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Summer is a season full of lawn games, camping trips and kid-friendly activities. While these are all great ideas to enjoy the long and hot summer months, there are other ways to keep your kids occupied and entertained. Bust out the old and new art-supply bin and have the kids put their DIY skills to use with one of these summer crafts. We gathered a creative list of craft ideas that are perfect for kids to make — from toddlers and kindergartners to kids and tweens.
While our list includes crafts for younger kids, we think anyone will find them fun. Think: glitter seashell frames, beaded butterflies, paper flowers and cute sidewalk chalk pops. These ideas will keep them engaged all afternoon until you're ready to call them in for summer dinner. And if you're looking for crafts that cater more toward older groups, dive into one of our easy and fun adult craft ideas full of wall-worthy DIYs and home decor.
Accordion Paper Flowers
Walk your kids through making their own accordion paper flowers to hang in their rooms. Download these templates before following the steps below.
- Cut out 4 pieces of yellow or white paper (depending on what color daffodil you would like) using the first template.
- Fold the paper in half both vertically and horizontally and open again. Fold the bottom up about ¼" and crease it down.
- Flip the paper over and fold all the way to the top until you create an accordion.
- Fold the accordion-folded paper in half and attach the two middle pieces together with double-sided tape.
- Repeat steps 2-4 with the remaining 3 pieces of paper.
- Connect all 4 together with a strip of double stick tape to create a flower shape.
- Cut out a rectangle of orange paper about 2" x 1.5" and cut little points on one of the long edges.
- Roll the rectangle loosely to make a tube shape and connect with a small piece of double-sided tape, folding the bottom edge down to create a flat bottom.
- Glue the little cup you made into the center of the flower to finish your daffodil.
Paper Flowers
Kids can make these paper flowers to spruce up different parts of the house. Have them fold dyed cupcake liners in half and cut out petal and fringe shapes. Then fold a piece of floral wire in half and twist around the faux flower stamen. Poke the wire through the center of three to four paper liners. Finish it off by wrapping floral tape around the base of the liners and bringing it all the way down the stem.
Cardboard Sun
What better way to show appreciation for the summer than with a giant DIY sun?! You can make different sizes to scatter inside the house and backyard.
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Paper Plate Lady Bugs
You'll need colorful paint, paper plates, felt and googly eyes to make these adorable lady bugs.
Pressed Flowers
If your kids are nature lovers, they'll love making pressed flowers for their handmade cards or art. This is also a great way to recycle your old flower bouquets.
Finger Printed Cherry Tree
So easy: turn their fingerprints into cherry blossoms and use newspaper for the trunk and branches.
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Michaels gives a step-by-step tutorial on how to make these beaded butterflies to display. It's an ideal craft for those 4-years-old and up.
Toilet Paper Roll Bees
Save money on craft supplies and use toilet paper rolls to make googly-eyed bees your kids will buzz around the house with.
Paper Bag Journal
This journal is fun to make for summer and great for kids to store their favorite memories of the season.
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Popsicle Stick Ferris Wheel
If you can't take them to the amusem*nt park, bring one of the attractions to you using popsicle sticks and wooden blocks.
Sidewalk Chalk Pops
This neon-hued sidewalk chalk is a 2-for-1 deal: It's fun to make and even more fun to use.
Shell People
What can you do with your kids' shell collection when they get home from the beach? Turn them into fashion! Some glitter turns them into pretty skirts for craft-stick people.
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Watermelon Soap
Break out the essential oils to give these super-cute fruit soaps a clean, refreshing scent. If you want to stay true to the watermelon theme, mix in a fruity fragrance oil instead.
Craft Stick Octopus
When the weather gets hot, head under the sea! White beads stand in for the "suckers" on the octopus' craft-stick "tentacles."
Ice Cream Cone Keychain
Even after summer ends, these felt keychains will add a burst of sweetness to any backpack or purse. But to keep it in tip-top shape, skip the keychain altogether and turn them into decorative magnets.
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Seashell Crab Magnets
These crabs are anything but crabby, and they'll look great on the fridge holding up other works of art. If crabs aren't your fave, you can do turtles instead.
Scented Rainbow Bubbles
With essential oils and food dye, you can give homemade bubbles the rainbow treatment. Choose scents that you like best, or try to match it to the color — yellow bubbles scented with lemon, for example.
Stamped Dish Towels
Use fruit, flowers, leaves or any other natural object that strikes your fancy to dress up your kitchen. These are also perfect as DIY gifts.
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Unicorn Planter
This summer's golden rule? If you can turn something into a unicorn, do it. Fill these magical planters with succulents, so you don't have to worry about regular upkeep.
Juice Box Boat
Upcycle an empty juice box into a boat ready to sail on the waves! If you make a fleet, you can race them.
Amanda Garrity
Amanda Garrity is a lifestyle writer and editor with over seven years of experience, including five years on staff at Good Housekeeping, where she covered all things home and holiday, including the latest interior design trends, inspiring DIY ideas and gift guides for any (and every) occasion. She also has a soft spot for feel-good TV, so you can catch her writing about popular shows like Virgin River, Sweet Magnolias, Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart and more.
Marisa LaScala
Senior Parenting & Relationships Editor
Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; she previously wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found dominating the audio round at her local bar trivia night or tweeting about movies.
Mariah Thomas
Assistant Editor
Mariah Thomas (she/her) is an assistant editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home and lifestyle content. Mariah has more than four years of editorial experience, having written for TLC, Apartment Therapy, Women's Health and Avocado Magazine. She received her master's degree in journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and published her first book, Heart and Soul: Poems of Thoughts and Emotions, in 2019. She's also the founder of RTF Community a platform for creatives of color to connect, learn and showcase their work.
