Summer break is every child's dream school's out, the sun is shining, and the days stretch endlessly with possibility. But after the initial excitement wears off, boredom often creeps in. That’s where fun summer crafts come to the rescue. With a little creativity and a few basic supplies, you can transform long, hot afternoons into engaging adventures filled with art, nature, and imagination.
Nature-Inspired Art: Crafting With Found Treasures
Warm weather makes summer the perfect time to head outdoors and gather natural materials that spark creativity. Encourage children to explore their surroundings and collect items like seed pods, grasses, pinecones, feathers, or even small twigs. These found treasures can become the foundation for a wonderful nature collage.
Help kids glue their discoveries onto a sturdy piece of cardboard to create a "nature board." For added flair, spray some of the items with shimmering silver or gold paint, or let kids coat pieces with glue and sprinkle on glitter. For an added educational twist, children can try identifying their natural finds with the help of a guidebook or app, turning a simple craft into a science lesson.
Creating Dried Flower Arrangements
Another great nature-based activity is crafting with wildflowers. Kids can gather blooming flowers and let them dry, creating lovely, long-lasting floral arrangements. These can be displayed in handmade vases and used as décor throughout the home.
DIY Tin Can Vases: A Creative Upcycling Project
Speaking of vases, repurposing household items can be both eco-friendly and fun. One of the easiest and most rewarding crafts involves transforming empty soup cans into beautiful containers. Make sure to check for and file down any sharp edges on the can before beginning.
Let kids cut a strip of construction or colored paper to wrap around the can. Before gluing it on, this paper becomes their canvas. They can draw vibrant summer scenes like sunny beaches, butterflies, or backyard fun and enhance their artwork with glitter, sequins, or summer-themed stickers. For a personal touch, kids can write their names in bold letters and decorate them using beans, lentils, seeds, or colorful beads. Once all decorations are dry, attach the paper to the can using glue.
These personalized vases are perfect for displaying fresh flowers, dried bouquets, or even organizing school supplies like pencils, crayons, and markers. If your kids enjoy working with natural materials, they can take it a step further and glue on grass seed heads or decorative seed pods for a more organic look.
Transforming Old Jars Into Beautiful Summer Décor
Don’t toss those empty pickle, mayonnaise, or pasta sauce jars give them a second life as charming vases or storage containers. Canning jars are especially ideal, but any clean jar will do. Start by letting the kids wash the jars thoroughly. Turning this chore into a splashy, hands-on water play activity makes it even more fun bonus points for doing it outside in swimsuits!
Once the jars are clean and dry, tie a colorful ribbon or twine around the neck of the jar. Kids can decorate the outside with glued-on buttons, beads, shells, or stickers. Whether used as a flower vase, a holder for art supplies, or even as a jar of homemade potpourri, these upcycled crafts bring a cheerful, handmade touch to any room.
Why Summer Crafts Matter
Aside from being fun, summer crafts offer a surprising number of benefits. They stimulate creativity, encourage independent thinking, and help develop fine motor skills. Plus, they give children a chance to express themselves, experiment with colors and textures, and take pride in something they've made themselves.
Most importantly, crafting can bring the family together. Whether you’re indoors escaping the midday heat or sitting outside in the shade, these projects create valuable moments of connection and reduce the dreaded “I’m bored” complaints.
Make This Summer a Season of Creativity
So instead of letting screens dominate your child’s summer, pull out the glue sticks, gather some household items, and dive into creative play. From upcycled tin cans and colorful jar vases to natural art with found objects, these summer crafts for kids are simple, budget-friendly, and bursting with imagination.
This season, make creativity part of your child’s summer routine. You’ll be amazed at what their little hands and big imaginations can accomplish.
