Summer is a great time to do some fun crafts with your kids. There are so many summer crafts for kids that can make your afternoons both enjoyable and educational. With just a few inexpensive ingredients, your kids can make adorable summer finger puppets and felt food!
Whether you’re looking for craft projects for toddlers, preschoolers, or older kids, here are 25 summer craft ideas you can make in just under an hour:
Finger Puppets
- These easy finger cone finger puppets from Aunt Annie’s Crafts can teach your kids about different animals. The best part is the tutorial includes free printable templates.
- Ziploc’s DIY no-sew felt finger puppets are adorable as they are colorful! Just be careful when using scissors and a glue gun for this fun summer craft.
- One Little Project uses pipe cleaners when making some pretty cool rainbow finger puppets.
- These paper mache animal finger puppets from Handmade Charlotte need a few more items than simpler finger puppets, but the end result is absolutely adorable!
- If you have some extra clothespins lying around, these clothespin finger puppets from Easy Peasy Crafts will put them to good use. You can make all kinds of finger puppet bugs with the site’s free templates, such as ladybugs, caterpillars, butterflies, and bees.
Play Food
- Are the kids craving some pasta? Then these felt and paper pasta and spaghetti play food from Hello Wonderful might just fill their creative appetite!
- Your fun summer crafts won’t be complete without making at least one ice cream cone craft! Here’s one from Crafty Morning, which uses puffy paint for the ice cream and cardboard for the ice cream cones.
- If you’re making pretend ice cream, then why not make popsicles, too? This popsicle craft from A Dab of Glue Will Do uses colorful tissue paper and, of course, popsicle sticks.
- For some tutti frutti fun, Mr. Printables has free templates you can download, so you can make 3D paper fruits! The best part is you get to fold pineapples, bananas, strawberries, and other fruits while helping develop your child’s fine motor skills.
- Speaking of fruits, this squishy watermelon craft from Buggy and Buddy is fun to make and play with! The tutorial suggests using memory foam, but sponges can be a cheaper alternative.
Beach Crafts
- One of the best things about summer is that you and your kids can plan a trip to the beach. Aside from just enjoying the waves, you can also do some crafting with these DIY tie-dye t-shirts from Diana Rambles!
- If you want to bring the ocean to your home, this paper plate aquarium craft from Crafts by Amanda is a fun, easy, and affordable way to do so.
- It isn’t complicated to combine tactile sensory play with fun summer activities. This salt dough starfish craft from Little Bins for Little Hands is certainly a great start!
- Want to turn some beach souvenirs into artwork? Check out these melted crayon seashells from Fun at Home With Kids. You can also pick up seashells at the dollar store if you want to preserve the natural beauty of real seashells.
- When your kids can’t get enough of the beach, bring summer to their room with this easy jellyfish paper craft from Making of a Mom.
Outdoor-Themed Crafts
- Going camping in the great outdoors can be a real summer treat. However, if your trip falls through, you can always have fun with this cupcake liner campfire craft from I Heart Crafty Things.
- With some paper, yarn, and sticks, your kids can go kite flying in the summer with these amazing paper kites from Buzzing Bubs!
- If you have leftover sticks and yarn, you can still use them for this popsicle stick mosaic sun craft from Kids Activities Blog.
- You don’t need an expensive bubble wand to make huge bubbles. My Home Based Life has a quick tutorial on how to make one from pipe cleaners.
- Get splashing in the water right after making these awesome pool noodle boats from Our Family of Seven.
Rainbow Crafts
- Watch your kids get a kick out of catching some summer sun with these rainbow heart suncatchers from Fireflies and Mudpies.
- These chunky rainbow butterfly crafts from The Inspiration Edit will definitely put a smile on your kids’ faces!
- Some of the best ideas for art projects don’t need a lot of stuff to make, like this beautiful rainbow in a jar from Flax and Twine. It only uses colored chalk and salt!
- Got a bunch of leftover ribbons? Then brighten up your kids’ room with this rainbow ribbon wall hanging decor from A Beautiful Mess.
- If you only have paper and glue lying around, you can still get creative with this weaving rainbow fish from Crafty Morning!
Have you tried any of these easy summer crafts for kids? Which one was the fastest you made or the easiest one for your kids?