Homeschooling provides you with the unique opportunity to not only educate your children but also allows you to get creative and make learning fun. Rather than relying on routine class materials, having the right art supplies can help make each lesson engaging and memorable.
But with all the different shades and sizes of pencils and paints, it can be overwhelming to think about where to start when it comes to organizing your supplies at home. Here are some tips to help you get organized and get the most out of your art supplies for homeschooling.
1. Group Common Supplies Together
The first step when organizing your art supplies is to group together the items that are going to be used for the same purpose or type of lesson. For example, put the pencils with the different shades of crayons, oil pastels, and sketching markers.
This will make it easier for you to keep track of what you have and will help you quickly locate the supplies that you need.
2. Shorten Your Shopping List
Once you have identified which materials you need, you can use an inventory sheet to keep track of your supplies. By logging the items you own and purchasing any additional items you need, you’ll ensure that you have everything on hand.
This will save you time when you’re trying to pull together all of the supplies needed for a project.
3. Divide Your Materials into Categories
You may also want to create further categories within each type of material. This will help you find the exact items you need more quickly and also help you to identify any weak spots in your supply inventory.
For example, you can divide your paints into watercolor paints, tempera paints, oil paints, and acrylics.
4. Assign Art Materials to Containers
To make the most out of your available supplies, consider assigning each type of art material to a specific container. This will help you to remember which materials are available when it’s time to start a project. Containers come in all shapes and sizes, so you can find one that not only fits your art supplies but also fits within the rest of your home.
5. Sort and Label Your Materials
Once you have assigned art materials to containers, it’s important to label them so that you know what’s in each one. If you are working with multiple students, you may want to use individual containers to cut down on clutter.
You can also go one step further by sorting and labeling your supplies. This will help to protect the items from damage and will also make them easier to locate.
6. Make Separate Storage for Markers and Crayons
Since markers and crayons come in so many different shapes, sizes, and colors, it can be difficult to store them all in the same container. To help you keep your art materials safely stored and organized, you can use separate storage containers for markers, crayons, and pencils. This won’t just help keep your workspace neat and tidy, it will also make them easier to locate when it’s time to use them.
7. Store Paintbrushes Upright
Paintbrushes and other tools can quickly become tangled and difficult to store. To make them easier to store and access, consider purchasing a paintbrush holder which allows you to store the brushes upright.
This will prevent them from becoming ruined and will also help save space in your art supply cabinet.
8. Look for Multi-Functional Storage Solutions
When you’re organizing your art supplies, you may want to look for multi-functional storage solutions that allow you to store art materials of different sizes and shapes. For example, a rolling cart or craft shelves can be an ideal solution because they can store a variety of items without taking up too much room.
9. Reuse and Recycle
When it comes to getting organized and cutting down on costs, don’t be afraid to recycle and reuse materials if you have them lying around the house. For example, an old junk drawer can make an ideal storage solution for small items like pencils and pins.
Or, you can use an old shoebox to store markers and crayons.
10. Use a Home School Supply Box
There are some great home school supply boxes available that make organizing your art materials a breeze. These boxes come with compartments for storing different types of supplies and also include labels which can help you keep track of your supplies.
11. Balance Quality and Quantity
You don’t need to buy the most expensive supplies in order to get the best results. When buying art supplies for homeschooling, it’s best to try to balance the quality of the items with the quantity.
So, for example, you may want to buy the highest quality brushes and paint but only a few colors of each. This will help to ensure that your supplies last and that you don’t end up throwing away anything that is no longer needed.
12. Invest in Portable Art Supplies
If you plan on taking your art supplies outside to do projects on the go or at outdoor classes, you’ll want to consider investing in portable items such as pen roll or wax paper. This will help you to keep your art supplies organized and make them easier to transport.
13. Make Clean-Up Fun
Finally, make sure that you encourage your students to clean up after each art lesson. To help make this process more enjoyable, you can provide them with a special clean-up basket or cleaning supplies such as brushes and sponges. This can help to foster a sense of responsibility while also making the process of cleaning up the area fun.
Conclusion: Organizing your art supplies for homeschooling can seem like a daunting task, but with the right strategy you can keep them organized and easily accessible. From sorting and labeling supplies to investing in storage solutions and multi-functional items, these tips can help you make the most out of each art lesson and save valuable time when it comes to locating the art materials you need.