I’m excited to share these fun and creative DIY projects that will keep your kids entertained throughout the sunny summer season.
As a parent, summer break can be a challenging time to keep little ones engaged, but these fun DIY projects will help fill those long days with creativity and joy. I’ve personally tested these crafts with my own kids and can vouch for their simplicity and appeal to various age groups.
Most of these projects use materials you likely already have at home, making them budget-friendly options for summer entertainment. These activities are perfect for rainy days, backyard fun, or anytime you hear the dreaded “I’m bored” from your kids.
Key Takeaways
- 14 fun and creative DIY projects for kids
- Budget-friendly options using materials you likely already have at home
- Perfect for rainy days, backyard fun, or anytime your kids are bored
- Develops fine motor skills and provides screen-free entertainment
- Simple and appealing to various age groups
Why Summer Crafts Keep Kids Engaged and Happy
I’ve found that engaging kids in summer crafts is an excellent way to ensure they’re having fun while being productive. Summer is the perfect time to explore the outdoors, and what better way to get kids excited about nature than to send them on a hunt for rocks, sticks, and feathers?
Benefits of Creative Activities
Creative activities during summer break offer numerous benefits for kids. They help children develop important skills like problem-solving, fine motor coordination, and artistic expression. These activities also provide a wonderful alternative to screen time, fostering imagination and creativity. Moreover, summer crafting sessions can become cherished family traditions, creating lasting memories for both parents and kids.
Materials at Home
Most summer crafts use common household materials, saving time and money while keeping kids engaged. This means you likely have everything you need right at home. By utilizing materials you already have, you can encourage your kids to explore their creativity without breaking the bank.
Paper Plate Puffer Fish
Transform a simple paper plate into an adorable puffer fish with this easy DIY project. This summer craft is perfect for kids, promoting creativity and fine motor skills.
Materials Needed
To create your paper plate puffer fish, you’ll need the following materials: a paper plate, yellow and orange paint, googly eyes, toothpicks, and glue.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Start by painting the paper plate with yellow and orange paint to give it a vibrant look. Once dry, add googly eyes to bring your puffer fish to life. Use toothpicks to create the spines around the plate, gluing them in place. This activity helps kids develop their fine motor skills.
| Benefits | Description |
|---|---|
| Creative Expression | Customize the puffer fish with different colors and patterns. |
| Fine Motor Skills | Place toothpicks around the plate to create the puffer fish’s spines. |
| Educational Element | Spark conversations about ocean life and different types of fish. |
This paper plate puffer fish craft is not only fun but also educational, making it a great activity for kids during the summer.
DIY Garden Stepping Stones
I love making DIY garden stepping stones with kids because it’s a great way to preserve summer memories. This fun and creative activity allows children to leave their mark on the garden, making it even more special.
Materials Needed
To create your personalized garden stepping stones, you will need cement mix, a mold to shape the stones, and decorative items like pebbles, marbles, or seashells.
Creating Your Personalized Stone
Start by mixing the cement according to the instructions. Let kids press their handprints or footprints into the wet cement, or add decorative items to create unique patterns. Once dried, these stepping stones can be placed in your garden, adding a personal touch to your outdoor space.
| Benefits | Description |
|---|---|
| Personalized Memories | Creates lasting mementos for your garden |
| Kids’ Creativity | Allows kids to leave their mark with handprints or designs |
| Educational | Teaches kids about materials changing states |
Seashell Creatures
Using seashells, air-dry clay, and paint, children can create their own underwater world. This craft project is an excellent way to repurpose shells collected during a memorable summer beach vacation.
Materials Needed
To create seashell creatures, you’ll need the following materials: seashells, air-dry clay, paint, glue, and googly eyes. These simple materials will help bring your ocean treasures to life.
Bringing Ocean Treasures to Life
To create your seashell creatures, start by selecting the shells you want to use. You can use different sizes and shapes to represent various sea creatures. Use air-dry clay to attach the shells together and add details like googly eyes and paint to bring your creatures to life.
- Transform ordinary seashells into charming characters with a few simple embellishments.
- Create an entire underwater world using different sizes and shapes of shells.
- Encourage kids to see the creative potential in natural objects and think outside the box.
Making seashell creatures is a fun and creative way to extend the joy of a beach trip long after you’ve returned home. The finished creatures make adorable decorations for a bathroom, child’s bedroom, or summer-themed display.
