5 Days of Homeschool Essentials: Art Supplies

 Wow. It’s the last day of the 5 Days of Homeschooling Essentials blog hop! Here at Simple Living Mama we have talked about our books and bookshelves, our favorite magazines and memberships, outside play spaces, and why we love the Kindle Fire. Today we are talking about a definite essential: art supplies for the homeschool!

My kids love to do art projects. They are so creative! They like to get messy and paint, color, and draw. They honestly have so much fun. I do not even have to direct them!

We bought my oldest son an art easel for Christmas. We got the one from Melissa and Doug. I don’t necessarily consider it a totally essential art supply, but it is very nice to have. This particular easel has a chalkboard on one side and a dry erase board on the other. We can also use paper on it to paint or draw. Bug has had a lot of fun doing his cat drawings on the easel. The kids have also gotten to experiment with chalk!

Even though you don’t need an easel, there are several less expensive things you do need. I am going to list our must have art supplies for you!

Blank paper 

We use printer paper. My kids will take this over a coloring book any day. My oldest loves to make his own drawings. I have loved seeing what he comes up with every day. Keep a lot of this on hand because you will need it with most of the other materials.

Construction paper

For more structured projects, I keep construction paper handy. 

Scissors

My kids use child scissors nearly every day. They have a blast just randomly cutting paper when I let them.

Colored pencils

We also use colored pencils every day.I have found we are able to keep up with them a little better than crayons.

Crayons

We do keep crayons on hand, too!

Watercolors

My children’s first introduction to paint has been with watercolors. They frequently ask to use them.

Glue

We use glue to put projects together, and it’s also fun to use to make designs on paper and sprinkle glitter on top.

Glitter

The glitter is kept far away and only brought out on special occasions, but the kids love it because they think it makes their projects a little more special.

Miscellaneous Craft Supplies

I keep colored pipe cleaners, wiggly eyes, feathers, and a few other things on hand for random projects.

My kids love to create art and I let them at least draw every single day. I love seeing their creativity come alive with all the open-ended projects they do. My kids are still very young, so keeping some simple art supplies handy is just great for them!

What are your must-have art supplies?

Image courtesy of nuttakit / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Now go check out some of my friends’ homeschool essentials.

• Rebekah @ There Will Be a $5 Charge for Whining
• Nicole @ Schooling in the Sun
• Leah @ As We Walk Along the Road
• Heather @ Thrift Schooling
• Lisa @ Home to 4 Kiddos
• Amy @ Homeschool Encouragement
• Monique @ Living Life and Learning
• Jenn @ Fresh Start Academy
• Lori @ Special Connection Homeschool