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Simplifying Kids’ Craft Clutter

Simplifying Kids’ Craft Clutter

“Do you have any tips for making kids arts and crafts more sustainable? I have a craft shelf that the kids love. I keep it stocked and love to encourage their creativity, but it feels so wasteful!”

 

Pom pons, glitter glue, and googly eyes, oh my.

While we all want to provide our children with opportunities to express their creativity, I believe there’s a fine line between offering artistic inspiration and being wasteful. (While we’re at it, there’s also a fine line between tidy art spaces and out-of-control crafting.)

On this short and sweet episode, I’m answering a listener’s question about how sustainable minimalists handle arts & crafts.

Here’s a preview:

[2:45] Why I suggest you stop buying art supplies for your kiddos (and what you should stock for their creative endeavors, instead)

[5:45] Where to find eco-friendlier art supplies on the market

[7:00] The ins and outs of a 21st century scrap bin

[10:15] Thoughts on instilling a culture of slow creation (with a focus on functional art) in your home

 

Resources mentioned:

 

* Leave a voicemail with your question and I’ll answer it on-air! Here’s how: State your name then leave the show a message at (508) 960-9046. (This new feature only works with audience participation, so don’t be shy!)

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Pom pons, glitter glue, and googly eyes, oh my. While we all want to provide our children with opportunities to express their creativity, I believe there's a fine line between offering artistic inspiration and being wasteful. (While we're at it, there's also a fine line between tidy art spaces and out-of-control crafting.) On this short and sweet episode of the Sustainable Minimalists podcast: a sustainable minimalist's 5-step approach for handling arts & crafts.

3 thoughts on “Simplifying Kids’ Craft Clutter

  1. Great ideas! I buy a few very good quality craft materials (watercolors, paper, crayons, wool yarn, clay) for serious projects, and the kids have to scrounge for whatever else they need or want, often from nature or the kitchen (salt dough, spices to make dyes,etc) We’ve had the same beeswax crayons for years and years. It’s worth the money.

  2. Thank you for your suggestions. I also wanted to mention that home made salt dough is a simple and easy replacement for store bought kids dough and can be made with spices and natural dyes. You can easily store it in a mason jar, and provide your own cookie cutters for your children if they tend to like that sort of thing. Natural beeswax crayons are beautiful and will last a long time. Stockmar watercolor paints are wonderful too. We purchase only primary colors and make our own colors then store them in tiny mason jars. I also want to mention a Buddha board for simple painting. It only uses water and the image evaporates so you can use it over and over again. My kids love it.

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We have become over-reliant on the very thing that's destroying our planet. On today's show: Imagining the ways in which modern life, interpersonal connections, well-being and more would change in a hypothetical, fossil fuel-free world.

 

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[11:00] In the event of a 2-weeks plus outage, modernity would look a lot different

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[30:00] What research says with regard to the wellness benefits of working with our hands

 

Resources mentioned:

 

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Hello there, I’m Stephanie. I live a crazy, beautiful life as a full-time wife, blogger + mother to two spirited daughters. I’m on a mission to simplify eco-friendly living so as to greater enjoy life’s sweeter moments.

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