You know that look. The one your kid gives you when the words “I’m bored” have already escaped their lips for the tenth time this morning. The sun is shining, but their imagination is stuck in neutral. Don’t panic! I’ve been there, and the secret weapon isn’t another screen—it’s a simple craft box. We’ve rounded up 29 of the best, most engaging summer crafts for kids that are light on prep and heavy on fun. From backyard masterpieces to rainy-day rescues, this list has your entire vacation covered.
1. Ice Cream Cone Pinatas
Who says piñatas are just for birthdays? These mini, smashable ice cream cones are the perfect sweet treat without the sugar crash. Use small paper cups and colorful tissue paper to create your favorite “flavors.” The best part? You get to fill them with tiny treasures, stickers, or even confetti. Let the kids have a mini fiesta in the backyard—it’s a guaranteed hit!
2. Nature Suncatchers
Turn a simple walk into a treasure hunt. Send the kids out to collect flower petals, interesting leaves, and tiny blades of grass. All you need is clear contact paper and a paper plate frame. Arrange the natural findings on the sticky paper, seal it up, and hang it in a sunny window. Watching the light shine through their nature collage never gets old.
3. DIY Sidewalk Chalk Paint
Upgrade the classic sidewalk chalk game with vibrant, washable paint. Mix one part cornstarch with one part water and add food coloring. That’s it! Pour it into muffin tins or squeeze bottles for easier application. This stuff glides on like a dream and washes away with the next rain. Your driveway is about to become a temporary art gallery.
4. Ocean in a Bottle
Capture the magic of the sea, even if you’re miles from the coast. Grab a clear plastic bottle, fill it halfway with water, add blue food coloring and glitter. Top it off with baby oil or clear cooking oil. Glue the lid on tight, let the kids shake it up, and watch the mesmerizing “waves” settle. It’s a calming sensory craft they’ll love to play with.
5. Painted Rock Pets
Those smooth stones in your garden? They’re about to get personalities. Wash and dry some rocks, then let the kids go wild with acrylic paints or sharpies. Googly eyes are non-negotiable for maximum cuteness. Create a whole rock pet family, give them names, and build them a little cardboard house. They make great paperweights, too!
6. Cardboard Box Forts
That giant Amazon delivery box is your new best friend. Don’t recycle it yet! Arm the kids with markers, paint, and safety scissors. Help them cut out windows and a door. Let them decorate the outside to look like a castle, spaceship, or secret clubhouse. This craft doubles as hours of imaginative play. Talk about a win-win.
7. Bubble Wrap Printing
Pop pop pop… and paint! Save that bubble wrap from packages. Cut it into manageable pieces, tape it bubble-side-out around a rolling pin or cardboard tube. Let the kids dip it in washable paint and roll it across paper. The textured prints are so cool and satisfying. It’s a fantastic way to make unique wrapping paper or art for their room.
8. Tie-Dye T-Shirts
This is a summer rite of passage. Grab a tie-dye kit or make your own dye with food coloring and vinegar. The rubber band twisting process feels like a science experiment, and the big reveal after rinsing is pure magic. Pro parent tip: Do this outside and wear gloves. Trust me on this one.
9. Pinecone Critters
Pinecones are nature’s perfect craft supply. With some felt, pipe cleaners, and those googly eyes again, you can transform them into adorable owls, foxes, or fantastical creatures. Use a hot glue gun (parent job!) to attach the features. These make charming decorations for their bedroom shelves or a cute gift for grandparents.
10. Homemade Play Dough
When in doubt, make play dough. The cooked kind lasts for months. Let the kids help measure and stir, then divide the dough and add different food colorings and scents (like peppermint or lavender). It’s a craft and a toy in one. Store it in airtight containers, and you’ve got an instant activity for any afternoon.
11. Paper Plate Loom Weaving
Introduce kids to textiles with a super simple loom. Cut notches around a paper plate and wrap yarn across to create the warp threads. Then, give them different colors of yarn or even strips of old t-shirts to weave over and under. The rhythmic motion is calming, and they end up with a cool, textured wall hanging.
12. Sponge Water Bombs
Ditch the plastic water balloons! Cut colorful kitchen sponges into strips, stack them, and tie them tightly in the middle with string or a rubber band. Fluff them out into a ball. Soak them in a bucket of water and let the epic backyard battles begin. They’re reusable, eco-friendly, and way less messy to clean up.
13. Suncatcher Wind Chimes
Combine two classics for one beautiful project. Use the clear contact paper method from #2 to make several small suncatchers in different shapes. Punch a hole in each and tie them at varying lengths onto a stick or an embroidery hoop. Add some beads for extra sparkle and sound. Hang it where it can catch the breeze and the light.
14. DIY Binoculars
Fuel their inner explorer. Tape two toilet paper rolls together side-by-side. Let them decorate with paint, stickers, or washi tape. Punch a hole on each side and attach a string for a neck strap. Head outside for a “backyard safari” to spot birds, bugs, and hidden treasures. It’s all about the perspective!
