Summer break is coming and I am trying to come up with a plan of action. Even though we like to be more relaxed during the summer, routine and organized activities are a must. It helps the kids not to get overwhelmed. One of my plans for a fun summer is to help the kids to unleash their creativity. What better way to do that than with some fun and easy crafts? Over the summer we will introduce crafty Thursdays, and every week we will try different projects. Here are some of our favorite crafts and DIY projects that will keep your little ones entertained and engaged.
1. Painted Rocks
One of our go-to crafts is rock painting. I personally love it as the process of creating art on such a small canvas calms my mind forcing me to forget everything else. It is part of my self-care process. We collect smooth stones from the garden or park and then let the kids’ imaginations run wild with acrylic paints. Whether they paint ladybugs, rainbows, or abstract designs, each rock becomes a little work of art. These also make great garden decorations and gifts for friends and family. We also love hiding them around the forest, hoping it will bring a smile to the face of the person who finds them.
2. Homemade Wind Chimes
Creating wind chimes is a fantastic way to combine crafting with a bit of music. We use items like shells, beads, pipes, and old keys or even the pieces of the old CDs. You can be as creative as you want. Pro tip, if you use cotton balls you can create a quiet wind chime that will look adorable without being noisy. String the items you decided to use with a fishing line and attach them to a sturdy stick or a metal hoop. Hang them up and enjoy listening to their gentle tinkling through the summer.
3. Paper Plate Masks
Making paper plate masks is one of those activities that all the kids love to do and it never gets old. You can always create something new. It is one of the activities we always do on the kids’ birthday, and then give the kids the masks they made as part of their party favors. To make them you will need paper plates, markers, feathers, glitter, and other embellishments. For example, Emily likes to combine ice cream sticks and feathers to make a lion mask. They can create animal faces, superheroes, or whatever their hearts desire. Once the masks are done, it is time for the fashion show!
4. Tie-Dye T-Shirts
This is one of those crafts I am not a fan of because it is soooo messy, but the kids love it. I feel the truth is that the messier the activity, the happier the kids. You can buy plain white shirts to use in this activity, but we usually use the shirts she can’t use anymore. For example, sometimes she gets so dirty in the school that I can’t wash off the stains so we put that shirt on the side to be used when doing crafts. Grab the shirt that is white or in some other light color, rubber bands, and fabric dye, and then let the kids twist and tie the shirts into various patterns. You can even get tie-dye kits that include everything you need for this activity. The results are always colorful and unique, and they love wearing their creations all summer long. Sometimes we even give them the brushes and let the kids paint on the shirts.
5. Nature Collages
Collecting leaves, flowers, and twigs from the yard or a nearby park can be the start of a beautiful nature collage. Using a large piece of cardboard as a base, the kids arrange and glue their finds into patterns or pictures. Sometimes I draw something on cardboard so the kids can complete the picture with what they find. For example, fallen leaves make an amazing hedgehog, dandelion flowers can be a lion’s mane, or when I draw a person they can go crazy and create new fashion masterpieces. It’s a great way to blend creativity with a bit of outdoor exploration. We prefer to leave the place we explore as we find it, so I encourage the kids not to pluck or break anything, especially if there are so many leaves and twigs lying around.
6. Salt Dough Ornaments
This was my favorite craft to do when I was a kid. Salt dough ornaments are a classic craft that will never be anything less than amazing. We even made our Christmas decorations using salt dough last year. We mix up a simple dough with flour, salt, and water, then the kids can shape it into whatever they like—stars, hearts, or even handprints. I make awesome flowers and Emily is a pro in making poo. After baking and cooling, they paint their creations and we hang them up as decorations. ( Not the poo. That goes to her room not to be seen again.)
7. Recycled Bottle Planters
Turning old plastic bottles into planters is both eco-friendly and fun. We cut the bottles in half, decorate them with paint and stickers, and then plant small flowers or herbs. The top part of the bottle is great for creating a makeshift greenhouse that helps the seedlings stay protected and warm while they grow. It’s a lovely way to teach kids about recycling and gardening at the same time. Watching them get excited with every change their little plant goes through will never get boring.
8. String Art
I feel that string art is the most complicated crafts project we plan to do but at the same time, I think it can be incredibly rewarding. If you find a nice pattern, and invest some time together you can create a masterpiece worth of honorable spot on the wall. You will need small wooden boards, nails, and colorful string to create geometric patterns or simple pictures. Just remember, this craft requires some supervision so make sure you are next to the kids when engaging in this activity. An added benefit is that it helps develop their fine motor skills and patience.
9. Homemade Slime
Making homemade slime is on our list, but I will do everything in my power to avoid going through this activity. If you have any idea about the craft we can do instead, please comment below and save me. Do you know how hard is to get the slime out of your kid’s hair? Well, I do. If I don’t manage to escape it, wish me luck. While there are many different recipes for homemade slime, my plan is to try out this nonsticky version but let Emily color it as she wishes.
10. DIY Sun Catchers
Using clear contact paper and tissue paper squares, you can create beautiful sun catchers to hang in the windows. The kids cut out shapes from the tissue paper and arrange them on the sticky side of the contact paper. When the sunlight hits these creations, it’s like having a mini stained glass window. Emily has covered her window completely and it is really nice to see.
Will you try out any of these craft projects? These crafts not only keep the kids busy but also help them develop their creativity and fine motor skills. Plus, they’re a great way to spend some quality time together. So gather your supplies and let the summer crafting begin!