Fill your kids’ summer with fun activities and crafts to defeat boredom in the best way.
Let them explore their creative side, develop fine motor skills, and also learn a thing or two about STEM through these summer crafts for kids.
Most of these crafts are good educational tools and can be created with just a few items you have lying around the house. It’s really cool what some of these crafters have come up with because these are some mind bogglingly ideas.
So if you’re looking to keep your little ones busy and away from the screens, here are 50+ of the best summer crafts for kids.
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1. Paper Loop Pufferfish Craft
Adorable and easy, kids will absolutely love making this cute paper loop pufferfish craft, which is a great for little ones who’ve gotten the hang of scissors.
2. Handprint Flamingo Card Craft
Receiving a handmade card is the best. In addition, this vibrant flamingo card is personalized with your child’s handprint for a very sweet surprise.
3. Popsicle Stick Bird Feeder
Combine design with biology for a fun and interactive popsicle stick feeder craft idea that’ll entertain the kids all summer. They’ll love checking their DIY birdfeeder throughout the day and they can learn about the different birds that come to feed.
4. Paper Plate Dinosaurs
If you only have 30 minutes for craft time, fit in these easy paper plate dinosaurs. With many of the supplies already in your home, there’s no need to run to the store to pick anything else up. Let crafting begin!
5. Suncatcher Jellyfish Craft
These jellyfish suncatchers are beautiful little projects that’ll look great hung before a window. The array of tissue paper can be customized through color and arrangement for a personalized touch.
6. Coffee Filter Butterflies
Nothing gets easier than these coffee filter butterflies. They have a lovely tie dye effects that’s so cool to watch as the colors merge into one another. Use scented markers for a fun sensory experience!
7. Jellyfish Salt Painting
Never salt painted before? Here’s how!
First, you’ll want to squeeze your glue into the design you want. Then, grab your salt and shake it onto the paper, remove the excess. Finally, you’ll want to grab watercolor paints or food coloring and paint the salt. The colors should spread and give off a tie dye effect.
Super easy and shows you can use almost any medium for art!
8. Pool Noodle Planes
Who knew pool noodles could fly?
With a few minor modifications, they really can!
9. Paper Plate Unicorns
Unicorn lovers are going to adore this whimsical, sparkly paper plate unicorn.
10. Straw Weaving Bracelet
Most girls and boys love making their own wearables so this is a great craft they can make with just some straws, yarn, and tape.
While this summer kids’ craft may be on the more experienced side, it can still be fun with smaller children with a little help.
11. Caterpillar Craft
How cute are these hungry caterpillars? Rainbow caterpillars would be beautiful!
To create a learning experience, have them look up their favorite caterpillars and emulate the colors. Let them jot down both the common and scientific names on their caterpillar’s leaf.
12. Pineapple Finger Painting
If you don’t mind your little ones getting a little messy or in fact promote it, have them dip into their artistic element with this tropical pineapple finger painting activity.
13. Handprint Ice Cream Cone Craft
Here’s another handprint craft that’s quick and fun.
Smaller kids may need help cutting out their handprint and cones but once that’s done they’re free to decorate!
14. Coffee Filter Monsters
Similar to the above coffee filter craft, these coffee filter monsters are decorated, wet, then left to dry overnight or in the oven.
What I love about these monsters is their frills actually dance when you move them around. Very cool.
15. DIY Wind Chimes for Kids
Keep kids busy this summer with a DIY wind chime. They’ll learn how to bead and set up a beautiful windchime in the backyard.
16. Chalk Art Troll Hair
Sometimes it rains in summer and when it does the kids can explore chalk indoors by drawing chalk hair for a paper plate troll.
17. Thumbprint Dandelion with Free Printable
Print out this printable, open up some paint, and have the kids paint a thumbprint dandelion that doubles as frameable art for your home!
18. Torn Watermelon Craft
Have your kids make this summer-y watermelon torn paper art that’s perfect for younger tots.
19. Tree Nature Craft for Kids
During a walk, encourage your kids to pick up leaves and small flowers that they like.
Have them take it home where they can shape it into a tree for a nature activity.
20. Egg Carton Flowers
Transform leftover egg cartons into adorable flowers that are easily giftable or propped in a vase.
Add glitter, stickers, and whatever you can get your hands on to personalize these eco-friendly beauts.
21. Kaleidoscope Kids Craft
SAMSUNG CSC
You know those cool kaleidoscopes you’ve alway loved to explore as a kid?
How awesome would it be to teach your kids how to make one themselves?!
Grab a paper towel tube, card stock paper, thin plastic, translucent beads, cardboard, aluminum foil, a marker, and a glue gun to recreate this childhood favorite sensory toy.
This craft is seriously fun even for younger kids who might not be able to make it themselves who’ll love peering in and exploring the different shapes and colors inside.
22. Fingerprint Art Glass Magnets
There’s nothing cuter than displaying your little one’s works of art and with this craft idea, their art serves a functional purpose too!
23. Watermelon Painted Rocks
Rock painting is a fun way to allow kids to get messy and express their artistic side.
Afterwards, they can hide the rocks for others to find and can even go do some supervised rock hunting.
Related: 33 Kind and Positive Painted Rock Ideas
24. Toilet Roll Stamp Flowers
Toilet papers should get a reward because these little guys are so versatile.
If you have little ones in the home, definitely save them up for craft time!
For this summer toilet paper roll craft, simply snip the ends of the roll down – you may want to do this part for younger children – then have them dunk the ends into paint and onto paper. Almost like a stamping mechanism.
25. Styrofoam Bowl Turtles
For a quick and easy craft, check out these stunning styrofoam turtles.