15. Magic Milk Art
This one is a science craft that feels like a magic trick. Pour a thin layer of milk in a shallow dish. Add drops of food coloring. Then, dip a cotton swab in dish soap and touch it to the milk. Watch the colors explode and swirl like a psychedelic galaxy! It’s temporary, but the “wow” factor is permanent.
16. Leaf and Flower Pounding
This craft makes a real impression—literally. Place fresh leaves and flowers on a piece of white fabric or heavy watercolor paper. Cover with a paper towel and let the kids gently hammer away with a mallet. The natural pigments transfer onto the surface, creating a beautiful, botanical print. It’s surprisingly therapeutic (and a little noisy).
17. Popsicle Stick Harmonicas
A little music with your craft? Yes, please. Place a wide rubber band lengthwise over two jumbo popsicle sticks. Slide a small piece of paper and a toothpick under the rubber band near one end, then tape the sticks together at both ends. Blow through the gap, and you’ve got a humble harmonica! Prepare for a symphony.
18. Salt Dough Sculptures
The classic salt dough recipe (flour, salt, water) is a sculptor’s dream. Let the kids shape it into ornaments, pendants, or miniature animals. Bake at a low temperature to harden, then paint. These creations last for years. I still have the lumpy heart my niece made me ages ago.
19. Fairy or Gnome Doors
Spark some backyard magic. Find a sturdy stick or piece of bark and paint a tiny door on it. Add a pebble for a knob and some moss for landscaping. Lean it against a tree trunk or at the base of a plant. Suddenly, your garden is home to mythical creatures. Watch the kids leave tiny “gifts” for their new neighbors.
20. Marbled Paper with Shaving Cream
This is the messiest, most satisfying craft ever. Spray a layer of shaving cream on a tray and smooth it out. Drop liquid watercolors or food coloring on top, then swirl with a stick. Press paper onto the surface, scrape off the cream, and reveal stunning marbled patterns. It’s perfect for making cards or book covers.
21. Egg Carton Caterpillars
Upcycle with purpose! Cut an egg carton lengthwise into a strip of cups. Let the kids paint it in bright colors. Add pipe cleaner antennae and draw on a cute face. You can even poke a small hole and tie a string to pull it along. It’s a quintessential childhood craft for a reason.
22. DIY Kites from Grocery Bags
You likely have everything you need. Decorate a plastic grocery bag with markers. Tape two straws in a cross shape to the bag’s opening for structure. Attach a long string for a tail and a longer string to fly it. Head to an open field on a breezy day. The pride they feel flying a kite they made themselves is unbeatable.
23. Citrus Stamp Art
Got a lemon or orange that’s past its prime? Cut it in half, let it dry a bit, and you have a natural stamp. Dip the flat side in paint and press onto paper. The textured, circular prints are gorgeous. Experiment with different citrus and colors to create a fruity masterpiece.
24. Frozen Treasure Dig
This is more of an activity-craft hybrid, but it’s genius for hot days. Freeze small toys, beads, or coins in a large container of water. Give the kids tools like spoons, salt, and spray bottles of warm water to excavate their treasures. It’s a thrilling, cooling challenge that can occupy a whole afternoon.
25. Paper Bag Puppets
Unleash their storytelling skills. Grab lunch-sized paper bags and a bin of random supplies: yarn, buttons, construction paper, markers. What can they create? A monster? A princess? A talking taco? Put on a puppet show for the family after dinner. The sillier, the better.
26. Bird Feeder Pinecones
A craft that gives back to nature. Tie a string around a large pinecone. Help the kids spread peanut butter or shortening all over it, then roll it in birdseed. Hang it from a tree branch and watch your feathered friends enjoy a snack. It’s a lovely way to teach kids about local wildlife.
27. CD Case Suncatchers
Dig out those old AOL CDs you’ll never use again. Remove the paper insert, and you have a perfect clear frame. Let the kids create a small drawing or collage that fits inside, or fill the case with beads and sequins before snapping it shut. Hang it up, and the sun will make it sparkle like a disco ball.
28. DIY Bouncy Balls
Yes, you can make your own! The classic recipe uses borax, glue, and cornstarch. It involves a bit of mixing and kneading until a polymer forms. The process is a fantastic science lesson, and the payoff is a custom-colored bouncy ball. Just keep them away from hard surfaces indoors. 😉
29. Memory Jar Collage
End the summer on a reflective note. Decorate a large mason jar with ribbons and paint. Throughout the vacation, have the kids write down or draw their favorite moments on small slips of paper and pop them in. On the last day, empty it out and glue the memories onto a poster board to create a colorful collage of their perfect summer.
And there you have it—29 ways to turn “I’m bored” into “Look what I made!” The real magic of these summer crafts for kids isn’t just in the final product (though those are pretty great). It’s in the focused time, the messy hands, and the proud smiles. You don’t need fancy supplies or a perfect Pinterest outcome. You just need a little inspiration and the willingness to get creative alongside them. So pick a craft, embrace the potential mess, and make this summer one they’ll remember, one glued-on googly eye at a time. Happy crafting!