When it comes to ordering supplies, most of us pull out our trusty art ed catalogs and settle in for a long night of browsing. We pour over numerous brands of tempera paint and question whether we really need Silver Sharpies (Yes. Always yes.). We cross-check three different catalogs to see if we can save a few cents on pencils here or paintbrushes there. I love art ed catalogs, but today I’m going to let you in on a little secret. There’s one other catalog you need to check before ordering, and it’s not the one you might think.
Which one is it? The Early Childhood catalog.
Yes, you read that correctly. No matter what age level you teach, you might be surprised to find useful items for your classroom in a catalog that caters to toddlers. Here are 21 surprising finds.
Furniture
Use the size of the furniture in the Early Childhood catalogs to your advantage. The smaller sizes make these items perfect for nestling under tables or in otherwise unusable areas of your classroom. Here are a few smart choices.
Book Display – great for current read-alouds in elementary rooms or displaying reference materials for older students
LEGO Table – a necessary makerspace component
Mobile Drying Rack – a flexible option you can pull out when needed
Storage Unit – perfect for your specialty supplies or a free choice area
Adaptive Materials
Early Childhood Catalogs are great places to find materials for your students that might need adaptations. Here are a few worth considering.
My First Scissors – made for small hands but still a good tool for those with limited dexterity
Finger Paint Sensations Kit – an innovative supply for students with vision impairments
Jumbo Brushes – the bigger handles make these easier to grasp
No-Spill Paint Cups – use these cups to limit frustration
Carpets
If you’re a fan of having a carpeted gathering space in your classroom, then RUN to your nearest Early Childhood catalog immediately. There are so many great choices!
– Bilingual Paint by Numero Oval Carpet
– Kalokids™ Rainbow™ Placement Carpets – 24 Placement Spots
– Semi-Circle Rainbow Rows Carpet
Teaching Tools
Early Childhood catalogs are full of activities that would be perfect to use at classroom centers or as teaching tools.
Geoboards – perfect for experimenting with different shapes
Straws and Connectors – a wonderful collaborative material
Foam Blocks – a quiet, lightweight alternative to traditional blocks
Pattern Blocks – fantastic for patterning or freeform building
KEVA Blocks – the perfect companion to an architecture lesson
Tangrams – a classic for a reason
Animal Figurines – a fun reference material for drawing or sculpting
Magna-Tiles – an innovative building material
Foam Geometric Solids – a nice tool for helping students visualize 2D vs 3D
If you’re looking for even more unconventional places to find supplies, check out these articles from our archives!
The Best Art Supply Store Doesn’t Sell Art Supplies!
Shhh…Shop Here for Amazing Art Finds
Back to School Deals and Steals for Art Teachers
Tell us, have you ever ordered from an Early Childhood catalog?
What are some other surprising supplies you think all art teachers should know about?
Magazine articles and podcasts are opinions of professional education contributors and do not necessarily represent the position of the Art of Education University (AOEU) or its academic offerings. Contributors use terms in the way they are most often talked about in the scope of their educational experiences.
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