It’s no secret that art supplies are expensive. If your toddler is like my toddler, then your craft supplies appear and disappear like Houdini. I’m here to give you 5 money-saving tips for preschool crafts so you and your child don’t miss out on the fun! Keep scrolling for all the details!
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- Use Recycled Materials
STOP! Before you throw that away… can it be used in a craft? That box isn’t a box. It is a spaceship. That paper towel roll isn’t a paper towel roll; it’s a flower stamp. That plastic container (once painted black) can be a mystery box for sensory items.
Items I commonly save for crafts
- Toilet paper/ paper towel rolls
- Boxes
- Plastic storage containers
- Popsicle sticks
- Plastic lids from drinks
- Plastic bottles
- Old fabric
- Styrofoam
Maybe it’s the hoarder in me, but I can find another use for just about anything. Just have an open mind, a sprinkling of creativity, or keep reading my blog posts…I’ll give you plenty of ideas.
- Shop Sales and Generic Brands
My friends, if you are not shopping your craft stores’ sales and coupons, we REALLY need to talk. Craft stores often have rotating sales. It might take a little bit of planning (typically a month in advance) but I NEVER pay full price at a craft store.
If Evie happens to dump out all my paint that I desperately need for a project and it’s not a sale, I’ll be buying generic.
Online stores such as Amazon are a great way to look at several brands, compare prices, and check reviews. If you aren’t a Prime member, I highly recommend it. I save SO much money on delivery costs and exclusive deals. Plus, all the additional perks that come with the membership are hard to beat.
- DIY watercolors
Watercolors are a rite of passage for preschoolers! If your watercolors are used and always seem to end up all black, these homemade watercolors might be for you!
They are quick and easy to make with water and food coloring. A couple drops will do.
- “A Dot. Not A Lot”
Speaking of drops…or more accurately puddles… It’s no secret that toddlers can use A LOT of glue, paint, or any other craft materials. As a preschool teacher, one of the very first things I taught my 3-year-olds was “a dot, not a lot”.
At this age, children are still learning fine motor skills. Allowing them to do these activities helps children develop the ability to control how much glue they use.
These glue worksheets on TPT were some of my favorite activities. The BEST part is you can filter for FREE activities and by grade level.
- Free Printables
Speaking of TPT, glue worksheets aren’t the only thing you can get from there. There are tracing worksheets, math worksheets, coloring pages, and reading activities. I have even used yoga cards from TPT. Name it and it’s probably there. Start by setting the FREE filter on the website and search for all the wonderful activities for your child.
Lastly, keep checking my blog for new lesson plans! If a printable is required for the activity, I include links to all of them either on Canva or Google Drive!
Check out some of my favorite lesson plans
- Stars in Space
- St. Patrick’s Day
- Weather
- So much MORE!
Do you have any more money-saving tips for preschool crafts? Leave me a comment!
[…] you have read my post 5 Money Saving Tips for Preschool Crafts, you know that I LOVE recycled […]
[…] heard, I’m a bit of a hoarder. It pays off when I start doing toddler crafts! Check out my post 5 Money Saving Tips for Preschool Crafts, to see how your hoarding habit can save you money […]