My Kids' Craft Supplies Are Driving Me Crazy

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My Kids’ Craft Supplies Are Driving Me Crazy

By Lisa Turner
Jan. 26, 2022

Legos. Wooden blocks. Magnatiles. Action figures. Doll accessories. Trading cards. Craft supplies. Every evening, as I help my children tidy up their daily chaos, I can always expect these toys and their tiny parts to be scattered everywhere, waiting for their owners to return and claim them.

I can’t quite grasp why my kids insist on playing in such a disorganized manner, but that seems to be the norm. While I’m happy to assist them in picking up after a day of fun, there’s one aspect of their playtime that consistently drives me a little insane: the craft supplies.

I genuinely appreciate that my children enjoy being creative. Honestly, I would much rather see them at the kitchen table with crayons and paper than lounging on the couch with an iPad. However, in my years as a mom, I’ve never discovered an effective way to manage the crafty clutter. Our home is modest, with no extra rooms or closets, so neatly storing everything in Pinterest-worthy baskets isn’t an option. There’s no craft room. No playroom.

Since I’m not completely out of my mind, I refuse to stash art supplies in my boys’ shared bedroom. My two-year-old and five-year-old would constantly “redecorate,” and I simply don’t have the energy (or enough Magic Erasers) to handle that chaos.

So, I’m left with heaps of construction paper, crayons, markers, pencils, glitter, scissors, glue, coloring books, popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, pom-poms, and all sorts of other bits and pieces that need a home.

I once tried to keep everything in a plastic tote box. What a disaster! My kids just tossed everything in there like it was a dumpster, and I found myself digging through it to reorganize every few minutes. No thanks.

At one point, I thought about gradually reducing the craft supplies. I figured I could toss out items until it was more manageable. That backfired spectacularly. My oldest may forget where he placed his shoes or to brush his teeth without a reminder, but he can recall that before his heartless mother decided to toss it out, he had half of a pink crayon that was essential for drawing a perfect Jigglypuff.

Plus, we all know craft supplies multiply like rabbits. Seriously, it feels like they’re in the cabinet creating little colored pencil babies. Where does it all come from!?

Currently, I’ve resorted to keeping all the craft supplies in a rolling cart in the laundry room, and it’s working reasonably well. Sure, I have to put away 4,000 Crayola markers occasionally before I can wash laundry, but at least when visitors come over, I have a spot to shove everything (and hope to forget it exists).

Older parents tell me that one day, I’ll miss this mess, so I’m trying to embrace the chaos of craft supplies. I’ve more or less accepted that while my kids are small, there will be popsicle birdhouses drying on my shelf, unfinished paintings on my table waiting for their owners to return from school, glitter showing up everywhere, and occasional stacks of coloring books and crayons on the coffee table. I remind myself that this particular “mess” is a sign that my children are happy, loved, and enjoying life in our cozy home.

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Summary:

Managing kids’ craft supplies can be overwhelming, especially in a modest home without a dedicated space for organization. While it’s a joy to see children being creative, the clutter can easily become a source of frustration. Embracing the chaos while finding practical solutions, like using a rolling cart, can help parents navigate this delightful yet messy aspect of childhood.

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