As a San Diego Child Therapy specialist I help kids from traditional and non-traditional schools. In traditional schools, students receive the same materials for the same art projects, limiting choices. This is understandable with the constraints of teaching thirty or more kids at a time.

Homeschooling, however, lends itself to more outside-the-box thinking. If you homeschool in San Diego, you have a unique opportunity to offer a wide range of creative experiences and art materials even if you lack art experience and are on a limited budget.

Different children need different art mediums to express themselves.

Some children naturally gravitate toward more structured art materials and processes. They will reach for pencils and coloring pencils and are more comfortable with 8 ½ x 11 white paper.

Other children become wide-eyed at the thought of using clay. They work enthusiastically rolling out and shaping this medium. Some children want to use paint, oil pastels, or markers on large paper.

In an art therapy session, I provide a buffet of art supplies for image creation and self-expression. The buffet includes more restrictive materials such as pencils and colored pencils and moves to more fluid materials like pastels and paints. The choice of materials often reflects a preference for how a child or adult processes information and emotion. You may notice that your child or each of your children has preferences.

Art Materials for a Homeschool Budget

If you’re a San Diego Homeschool parent, and not an artist, choosing materials may be challenging. You may find yourself buying too much. It’s also easy to purchase useless art materials when you’re unfamiliar with artmaking. Art materials don’t have to be expensive, yet, spending a bit more on a few things does enhance the process. If your child really loves drawing with colored pencils, then it is worth it to budget for higher-quality ones.

Here are my top favorite Art Supplies for homeschooled kids that are also easier on the budget.

1. Homemade clays

   In the office, I use pre-packaged, air-dry clay because it’s suitable for a therapist's office. At home, homemade clays are ideal. First, you and your child can “cook” the dough recipe together and often homemade clays can be baked as well. You can add color and essential oils to add to the sensory aspect of clay-making at home. Additionally, most homemade clay recipes use simple kitchen ingredients keeping the cost low.

2. Brown kraft paper

   Brown kraft paper comes in rolls. This paper works well for creating murals. Murals can be worked on as a group if you're looking for a project for a homeschool co-op. Murals lend themselves to working together with children of varying ages. You can roll out the kraft paper on a long table or right on the floor.

   Inexpensive oil pastels work well on brown kraft paper. For children who prefer drawing with pencils and markers, I recommend they first draw on white paper, cut it out, and attach it to the mural because pencils and markers are not as vivid on kraft paper. Creating murals is also a great way to reinforce learning by using themes taken from other subjects, like science.

3. Recycled materials

   Some kids like to build. Think about those who have boxes and boxes of small red, yellow, and blue bricks. Recycled materials are great for engineering 3D sculptures and also for 2D creations. There is something for everyone. Create a bin for things to recycle into art, like junk mail, scraps of material, boxes, and plastic lids. The possibilities are endless.

4. Heavy, Multi-purpose paper

   I like big sheets of sulfite drawing paper, in 80-90lb weight. The heavyweight paper is usable for painting with watercolors or tempura paints. The 12 x 18 size paper works well with pencils, markers, pastels, and collages. Many children like this size when they come to the office, mainly because they’re normally given 9 x 12 or smaller paper to work within other settings.

5. Opaque watercolors

   Here is the one supply that I would spend more money on. Kids who love to paint in my office enjoy my Pelikan brand Opaque Watercolors. I’m not affiliated with them, but I do recommend them. These paints are flexible and seem to last a long time.

   The vivid colors can be thinned like regular watercolor paints. You can use less water, and achieve bolder, brighter colors in paintings. I have also used these paints on air-dried clay projects.

More information to help Homeschool parents foster creativity.

There are many reasons parents choose to homeschool in San Diego. Whether you are part of a co-op or are going it alone, creating art with your kids may or may not be your thing. Your homeschool curricula may offer art lessons that focus less on creativity and more on the academics of art history, art appreciation, and proper art techniques.

Parents confident with academic lessons may feel uncomfortable with actual artmaking that fosters creativity. If that describes you, please visit these blogs for some additional support.

For tips on talking to your kids about their artwork to encourage more expression, click here.

For tips on how to set yourself up for success with artmaking at home, click here.

Free consultation with a San Diego Child Therapy Specialist

If you are looking for an Art Therapist in San Marcos, CA for a child who is struggling with anxiety, grief & loss, or trauma, I can help. To learn more about how I help kids with anxiety, click here. To learn more about how I help kids with grief & loss, click here.

Click here to visit my contact page where you can check my availability and book a free, phone consultation.

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