Our Top 5 Office Supplies for Creative Play
This is a version of an article from our Art it Play Substack journal. Join us there for long-form weekly musings as we share stories, materials, spaces, and people that nurture creativity, agency, and flow.
Office supplies are a special kind of magic. They’re everyday, practical tools designed for adults, not children, which makes them feel novel and full of possibility. When we invite kids to tinker with these materials, we show them that creativity is possible anywhere and with anything. It can start with what’s right in front of us.
When a stapler becomes a sewing tool, or an envelope becomes a puppet, children are practicing flexibility, problem-solving, and imagination. And when they see that creativity can spark from the most ordinary objects, they carry that mindset with them everywhere.
Our top 5 office supplies:
1. Dot Label Stickers
A roll or sheet of colored dot stickers is one of the simplest and most satisfying play materials you can offer, even for very young toddlers. Children can cover paper in polka dots, line them up in patterns, or pair them with mark-making tools as a prompt to transform these basic circles into anything. You’ll see children experiment with repetition, rhythm, and composition, all while strengthening fine motor skills.
2. Staplers
With some supervision, children feel a sense of power when they master a “grown-up” tool like this. They’re learning cause and effect, practicing coordination, and realizing that they can transform flat materials into something entirely new.
3. Whiteboards
Unlike crayons or pencils, dry-erase markers invite risk-taking and playfulness because nothing is permanent. A drawing can be wiped away, changed, and drawn again. This freedom encourages experimentation without the pressure of “getting it right.” Another bonus: no paper waste! If you use whiteboards for other instruction, try offering them during play inside or outside. You’ll see children making signs for their shops and restaurants, sketching out plans for block building, and so much more.
4. Index Cards and Post-It Notes
Never underestimate the power of a simple stack of index cards or Post-Its. They’re both perfectly sized for small hands. The index cards work super well with hole punchers and paper punches of all kinds. We buy the unlined ones, and they also hold up to both pan and liquid watercolors with Q-tips. They are perfect for pairing with smaller brushes or tools to concentrate on painting or mark-making exploration. Post-Its are just fun and fold naturally into play setups for signs or labeling. Draw a dozen quick sketches and stick them up! Create a temporary or ongoing Post-it gallery on an unused whiteboard or bulletin board. Our favorite combination is Sharpies and Post-Its.
5. Envelopes
Envelopes carry a built-in sense of mystery and purpose. Kids love the idea of sending and receiving mail, but envelopes can also become houses, pockets, puppets, collage elements, or treasure-holders.
There’s something inherently exciting about slipping something inside, sealing it up, and deciding who it belongs to. That’s probably why children love working in the message spaces we’ve set up. Envelopes invite role play, writing, and communication — and they remind children that making art and sharing it can be just as fun as the play itself.
Check out the full post here on our Substack with two more office supplies that absolutely have to be part of your creative rotation.
Learn how to set up these materials on a self-serve Art Cart!
Learn how to set up these materials on a self-serve Art Cart!
Do you need help reimagining your classroom as a hub of creativity where children share ideas and feel seen, known, and celebrated? Learn more about our Materials Matters course and Professional Learning Workshops, and transform your creative practice today.