Keeping Kids Crafts Organized

Crafting with your child can be fun, educational and it is also an excellent bonding opportunity. Children often like an array of different crafting mediums and this can lead to a chaotic environment. Keeping things organized and easily accessible is the best way to maximize your crafting experience.

Store
Organizing by craft medium is the best place to start. Keeping related supplies organized, yet close together is key. Use bins, storage containers or rolling plastic dressers to separate and house your supplies. The rolling containers are great if you don't have a dedicated craft room. They typically come in a three or four draw set up and can be easily rolled out for use and then tucked away in a closet for storage. If you have shelves for storage bins and containers they are equally as handy. Keep items that are used together, close together. Put paint near or with paint brushes and keep paper in a drawer close by. Remember, the less digging they have to do the better. Plus, keeping them sorted by use makes set up and clean up much easier.

Label
Labeling your drawers, bins or containers is essential to keeping them organized. If your child can easily find what they are looking for you are less likely to encounter things that are disheveled and messy. Likewise, the easier that you make it for them to return the supplies to their original containers the more organized things will stay. If thread is all kept in a draw labeled thread in giant letters, they will be more likely to return it to its correct location. Additionally, don't make the labels confusing. Steer clear from labels like misc, miscellaneous and other. Drawers labeled like this will essentially end up becoming a junk drawer that is difficult to find anything in.

Minimize
Don't hoard supplies, if you are almost out of something or only have scraps left of an item then throw it away. Keeping the containers as free and uncluttered as possible makes them more accessible and easier to use. Additionally, the lids will all close and the drawers will all shut. If you overstuff the drawers your child will eventually start putting things away in the wrong spot, because they didn't fit where they belonged.

The key to keeping your crafting organized is simplicity. Making things as easy to find, use and clean up as possible is essential. Remember, children are not patient or organized, so keep that in mind when setting up your craft storage.