Just paint the styrofoam bowls then attach the head, legs, and eyes.
26. Summer Water Gun Painting
Make squirt guns productive with just a bit of paint.
This is a project where you just can’t go wrong.
Related: 50 Free Monogram Initial Wall Art Printables
27. Cardboard Tube Rainbow Blowers
Summer was made for rainbows.
This rainbow blower is great for days lacking in post-rain sunshine and it’s not just a craft, it’s a fun little activity for your kids that they can pick up to hack boredom anytime of the day.
28. Paper Bag Mermaid Puppet
I don’t know about you but I was obsessed with mermaids as a girl and these mermaid puppets would’ve done it for me.
Complete with long hair and glitter, this craft is a tough one for any little girl or boy to pass up.
Afterwards you can even read them their favorite mermaid book and use the puppet as a cute prop.
29. Q-Tip Painted Dragonfly Craft
Like the above dandelion q-tip project, this craft also uses q-tips to paint and create art.
A free printable dragonfly template is included to aid in the creative process.
30. Grow a Rainbow Experiment
While not necessarily a craft, this grow a rainbow experiment can be made into one once the paper dries because you’ll have a beautiful rainbow paper to work on.
Crayola markers, water, and 2 jars are all that’s needed to do this fun experiment.
31. Pipe Cleaner Finger Puppets
Super low mess and a lot of residual fun, these pipe cleaner finger puppets will be fun for kids of all ages.
Encourage them to tell stories or read books with their puppets to develop language skills that’ll last a lifetime.
32. DIY Dream Catchers
More intricate than the other crafts listed, this DIY dream catcher is not particularly hard but it does take a bit of time and patience.
However, in the end you wind up with a really cute dream catcher perfect for hanging over their bed to catch bad dreams.
33. Paper Plate Monster Craft
Monster fanatics can now make this easy peasy paper craft monster in mere minutes.
34. Popsicle Fine Motor Craft
Have your little ones practice their fine motor skills with this fun and bright popsicle stick tissue paper craft.
35. Toilet Paper Roll Car Craft
Boys and girls alike will adore these cars made from toilet paper rolls and will spend all day playing with them, putting new characters in, and racing about.
36. Melted Crayon Turtle Suncatcher
Melt crayons for a wild watercolor style for each one of your suncatcher turtles.
37. Noodle Sunflower Craft
Make these summer-y sunflower craft that’s suitable for most ages as its easy and relatively mess-free.
38. Watermelon Paper Fan
Super easy and fun, kids will use their fine motor skills to paint a watermelon onto a paper plate then attach it to a popsicle stick to make a summer fan perfect for beating the summer heat.
39. Popsicle Stick Sunflower
If you’re windowsill is looking a bit bare, consider crafting this lovely sunflower pot with your kids (a great idea if you have not much of a green thumb).
40. Paper Plate Sunflower
Make this scrap paper plate sunflower to brighten up any kid’s room!
41. Wooden Spoon Mermaid Puppets
Want an adorable summer craft on a budget?
These wooden spoon mermaid puppets are it.
No wooden spoons? Opt for a painted plastic one for an easy swap.
42. Fork Print Sunflower Craft
There are so many possibilities when you paint with common household items and in this example a fork!
43. Recycled Plastic Flowers
Let your kids think outside of the box when it comes to reusing, reducing, and recycling with these colorful plastic flowers that are so fun to make.
While the baking section should be left to the grown-ups, have them paint and set up their new “flowers” anyway they like, framed, potted, or as a card for grandma.
44. Fingerprint Bug Jar Printable
How smart are these cute little critters made with fingerprints?
This easy summer activity will grow your little one’s imagination as they uncover how to turn their prints into a brilliant bug collection.
45. Paper Plate Taco
Does your kids love tacos?
Well, really who doesn’t?
These paper plate tacos make a great craft for a taco Tuesday and you can even have real tacos for lunch!
46. Chalk Baby Bird Craft
Black paper, chalk, and a few other supplies are all you need to bring this chalk art bird to life.
47. Popsicle Stick Shark
For kids who are shark fanatics, try making this fun popsicle shark craft with them.
You can even make different colors and varieties for each of their favorite species!
48. Shrink Film Keychains
Shrink film is such a cool way to make keepsake keychains, pendants, earrings, and more.
Simply draw and decorate the precut shrink film, punch a hole for the keychain, then bake at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 2-3 minutes.
If your kids have never tried shrink film crafting, let them discover it today as they’re sure to enjoy it!
49. Watermelon Suncatchers
Minimal supplies and a stunning decor idea, these watermelon suncatchers make great summer crafts for kids of all ages.
50. Glue and Glass Bead Suncatchers
For this glue and glass bead suncatcher, you’ll need a plastic lid, glass gems, clear glue, and twine – most of which you can find in home (and even in vases!).
51. Watercolor Snowy Mountain Scene Craft
Have your kids make this scenic watercolor craft you can admire all season long because while the heat may not be your best friend, this craft is the perfect reminder that cooler days are coming!
52. Swimming Jellyfish Craft
How cool is this swimming jellyfish craft?
My kid adores things that he can move and maneuver so this would be perfect to share with him.
53. Sun Catchers with Coloring Pages
Convert their beautiful coloring pages to workable art pieces you can display!
54. Paper Plate Boat Craft
Mixed media has always been a favorite in my family to craft with because it teaches the creative process and how different items can lend different textures and feel to a piece.
I’m getting ahead of myself here, but seriously isn’t this paper boat craft awesome? It’s something I would totally keep around to display in the home.
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