!” See pages 170 to 171 for more ideas and inspiration.

• Group like with like, so all paints in one bin, papers in another; magazine holders can keep different kinds of paper stock in check.
• Decant crayons, colored pencils, and markers into separate vessels (one for each category), for easier grabbing.
• Store the essentials for favorite activities in project-based bins—one for jewelry-making, for example.
• Clear containers—plastic bins, large (recycled) jars, food-storage containers, or a combination—keep supplies visible at all times.
• Look for crafts tables that come with storage space, such as a ledge underneath—or repurpose a bilevel coffee table, which is just the right height for toddlers.
• If space is especially tight, use an over-the-door shoe organizer to hold supplies of all sorts; mount a file sorter on a wall or door to streamline papers.

Curate the artwork

Most young kids are pretty prolific—and you’ll want to motivate them to continue these worthwhile pursuits.

• Plan to go through the collection with your child at least twice a year (say, at the end of each school semester), letting them choose the ones they want to keep and also to put on display.
• Besides posting on the refrigerator, consider framing a few select pieces and working those into a gallery wall—or dedicate an entire wall to their creations (as shown opposite).
• Preserve favorite pieces in flat archival boxes or acid-free portfolios, both of which come in a range of sizes; note your child’s name and age on a small label, or write directly on the back of the piece. Or scan items when possible and save them digitally, organizing these as above—by child and by year.
• Then look for ways to upcycle the originals—as well as any pieces that don’t make the cut: Use them for paper-craft projects, cards, or wrapping paper.