Cheerios Play Sand
I discovered a simple way to bring the beach into your home using Cheerios. This fun and easy craft is perfect for kids to enjoy during the summer. It’s an innovative way to create a sensory experience without leaving home.
Materials Needed
To make this craft, you’ll need Cheerios and a blender. That’s it! You likely have these items already, making it a convenient activity.
Creating Beach Fun at Home
Simply blend the Cheerios in a blender until they resemble sand. Pour the Cheerios sand into a tray and add some beach toys for kids to play. They can build sandcastles and enjoy the sensory experience without the mess of real sand.
This activity is ideal for rainy summer days and helps develop fine motor skills as children scoop, pour, and mold the Cheerios sand. It’s a great way to keep kids engaged and entertained at home.
Water Gun Painting
Water gun painting is a fun and creative activity that combines the excitement of water play with the joy of art. This activity is perfect for kids during the hot summer days when they need to stay engaged and entertained.
Materials Needed
To get started, you’ll need a few simple materials: water guns, tempera paint, painter’s tape, and a canvas or large sheet of paper. Diluting the tempera paint with water will make it easier to spray through the water guns.
Combining Water Play with Art
This activity allows kids to unleash their creativity while having fun. By using painter’s tape to create designs on the canvas before spraying with paint-filled water guns, kids can produce unique and colorful art pieces. The process teaches children about color mixing and the joy of creating something beautiful. It’s an excellent way to keep kids cool and engaged during the summer.
- Encourages creativity and self-expression
- Combines physical activity with artistic creation
- Perfect for playdates or summer parties
- Results in vibrant and dynamic artwork
Paper Roll Hyacinth Flowers
I love making paper roll hyacinth flowers because they’re a great way to reuse household items. This craft is perfect for kids during the summer, promoting creativity and sustainability.
Materials Needed
To create these beautiful flowers, you’ll need toilet paper rolls, tissue paper, scissors, glue, and green wire or sticks for the stems. The materials are easily available at home, making it a convenient craft project.
Crafting Colorful Blooms
Kids can cut and fringe the tissue paper to create delicate petals. They can then assemble the flowers by attaching the petals to the paper rolls. This activity helps develop fine motor skills and encourages creativity with color combinations. The finished flowers can be displayed in a vase or used as decorations for a child’s bedroom. 
| Material | Usage |
|---|---|
| Toilet Paper Rolls | Base of the flower |
| Tissue Paper | Petals |
| Green Wire/Sticks | Stem |
Glitter Seashell Picture Frame
Create a beautiful, beach-themed picture frame with your kids using seashells and glitter. This fun and easy craft is perfect for preserving summer memories.
Materials Needed
To make this glitter seashell picture frame, you’ll need a few simple materials: a plain wooden frame, seashells, glitter, Mod Podge, and a favorite summer photo. These materials are easily available at craft stores or at home.
Preserving Summer Memories
This craft allows kids to display their favorite summer photo in a unique and personalized frame. By arranging seashells in different patterns and adding glitter, children can create a one-of-a-kind piece that captures the essence of their summer adventures. The process teaches patience and precision, making it a valuable learning experience. The finished frame serves as a beautiful reminder of summer fun and makes a wonderful gift or keepsake.
Pop Bottle Firefly
Transform plastic bottles into mesmerizing fireflies that light up the night, a perfect summer craft for kids. This creative project brings together art and science, teaching children about bioluminescence while encouraging creativity.
Materials Needed
To create your glowing firefly, you will need a few simple materials: water bottles, tissue paper, glow sticks, pipe cleaners, and googly eyes.
Creating Glowing Summer Magic
Start by decorating the water bottle with tissue paper to give it a colorful appearance. Then, insert a glow stick to create the glowing effect. Use pipe cleaners to create antennae and legs, and add googly eyes to bring your firefly to life. This craft is not only fun but also educational, making it a great activity for summer evenings.
| Material | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Water Bottles | Body of the Firefly |
| Tissue Paper | Colorful Decoration |
| Glow Sticks | Glowing Effect |
| Pipe Cleaners | Antennae and Legs |
| Googly Eyes | Facial Features |
Hang your fireflies in a dark room or outside to create a magical atmosphere. This activity is perfect for summer birthday parties or campouts, providing a fun and educational experience for kids.
Handprint Fish
I love making handprint fish with my kids during the summer. This fun preschool art activity is perfect for younger children, as it allows them to create personalized art using their own hands as templates.
