Find a plastic container with a lid that will snap down securely. Try to find one with a lid that can also act as a writing surface and a handle (not in the lid) to make carrying easier.
Fill the container with items your child enjoys. This may include coloring books and crayons, plain paper, pencils, construction paper, safety scissors, nontoxic glue, pipe cleaners and popsicle sticks.
Avoid items that will make a mess, such as water colors and glitter. Opt for a glue stick instead of a bottle of glue.
Label the container with your child's name using a marker pen or acrylic paint.
Assemble your art supplies and choose those you need in your kit. Although you may want to take everything, this will make your kit too large to be portable. Pick a few commonly used items such as four or five colored pencils, two paint brushes or only a small sketchbook instead of a large pad of paper.
Think about how you will be using your kit. If you intend to use your kit to pass the time on a plane or sitting in a waiting room, a small kit is best. If you want to paint at the park, you will need a portable easel, a large pad of paper and a container of water.
Choose a container that will hold your supplies. You may only need a small plastic container with compartments that will fit into a purse or backpack or a small wheeled suitcase you can store in your car's trunk.
Consider whether any of your supplies need extra protection, such as foam padding to keep your pastels from crumbling or a cap for your artist's knife to keep you from cutting yourself when you reach into your kit.