Craving thirty minutes without screaming kids? Don’t turn on the TV – pull out the crafts instead! This craft supply list for kids will set your family up for quiet, creative time, plus give you great Easter basket and stocking stuffer ideas. Get a free printable craft supply list at the end of the post!

I come from a family of creative types. When you read that, you likely think that there are artists and authors in my bloodline.

Not exactly.

My dad’s a mechanical engineer who can build and fix anything. He even designed and built my parents’ house by hand with my mom’s help. Yes, they literally built the house themselves – without a contractor.

My mom’s a nurse and also an amazing seamstress. She made most of the curtains in her house and mine and crafted an entire wardrobe for me when I was little. No Halloween costume was too crazy for her to make.

So while none of us are particularly gifted in the fine arts, my parents and I are creative problem solvers. No, I’m not leaving out a sibling – I’m an only child. 

Our home was always filled with fabric, ribbon, tape, glue, paper, and dozens of other little things to create with.

Creativity is often born from boredom or necessity.

In my family, if we don’t have the money to buy something or can’t find the exact thing we want, we make it. Every fond memory of my childhood includes making things with my parents and grandmother:

• Barbie doll clothes
• Hair scrunchies
• Dollhouse furniture
• Halloween costumes
• Christmas ornaments
• Bridge made from toothpicks for the science fair

We didn’t have cable TV and “playdates” weren’t a thing in the 1980s, so I had a lot of free time on my hands. Boredom, and not getting every toy I asked for, led me to create in a home filled with simple craft supplies to keep me busy.

Although the world looks a lot different now than it did then, creativity is a necessary skill that kids need to be successful.

You read that right. Creativity is a skill you can learn and get better at, not simply something that certain people are born with.

Creativity is a skill you can learn and get better at, not something people are born with. Click to Tweet

How to Raise Creative Kids

There are three simple ways to raise creative kids:

1. Don’t give them everything they ask for.
2. Turn off the TV.
3. Give them access to basic craft supplies and let their imaginations go to work.

Before you think that I’m some kind of crunchy-granola parent, let me assure you that my kids watch plenty of “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” and have enough toys to set up their own pop-up shop. But they don’t get everything they want when they want it.

But if my kids want more craft supplies? I always say yes to that!

A well-stocked craft cabinet is a must-have to:

• Raise creative thinkers
• Spend 30 of quality time with your kids
• Get 30 minutes of quiet time while older kids craft by themselves
• Keep kids happily busy during play-dates

I asked my first-grader to share his ultimate craft supply list for kids with you, so you can stock up on all the basics you need to flex your kids’ creative muscles.

We’ll start with his 16 favorites, plus you can get a printable shopping list with 39 fun kids craft supplies to fuel their creativity!

16 Must-Have Craft Supplies for Kids

This list contains affiliate links, at no additional cost to you. I may receive a small commission when you click. I only recommend products that I own or would buy for myself. Please read my disclosures for more information. 

Make sure there are plenty of scissors and glue sticks to go around unless you enjoy the sound of sibling squabbles. Blunt-tip scissors are best for young crafters to start with.

He loves basic printer paper for drawing but uses cardstock for 3D creations.

Yes, glitter is a pain to clean up, but sometimes you just need to add a little sparkle to your craft project.

Googly eyes turn craft sticks into aliens, bunnies, chicks, reindeer, and loads of other creatures!

Even More Fun Items to Try! Free Printable Craft Supply List for Kids

Are you ready to start crafting with your kids, or at least sit next to them with a cup of coffee while they create something amazing?

I guarantee you will feel more relaxed if you do. This printable craft supply list for kids has 39 fun and inexpensive items to create a stellar craft stash of boredom busters!

How do you encourage creativity?

Do your kids have any favorite craft supplies? What are your favorite crafts to make with your kids? Please share your ideas in the comments section below!

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