I’m always looking for ways to make therapy easier. It’s frustrating when I have an amazing activity planned, but I can’t find the materials!
I like using crafts to supplement my themed-based therapy activities. However, it can be easy to lose track of all the odds and ends.
I knew I had to do something to make this easier for myself!
Step 1: Choose Simple Crafts
The first step was simplifying my crafts!
Some crafts require a lot of little pieces. It’s easy to rack up quite the bill purchasing these materials, and we haven’t even found a way to keep track of all the bits and pieces! After a few “Pinterest fails,” I decided to only create crafts with a simple set of materials.
Side Note: If you’re looking for inspiration, the SLP Now Membership includes 50 different crafts that use a few inexpensive and easy-to-find materials. They also include visual directions, which work great as visual supports in therapy.
Step 2: Find a Storage Solution
Last year, I stored my materials in a therapy cart, which worked really well.
However, I changed jobs this year. I have a lot less space and am “on the go” quite a bit of the time. I needed something small and compact.
These craft boxes were the perfect craft organization solution! I found the satchels at a local craft store, but you can also find them on Amazon.
I love them because they’re stackable and easy to carry. It makes it so easy to keep everything organized!
Anyone else obsessed with those compartments?!
I use one satchel with compartments to store odds and ends.
I use another satchel (without any compartments) to store the larger pieces (e.g., paper plates, paper bags).
Step 3: Reap the Benefits
Whenever we do a craft in therapy, I pull out the satchels. No more running around the room or digging through cabinets to find what I need!
Bonus! I may pull out the materials for my students, but–depending on the students’ goals–I can also use it as an opportunity to target a variety of skills (e.g., receptive vocabulary, following directions, and more!). Students can gather their own materials while practicing their speech and language skills. Perfect dual functionality! 🙂
How do you organize your crafts? Let us know by leaving a comment below!
I need this!