Lego sets. Wooden blocks. Magnatiles. Action figures. Doll accessories. Trading cards. Craft materials. Every evening, as I assist my children in tidying up their daily chaos, I can always expect these toys and their tiny components to be scattered everywhere, patiently awaiting their rightful owner’s return.
I can’t comprehend why my kids insist on playing with their toys in such a disorganized manner, but that’s just how it is. I don’t mind helping them clean up after a day filled with fun, but there’s one aspect of their playtime that consistently drives me a little bit crazy—the craft supplies.
Don’t get me wrong; I adore that my kids are passionate about creating art. Honestly, I prefer seeing 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 yet to discover a foolproof strategy for managing the crafty chaos. Our home is modest without extra rooms or closets, so I can’t simply organize everything into a Pinterest-perfect collection of matching bins. There’s no designated craft room; there’s no playroom.
And 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 team up to “redecorate” on a regular basis, and I simply don’t have the energy (or enough Magic Erasers) to handle that.
So, I’m left with heaps of construction paper, crayons, markers, pencils, glitter, scissors, glue, coloring books, popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, pom-poms, and countless other bits and bobs that all require a home.
I once tried using a plastic tote. What a disaster. My kids treated it like a dumpster, and I ended up having to sift through it for them and reorganize it every five minutes. No thank you.
At one point, I thought I could gradually reduce the craft supply hoard. I figured I’d throw things away until it was manageable. That plan backfired. My oldest, who can’t recall where he left his shoes or to brush his teeth without a nudge, somehow remembers that before I made the heart-wrenching decision to toss it, he had a half of a pink crayon that he swore was crucial for drawing an accurate Jigglypuff.
Plus, we all know that craft supplies multiply like rabbits. I’m convinced they’re in the cabinet breeding little colored pencil babies. Where does it all keep coming from?!
Currently, I’ve resorted to keeping all the craft supplies in a rolling cart in the laundry room, and that’s working out okay. Sure, I have to put away thousands of Crayola markers every now and then before I can do laundry, but at least when I have guests, I have a place to shove it all (and pretend it doesn’t exist).
Older parents tell me that one day I’ll miss these moments, so I’m trying to embrace the chaos of craft supplies. I’ve pretty much accepted that while my children are small, there will be popsicle birdhouses drying on my hutch, half-finished paintings waiting on the table for their creators to return from school, glitter appearing in the most unexpected places, and the occasional stack of coloring books and crayons on the coffee table. I remind myself that this particular “mess” signifies that my little ones are happy, loved, and enjoying life in our cozy home.
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Summary:
In this article, Ava Thompson shares her frustrations about managing the overwhelming amount of craft supplies that come with having creative kids. Despite the chaos, she embraces the mess as a sign of her children’s happiness and creativity. With limited space in her home, she has found temporary solutions but recognizes the joy that comes from their artistic endeavors.