Collect What You Have
Make it Accessible
Bonus Points for Decluttering
To Invent, You need a Good Imagination and a Pile of Junk
Thomas Edison
Dedicate Space
Children don’t need a classroom at home but they do need room to work. Organize a space big enough to get creative. A desk or bench where they can “make a mess” will do just fine. To keep things tidy, provide a place to sort garbage from recycling.
Upcycling
Gather what you have around the house. Recycling Bins and Junk Drawers are hot spots for craft supplies and materials for experiments and engineering.
Check the Closet
Take advantage of your resources. Look in the back of the stash closet for old games, puzzles, and the science and craft kits you have been saving for a rainy day.
Old Supplies
Get more use out of the old crayon and marker collection. When it’s time, melt down the waxy stubs for projects and make watercolor paintbrushes with markers when they dry out. Invent new ways to use supplies.
Tools & Hardware
Check the Tool Chest for Nuts, Bolts, and Washers. If your kids are ready and your space allows, teach proper tool use and add screws, nails, and wood to the station as well.
Don’t Forget the Tape
Children love tape, glue, staplers, and pipe cleaners for making the most out of their crafting materials. They often need a tutorial and guidance when getting used to a new product but they catch on fast!
Lighting & Inspiration
A bit of lighting and inspiration creates an inviting space. String up lights and use desk lamps to keep the area usable any time of day. Wall art, plants, and “how to” books get creative minds going, so go ahead and add a personal touch.
There You Have It
A well stocked Maker Space allows children the freedom and flexibility to work when they are inspired. It is fertile ground for repurposing materials and using up those rainy day supplies that have been lurking around for ages. It will take some work learning how to keep the area maintained but the mess is absolutley worth the skills built.
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I had never thought of using dried up markers and water to make watercolor paintbrushes. Great idea!