I decided to compile an inspirational list of ideas that you and your family can do this Summer in your very own backyard! Choosing only ten fun summer crafts kids will love turned out to be harder than I expected. I narrowed it down going with affordable DIY-projects and crafts that any family could take on in their own backyards without spending an arm and a leg! What really matters the most is getting a chance to spend time with those you love. So, have fun this summer, soak up some sun, get your bodies moving and check out these awesome ideas for cute summer crafts with your family! From summer crafts for preschoolers to summer crafts for older kids, we have you covered.
This post was originally published April 29, 2014. I have made a few updates and republished it here for my new readers to enjoy.
10 Best Summer Crafts For Kids
These summer craft ideas are great for keeping kids of all ages busy during the summer while also making some unique and personalized creations. Crafting over summer break allows children to express their creativity and imagination freely. It is also a great way for young children to work on motor skills development. Many crafts involve cutting, gluing, and other fine motor activities that help improve hand-eye coordination and dexterity. Furthermore, craft projects can teach kids about colors, shapes, and even science. Of the creative summer crafts below contains a link to the original blog with the full step-by-step instructions.
The Classic Lemonade Stand / Bake Sale:
A classic summer time activity for every generation. Not only will a lemonade stand or a bake sale flex the entrepreneur side of your children, but it’s a great activity to boost their confidence, feel a sense of accomplishment and learn a little bit about business. Lil’ Luna made her own crafty Lemonade Stand you can imitate using her wonderful tutorial! I love the idea of keeping it for pretend play-time with friends or future lemonade stands!
Make Your Own Slime:
What kid doesn’t like to get their hands on some slime?? Especially one they can make and play with! Over at RunLucasRun she shares the batch she made and how much fun they had with it! This is a fun activity to keep them learning and laughing over summer holiday.
Make Glow Jars
Anther of my favorite summer crafts kids will love is pinterest sensation and a great DIY-project to do with your kids- Glow Jars! I can’t wait to make these this summer. After all, it isn’t very nice to trap fireflies in a jar and shake them till they shine for you, but there is something about glowing lights in a mason jar that is breathtaking! Over at One Little Project, they show a great alternative to creating the glowing mason jar without any harm to fireflies.
Experiment With Friendship Bracelets
Here is a timeless, fun summer activity. Even I still pull out my embroidery thread and occasionally make my own friendship bracelets-so why not make it a perfect activity for your kids this summer? They can do it with friends or even on their own! Sarah Maker has a wonderful tutorial for beginners. This fun craft is great for developing fine motor skills in older kids.
Try Bubble Painting
I had never heard of Bubble Painting until I saw it make an appearance on Pinterest and I have to say, the end result is absolutely adorable. I would have loved to do this as a kid! It’s definitely going to be an activity I try with my 6-year-old niece this year. It is a perfect way to keep little hands engaged in a fun colors craft. I think you will really enjoy this bubble print monster mask summer activity.
Host Backyard Olympics
Hosting the Olympics in your backyard will be something you’re family will talk about for years to come! It might even turn into a family tradition! What’s great about this is you get to decide what type of games you want to challenge your kiddos with! Anything from Duck-Duck Goose to Bean-Bag Toss. You don’t even have to go with the sport-themed approach! Just get outside and get your kiddos bodies moving! If you need an example of some game ideas head on over to RainyDayMum for inspiration. She has lots of cute preschool summer crafts ideas.
Sponge Balls Craft
A fantastic alternative to a water balloon fight is to make Sponge Ball Water Bombs! You don’t have to deal with the mess afterward, they’re reusable (Mother Nature thanks you!), and they promise not to disappoint. It is a great DIY craft project with a step-by-step tutorial using only a few household items. Here’s how To Make Sponge Balls for water play this summer!
Sponge Bulls-Eye Summer Fun
Don’t put away those sponges yet! Get out some sidewalk chalk and you can use them for a great bull’s eye game the entire family can join in on. MamasLikeMe shows us what to use, the rules of the game, and how to play this great summer activity that costs almost nothing!
The Traditional Water Balloon Fight Summer Activity
If it isn’t broke, why fix it? Go back to your roots and fill up the water balloons for an ultimate Water Balloon Fight this summer! On those hot summer days, you’ll want to escape the heat, so why not get soaked? Over at The Celebration Shoppe they show us how much fun a water balloon fight can be! You can craft a balloon basket and you can even craft targets.
Get Groovy & Tie-Dye
One of my favorite activities growing up was experimenting with white shirts and tie-dye! Tie dying gets your creative muscles going! Plus, you’re always guaranteed to have a one-of-kind pattern! Over at Parents they show you what’ll you need, how to achieve certain patterns like the bullseye, and the step-by-step process!
Conclusion
Summer crafts are a fantastic way to engage in creative activities that offer numerous benefits. Completing DIY projects gives children a sense of achievement and boosts their confidence. Additionally, crafting together is a great way to spend quality time as a family, strengthening bonds and creating memories. Engaging in creative activities can be a relaxing and stress-relieving pastime and it is always good for kids and adults to develop healthy outlets of this nature.
I hope you found a new idea that strikes your fancy! There is a great craft children of all ages. Personally, I can’t wait to try the Bubble Painting with my niece! She loves to paint and she loves blowing bubbles, so I can imagine the joy and surprise when I combine the two for fun-filled summer activity! Out of these ten summer crafts kids will love, which are you dying to try? Do you have special summer craft for kids that you do with your family every summer? Share in the comments below.
Bonus summer crafts:
Pineapple Craft For Little Kids
Bash B says
Engaging in summer crafts is a fun and rewarding way to spend your time, offering both creative fulfillment and practical benefits. Thanks for the summer activities list. Also craft a course for toddler olympics sounds fun!
Stephanie says
Great summer crafts for kids! I love how these summer crafts offer so many creative ideas for kids of all ages. From tissue paper projects to colorful paper crafts, there’s truly a creative activity for everyone—even older children who want something a little more involved. These summer arts projects are such a creative way to keep kids engaged during summer activities, and I appreciate how they incorporate different colors to spark imagination and joy!
Bucktown Grading says
Oh wow, Heidi—this post is like Pinterest, but without the pressure to pretend my kid’s popsicle stick birdhouse didn’t turn out looking like a post-apocalyptic shack. Love how you kept things budget-friendly *and* backyard-bound— two words that speak directly to my “I’m not leaving the house with glitter again” soul.