5 Summer Crafts for Kids

As we round out summer, it can feel a bit more difficult to think of creative ideas to keep our kiddos playing creatively! I think it’s so important that we don’t over complicate this, keep it simple and fun with summer crafts for kids easy! You can use what you have on hand, and still make an activity that encourages imaginative play with summer crafts for kids art & craft paint!

Summer crafts for kids at home:

1. Painted Pasta Beads/ Necklaces:

This is super sweet, and more than likely something that you have on hand! Grab your favorite pasta shapes that have holes in them — like penne, pinwheels, rigatoni, etc. Put craft paint out for your kids and encourage them to paint each piece of pasta. They can go with a specific color scheme, or be as creative as they’d like to! Next, string them onto some yarn and tie into a knot! This could totally lead into dress up time, with their new creations!

2. Egg Carton Mermaids:

How adorable are these?! Grab an egg carton (I LOVE repurposing and reusing everyday items!) Depending on your child’s age, you could cut these out for your kids, or supervise them as they cut themselves. Be sure to cut the rounded portions that hold the eggs in. Stack them together and glue with hot glue (grown up task), or make a hole in the center through each one, and tie together with yarn. Next, glue or staple the upper body and fin of your mermaid cut from craft paper. Here is where the really fun part begins! Paint, or use your favorite art supplies to decorate and color your own mermaid! Click over for more details on how to make your own egg carton mermaids!

3. Magic Wands:

My girls went crazy for these, and I think they are darling and whimsical! Grab popsicle sticks, mini gems, tinsel, glitter paper. Cut stars out from the glitter paper. Add tinsel to the back. Paint popsicle sticks and let them dry. Glue sparkly stars to the popsicle stick. Next add things like ribbon, glitter glue, and gems to the sticks. So sweet!

4. Sidewalk Chalk:

Check out our recent post with sidewalk chalk ideas! If you give your child a few prompts, it may actually help to encourage them to be even more creative! Like draw out your favorite place, make your imaginary dream bedroom, draw an under the sea scene or safari scene etc. Or you could help to make a game board, hopscotch or other activities that they can play with their friends or siblings on! Click over for more colorful sidewalk chalk ideas!

5. Assembling a Summer Survival Kit:

The summer survival kit that we shared has lots of ideas! We like to keep ours right by the door. Include sunscreen, sun hats, flip flops, sunglasses, water squirters, sidewalk, chalk, and any fun outdoor activities. When our kids involve themselves in the process, they are more likely to gain independence and confidence in choosing how to spend their summer time!

Each of these are perfect for summer crafts for toddler, summer crafts for kids preschool or summer crafts for kids elementary with varying levels of supervision, you may even find that your older kids want to play along with summer crafts for kids teens!

Summer is our favorite time of year as a family, because at my heart I love to have all of us together under one roof! Creative play together is good for the soul! Click for more summer survival kit ideas!