Stretching Your Art Supply Budget

Here are a few tips that have helped us keep our art supply budget to a minimum.

• Use what you have.  Do you know what you have?  Collect all the markers, glues, paints, paper, doughs and odd craft items in one location. Throw out what is no longer useful and organize the rest.  

• Use your recyclables - boxes and cardboard - just add markers, tape and scissors!

• Ask for donations from your community.  "Donate your still usable craft supplies." Pick a date or have an open bin where you can continually accept donations.  We haven't bought pencils, crayons, or craft/ construction paper in years!

• Adopt a process focused approach to art.  When you focus on the children's own ideas, and the idea of exploring art materials, supplies and tools (as artists do) then you can easily use what you have available.  It is the most authentic way to offer art to young children.