Summer is finally here and that means it's time to enjoy the great outdoors. Now what better way to celebrate Summer and get your young child engaged than to do some fun crafts!
With the weather warming up that means more trips to the beach or going for nature walks. Personally my daughter loves to collect items from our adventures and we try to use what we find to make crafts. Some of these crafts use recycled items or things that you can find outside. Depending on your location these crafts could turn out very different which makes them even more amazing with how unique they can turn out.
Other crafts listed here may not use items from nature but they use things you probably already have around your house. No need to buy a bunch of expensive materials from the store, use what you have and create some fun summer themed artwork to display in your house!
Here is a list of some easy and fun Summer themed crafts you can do today with your little ones. Most of these ideas came from other mom bloggers that I have had the pleasure of getting to know through their social media outlets. All of these bloggers are awesome and have great sites that you should check out. (Disclaimer this post contains links to other sites).
If you've followed my blog you are probably familiar with how much I love recycled crafts. Just the thought of re-purposing materials that would otherwise end up in a landfill is amazing and I try to teach my children about recycling any chance I can get. Not only is this a recycled craft but it looks really cute. My daughter likes to pretend it's a real bonfire and she even 'roasts marshmallows' over it.
This craft is an easy one that your kiddos are sure to love. Best of all it's super affordable and doesn't break the bank! You probably already have the materials you need at home and your child can customize it making it as long or short as they want. Make a few and do different colors and hang them on the wall for fun or use them in an under-the-sea themed party!
This one is not just a craft but it's also a really fun home school activity set. There is a brief section discussing a lesson plan followed by several ocean themed crafts perfect for a summer afternoon. Just like the previous Octopus craft, these are very easy to make and can be assembled with some basic household items.
As a child I used to do sand art crafts and it was so much fun. Not only is it a neat craft but it also doubles as a sensory activity since your child is dealing with sand. If you are spending a day at the beach collecting seashells and sand you can use those materials for this summer craft.
Bubble wrap is always a fun thing to play with (even as adults!). This summer craft utilizes it like a stamp to create super cute butterflies. Let your child mix different colors and create a pretty butterfly scene. There is even a free printable to go along with this craft so you don't have to worry about free-handing the shapes.
This craft is really unique because it uses so many natural items that you can get from just taking a neighborhood walk or a stroll on the beach. Your child is sure to love it too because they can go 'treasure hunting' for materials. Collect sand, sea shells, pine cones, leaves or even flowers to make this really cool sun-catcher.
Sponges can make great stamps for kids crafts. They’re soft and add a fun texture to your child’s art. Plus like most of these crafts this activity is very easy to throw together and doesn’t cost much at all. This craft focuses on watermelon and strawberries which are the prefect summer treat!
This craft is perfect for bird watching from your house. Especially now since we are still stuck at home a lot this activity could be a lot of fun. Once it's done hang it outside your house and let your kids watch what type of birds come to it. If you have an allergy like my daughter (peanuts) you could always use a seed butter (like Sunbutter or Wowbutter) instead for a safe option.
Another material you can use for crafts is food! Dry pasta and macaroni shells are great for crafts and have so many different uses. This YouTube video post shows you how to make a cute summertime flower picture out of dried pasta shells. It's easy for little hands and it's a fun way to let your children 'play with their food'.
This post actually has a few different crafts that are all perfect for the summer. Like the others crafts in this post, these are pretty simple to put together and can be a lot fun for little ones. Plus as an added bonus each activity or craft lists out what your child can learn from it!
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