Indoor Fun with Your Family: Build the Ultimate Kids’ Craft Closet

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Art class shouldn’t be the only times kids get to be creative. “It’s important for kids to use their imaginations to help them express themselves through their creativity,” says Rachel Dorton, public relations manager for Kid Made Modern.

In order to let imaginations run wild, you’ll want to stock up on some craft supplies. Just make sure they are kid-friendly items. For example, scissors with a rounded tip are the safest type for young kids. Kraft paper is great to protect work surfaces and can also double as a background for creating a large drawing or painting.

You may not have the luxury of having your own craft room in your home, but you can easily transform an old armoire or a cupboard into a well-stocked craft space. Of course, don’t overlook household items, such as milk cartons and paper-towel rolls, which kids can use for their artistic creations.

“It’s really great to give your kids the materials they need to let their minds run with their imagination and let them create something,” says Dorton.

If your child struggles to get started on independent artwork, Kid Made Modern holds regular one-hour virtual crafting sessions for kids around the country. Or you can sign up for the Kid Made Modern Monthly Craft Club and receive a new box of crafts each month with all the materials and directions your children need to complete a project on their own.

Must-Have Craft Materials

• Adhesive tape
• Copier and construction paper
• Crayons
• Glue sticks and craft glue
• Hole punch
• Kraft paper
• Paintbrushes
• Paints (finger paints and tempera paints)
• Pencils (both graphite and colored)
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Stapler

Specialty Craft Supplies

• Beads
• Craft foam and craft sticks
• Decorative paper punches
• Plasticine and polymer clay, for modeling
• Rubber stamps and stamp pads
• Specialty papers, such as origami and tissue paper
• Stencils

This article originally appeared in the January 2021 issue of Baltimore’s Childa sister publication of Frederick’s Child.