That first glorious “I’m boooored” of summer vacation. You knew it was coming, but it still hits like a ton of bricks. The last thing you want is a summer ruled by screens and complaints, but you also don’t have the bandwidth for a Pinterest-perfect, glitter-bombing project that requires a PhD in crafting. Sound familiar? You’re in the right place. I’ve rounded up 13 summer crafts for kids elementary students can handle with confidence and you can pull off without a last-minute craft store run. Let’s trade that boredom for some good, old-fashioned, memory-making fun.
1. DIY Bubble Wands (Because You Can Never Have Too Many Bubbles!)
Store-bought wands break in two seconds flat. The solution? Make your own! This is one of the easiest summer crafts for kids that leads directly to hours of active play. All you need are some pipe cleaners and beads (the ones with larger holes work best). Let your kids bend and twist the pipe cleaners into all sorts of shapes—hearts, stars, squares, even crazy spirals. They can thread on a few beads for extra flair. The magic? The soap film clings to the pipe cleaner frame just as well as a plastic wand. Pro tip: Use a shallow tray for the bubble solution and mix in a little corn syrup for stronger, giant bubbles.
2. Painted Rock Garden Markers
Got a little garden or some houseplants? Let the kids label them in style! Send them on a mission to find smooth, flat-ish rocks from the backyard or a walk. Wash them, let them dry, and break out the acrylic paints or permanent markers. They can paint the veggie or herb name, or get creative with pictures—a red blob for tomatoes, a purple oval for eggplant. Once dry, a coat of clear sealant (mod podge or outdoor varnish) makes them weatherproof. It’s a craft that’s both cute and functional. Win-win!
3. Coffee Filter Sun Catchers
These are colorful, beautiful, and seriously foolproof. You only need three things: white coffee filters, washable markers, and a spray bottle of water. Have kids color the filters heavily with bright marker designs. Then, let them spritz the filter with water and watch the colors bleed and blend in a magical tie-dye effect. Once dry, you can hang them in a sunny window with a loop of string. The sun shining through the vibrant colors is absolutely stunning. It’s a mini science lesson (chromatography!) disguised as a gorgeous art project.
4. Paper Plate Frisbees
Turn your recycling into backyard fun. Take two paper plates (the cheap, non-coated kind are perfect). Let your child decorate the underside of both plates with crayons, markers, or stickers. Then, staple or glue the plates together, decorated sides facing out. That’s it. Seriously. They’re surprisingly aerodynamic and lightweight, perfect for little arms. Have a frisbee tossing contest or see who can design the coolest plate. It’s active, creative, and uses stuff you already have. Can’t beat that.
5. Nature Collage Frames
Take a walk and turn it into an art supply scavenger hunt. Collect leaves, small twigs, flower petals (fallen ones only, please!), pebbles, and feathers. Grab some cardboard (an old cereal box works) and cut out a frame shape. Cut a photo-sized hole in the middle. Then, let the kids glue their nature treasures all over the frame to create a beautiful, textured border. Once it’s dry, tape a favorite photo to the back or use it as a frame for a new drawing. It’s a wonderful way to preserve a memory of a summer day.
6. Ice Cream Stick Popsicle Puppets
Those popsicles are a summer staple, so why not upcycle the sticks? Wash and save a bunch of them. Kids can turn them into instant puppets with googly eyes, yarn for hair, bits of felt, and markers. Create a family, a cast of monsters, or their favorite animals. Once the glue dries, they can put on a puppet show from behind the couch or a makeshift theater made from a cardboard box. This project fuels both craft time and imaginative play, doubling the entertainment value.
7. Seashell Critters
If you’re lucky enough to hit the beach, you’ll inevitably come home with a pocketful of shells. Give them a second life! With some craft glue, a bunch of shells become the bodies for adorable critters. A clam shell can be a butterfly’s wings. A spiral shell makes a perfect snail’s home. Add small googly eyes and draw on legs or antennae with a fine-tipped marker. They make cute decorations for a bedroom shelf or a thoughtful, handmade gift for grandparents. No beach? Craft stores sell bags of assorted shells for a few dollars.
8. Tin Can Wind Chimes
A classic for a reason. Clean out a few tin cans (soup, veggie, etc.), ensuring there are no sharp edges. Let the kids go to town painting the cans in bright colors. Once dry, an adult can help poke a small hole in the bottom of each can. Thread fishing line or strong string through the holes and tie on a washer or bead inside the can to keep it in place. Tie the cans at different lengths to a stick or an old embroidery hoop. Hang it up and listen to the gentle clinking on a breezy day. It’s a great lesson in upcycling.
9. Sponge Water Bombs
Forget those leaky, rubber water balloons. These are reusable, easy to make, and the perfect cool-down toy. All you need are colorful kitchen sponges. Cut each sponge lengthwise into 4-5 strips. Stack about 10-12 strips together and tightly tie a piece of string or a rubber band around the very center. Fluff out the strips to make a fun, squishy ball. Dunk it in a bucket of water and let the splash battles begin! They’re soft, they hold a ton of water, and you just rinse and reuse. Summer problem, solved.
10. Egg Carton Caterpillars
This one is a throwback for a reason—it’s cheap, cute, and kids love it. Cut an egg carton lengthwise into a strip of 5-6 cups. That’s your caterpillar’s body. Let your child paint it in wild, wacky colors. Pipe cleaners become antennae, and googly eyes bring it to life. You can even poke two small holes in the head cup to thread the pipe cleaners through and secure them inside. It’s a fantastic craft for practicing fine motor skills and color recognition for younger elementary kids.
11. DIY Sidewalk Chalk Paint
Upgrade the classic sidewalk chalk game with homemade paint. The recipe is simple: mix 1 cup of water with 1 cup of cornstarch and add food coloring until you get a vibrant hue. Make several cups in different colors. The consistency is gorgeously smooth and it paints onto the pavement like a dream. When it dries, it has a slightly chalky, opaque finish. The best part? It washes away with the next rain or a hose. Kids can create massive murals, practice letters, or draw elaborate hopscotch courses.
12. Paper Bag Kites
You don’t need fancy materials to catch the wind. Decorate a standard brown paper lunch bag with crayons or markers. Punch four holes, one in each corner of the bag’s opening. Tie a long piece of string through the holes to create a bridle, and attach your flying string to the center of that. Add some crepe paper or ribbon streamers to the bottom for flair. On a breezy day, kids can run with them and watch them billow and fly. They’re not for high winds, but the joy of making something that actually “works” is unbeatable.
13. Citrus Stamp Art
Got a lemon or orange that’s past its prime? Don’t throw it out—make art with it! Cut the fruit in half, blot the cut side on a paper towel to dry it slightly, and dip it into a shallow dish of washable paint. Press it onto paper to make perfect (and fragrant!) circle prints. Kids can create patterns, flowers (use the lemon end as a flower center!), or just a cool geometric print. It’s a fun, sensory-rich way to explore printmaking. Just be prepared for a little mess—but it’s a sweet-smelling one!
And there you have it—13 easy summer crafts that are more about the experience than the perfection. The real magic isn’t in the final product (though those sun catchers are pretty great), it’s in the focused time together, the giggle-filled mess, and the proud look on your child’s face when they say, “I made this.” This summer, when the boredom hits, you’ll be armed and ready. Now, go grab some paper plates and pipe cleaners. Your best, most creative summer yet is waiting. 😎