Materials Needed
To create handprint fish, you’ll need colored paper, scissors, googly eyes, scales, and fins. These materials are easily available at home or can be purchased at a craft store.
Swimming into Creative Fun
Kids can decorate their handprints with various craft supplies to create cute fish. This activity not only encourages artistic expression but also teaches children about the basic anatomy of fish. You can display the handprint fish together as a family “school” of fish.
| Age Group | Craft Complexity | Learning Aspect |
|---|---|---|
| Preschoolers | Simple | Basic fish anatomy |
| Older Kids | Moderate | Detailed craft elements |
Garden Suncatcher
One of my favorite summer activities is creating garden suncatchers with kids, using natural materials found on walks. This craft project is not only fun but also encourages children to explore and appreciate nature. By collecting various items like flower petals, leaves, and twigs, kids can create beautiful, colorful designs.
Materials Needed
To make a garden suncatcher, you’ll need a few simple materials: mason jar lids, contact paper, and natural materials like flower petals and leaves. These are easy to find and make the project accessible for kids of various ages.
Capturing Nature’s Beauty
The process of creating a garden suncatcher is just as enjoyable as the finished product. Kids love arranging their nature findings between sheets of contact paper to create colorful, translucent designs. Here are some benefits of this activity:
- Encourages nature exploration and appreciation
- Develops creativity and fine motor skills
- Teaches children about composition and design
- Creates a beautiful, functional piece of garden decor
By making a garden suncatcher, kids can enjoy thesummerweather while engaging in a creative activity. It’s a great way to slow down and appreciate the small natural treasures that surround us.
Popsicle Stick Boats
I’ve found that creating popsicle stick boats is a great summer activity that promotes imaginative play. This craft is an excellent way to keep kids engaged during the summer months.
Materials Needed
To make these delightful boats, you’ll need popsicle sticks, glue, construction paper, scissors, and a toothpick. These craft materials are easily available at home.
Setting Sail on Summer Adventures
To create your boat, glue the popsicle sticks together, forming a boat shape. Cut a small triangle from construction paper for the sail and attach it to the toothpick to create the mast. Kids can then decorate their boats and float them in a basin of water for extra fun.
Watermelon Paper Plate Fans
One of the simplest and most enjoyable summer crafts for kids is creating Watermelon Paper Plate Fans. This fun project is not only a great way to keep kids engaged but also provides them with a functional tool to stay cool during the hot summer days.
Materials Needed
To make these refreshing fans, you’ll need paper plates, paint, craft sticks, and glue. These materials are easily available at home or can be purchased at a craft store.
Staying Cool with Crafty Creations
The process of creating these watermelon fans is both fun and educational. Kids can paint the paper plates to resemble watermelon slices, adding black “seeds” for a realistic touch. Once dry, attaching a craft stick handle completes the fan. These fans are perfect for summer picnics, pool parties, or backyard barbecues. They teach children about the iconic summer fruit while providing a tool to beat the heat. The finished fans can also serve as adorable photo props or party favors.
Tissue Paper Butterflies
I find that making tissue paper butterflies is one of the most enjoyable summer activities for kids. This craft is not only fun but also educational, teaching children about symmetry and color diffusion.
Materials Needed
To make tissue paper butterflies, you will need coffee filters, markers, a spray bottle with water, and pipe cleaners. These simple materials are easily available at home.
Fluttering into Summer Fun
The process of creating these butterflies is fascinating for kids. They fold a coffee filter in half, color it with markers, and then lightly spray it with water to blend the colors. Once dry, they use a pipe cleaner to create the butterfly’s body and antennae. The result is a delicate, colorful butterfly that can be hung from ceilings or windows, creating a beautiful indoor garden atmosphere.
- The craft combines science with art, making it a creative experiment.
- Tissue paper butterflies make beautiful decorations for summer parties or children’s bedrooms.
- This project allows for endless creativity with colors and patterns.
Conclusion
I hope these 14 easy summer crafts for kids have sparked a sense of adventure and creativity in you and your little ones. These fun and engaging activities are perfect for keeping your kids entertained while fostering their imagination. By embracing these easy summer crafts, you’re not only creating memories but also providing a wonderful alternative to screen time.
Summer is a great time for unstructured creative exploration, and these projects offer just enough guidance while allowing for personal expression. Feel free to adapt these crafts to suit your child’s interests or the materials you have available. Here’s to a summer filled with creativity, laughter, and colorful crafts that your kids will remember for years to come.