Open-Ended Crafts

One thing I have been working on is having craft supplies accessible yet contained (so the baby can’t get them). After reading Playful Learning, I was inspired and challenged to do a better job at having art supplies accessible.

Of course since I do have young children I have to have the materials contained (i.e. not in a center), but I have found that using plastic shoe boxes with the snap-top handle that swings up and down to close (how’s that for a description!) are easy enough for my preschooler to open but hard enough for my 11 mo. to pry open.  I’ve been leaving a couple of the supply boxes on a shelf (that way not everything is accessible at the same time—I am still controlling it a bit) that my preschooler can reach. I didn’t even say anything about them and the next day I found Mr. Smiley sitting on the table.

This made me smile. Right after that my 3yr. old came along with her pair of scissors and cut it all up. Ahh, the nature of crafts in my house. It’s the process that counts—right? :)

How do you store your craft supplies? Do you have a set-up that allows open-ended craft creating? I’d love to see some ideas, as I’m still tweaking how I’d like this to work in my house.

If you are interested in learning about creating Playful Spaces in your home, you might check out Playful Learning’s e-course. I’m looking forward to gleaning lots of good ideas from the class.