Looking for an art cart to organize kid art supplies?

I was. It was time to get the loose stickers off the ground and put the scattered markers in an art cart. Everything needed a home.

You see, we once had an organization system for art supplies, and quite frankly, that system was no longer working. It was broken and needed to be fixed before someone slipped on a stapler.

So here we are, all tidied up and ready to rock and roll.

RELATED: Love art as much as we do? 20+ craft supplies will get you started!

What should be included in a preschool art center?

I am here for you! These are basic art supplies that will help your budding artist have a creative space to explore new ideas.

Before we get into what’s INSIDE the organization, read this first.

Involve your children in the art supply organization set-up.

I assure you, this was not the easiest task.

In fact, it was a lot of redirecting and refocusing. Catch our Instagram stories for some behind-the-scenes how this all went down. For one, my three-year-old was certain the bottom drawer was to be used for his Matchbox cars. No worries, we eventually worked together and got everything straightened out. This is all part of the process.

Pick a Saturday when everyone is home or your next rainy day.

Why include kids to fill the art cart?

Investment.

When children are involved in the decision process, they are MORE LIKELY to keep the drawers tidy and put the stamp markers back with the stamp markers.

The entire point of organizing art supplies is that the art supplies have a place to call home. When children understand the system, they are more likely to use it.

Start with the markers.

This also makes a fantastic Breakfast Invitation.

• Label one bin with a happy face. This represents the markers that work.
• Label the other bin with a sad face. This represents the markers that no longer work.
• Allow your child to test and sort the markers.
• Throw away the markers that no longer work.
• Sort the markers that do.

Both my toddler and my five-year-old came back and forth with this activity as the boys shifted their attention. Keep in mind; it is age-appropriate for your child to lose interest and then return. Towards the end, I sat with them to finish the job.

Incorporating art into every day is such a gift that we do not want to take away from our children. 

Kids art supply organization needs glue.

Don’t let this scare you. Remember, you have been scooping and pouring, throwing, and squeezing. You have been doing these things to help with life skills such as this.

Just like cleaning out the marker drawer, let them fill the glue. Did it spill? Yep. But this was only after I didn’t screw on the cap tightly. One pour at a time helps children gain self-confidence and thrive.

Art is a pretty big deal over here, and you can find everything from process to product art here. 

Let’s see inside that art cart!

• The art cart

We used many bins we already own.

• Melissa and Doug reusable toy wooden boxes

• Small storage boxes I found at Home Depot and Publix. ( I searched an Amazon link for you all; they were overpriced. Sterilite made the bins I ended up using. Check your local grocery store or Home Depot to see what they have in stock.

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RELATED: Proper toy storage starts with these tips. 

Art supply cart drawer one

1. Crayola Washable Markers
2. Skinny Markers
3. Stamp Markers
4. IKEA colored pencils
5. Highlighters

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Drawer two

1. Tissue paper squares
2. Post-It Notes
3. Washi Tape
4. Clothespins
5. Honeysticks Crayons (perfect for one-year-olds)
6. Hole Puncher
7. Paper Clips

RELATED: You can use these art supplies for Build Your Name, Sticky Pumpkin, and Washi Measurement Game.

Art cart drawer three

1. Mini clothespins
2. Painters swatches – Find at your local paint store
3. Glue sticks
4. Rubber bands
5. Stapler
6. Scissors (the ones we use)
7. Tape
8. Glue – I prefer the large containers to refill what I already have
9. Jumbo Craft Sticks

Drawer four and five

Give them all the cardboard and paper tubes!

Supply children with small pieces of wood to color and maybe even practice nailing into with supervision. Another idea is to supply sandpaper in this drawer along with the wood.

RELATED: Here are 40 terrific painting ideas for kids.

Art cart drawer six

Save this drawer for your random sticker collection. Here we have traditional stickers and felt.

1. Felt Alphabet – Upper Case
2. Felt Numbers
3. REUSABLE sticker book
4. Sticker book

Now your Art Supply Organization is ready to go!

Invite your children to create and see what they can make.

What will you add to your art cart? We LOVE ours and use it every day!