Easy Summer Crafts for Kids: 7 Simple Activities Your Children Will Love
Summer is wonderful…until you hear, “I’m bored!” for the tenth time before lunch.
The good news is that entertaining children doesn’t have to involve expensive supplies, elaborate Pinterest projects, or hours of preparation. Some of the best easy summer crafts for kids are made with materials you probably already have sitting in your kitchen or craft drawer.
I love activities that are simple, inexpensive, and encourage creativity without creating a huge mess. These seven favorite summer crafts have been tested with my own children and students, and they’re always a hit.
So head to the pantry, gather a few supplies, and enjoy some creative family time together.
1. Make Squishy Sensory Bags
Squishy bags (or sensory bags, as many children call them) are one of my favorite easy summer crafts for kids because they’re quick to make and surprisingly calming.
Most families already have everything they need:
- Resealable plastic bags
- Hair gel or clear gel
- Food coloring
- Glitter, pom-poms, buttons, beads, or foam shapes
- Strong tape
Children love squeezing, pushing, and moving the objects around inside the bag. It’s wonderful for quiet time, sensory exploration, and fine motor development.
2. Create a Sensory Bin
Children learn through their senses.
When they scoop, pour, dig, sort, and explore different textures, they’re strengthening important brain connections while having fun.
A simple sensory bin can include:
- Dry rice
- Beans
- Pasta
- Sand
- Water beads (for older children with supervision)
- Measuring cups
- Funnels
- Small toys
Sensory play encourages creativity, language development, problem-solving, and imaginative play. It can also be a wonderful calming activity after a busy morning outdoors.
3. Make a Calming Jar
A calming jar is both a craft and a useful emotional regulation tool.
Simply fill a clear bottle with warm water, glitter glue, and a little extra glitter. Shake it up and watch the glitter slowly settle.
When children are frustrated or overstimulated, watching the glitter fall can encourage them to slow down, take deep breaths, and regain their focus.
Even better, they helped create it themselves.
4. Paint Rocks
This classic activity never gets old.
Take a neighborhood walk, collect smooth rocks, and decorate them with washable paint or paint pens.
Young children can paint colorful patterns, while older kids might enjoy creating animals, inspirational words, or funny faces.
One of my favorite summer memories was painting rocks while the sprinkler was running. The kids stayed cool, the brushes rinsed easily, and everyone had fun.
No paint? No problem.
Little ones are often just as happy “painting” rocks with water and watching the designs disappear as they dry.
5. Make Homemade Popsicles
Not every summer activity has to stay on the craft table.
Making homemade popsicles is a simple project children genuinely enjoy.
Pour fruit juice, smoothies, or yogurt into popsicle molds, freeze overnight, and enjoy your creations together the next day.
When my children were little, we had one family rule:
Ice cream and popsicles stayed outside.
It saved a lot of sticky floors—and created lots of fun summer memories.
6. Mix Up Homemade Bubbles
Homemade bubbles provide hours of inexpensive entertainment.
Children can help measure the ingredients, stir everything together, and then head outside to experiment with different bubble wands.
Try using:
- Cookie cutters
- Pipe cleaners
- Fly swatters
- Slotted spoons
You’ll be surprised how many creative bubble makers you already own.
7. Work on a Puzzle Together
While puzzles aren’t technically crafts, they create something beautiful together—and they build valuable thinking skills.
As children work through a puzzle, they’re practicing:
- Visual discrimination
- Problem-solving
- Logical thinking
- Patience
- Sequencing
- Spatial reasoning
Completing a puzzle as a family is also a wonderful opportunity to slow down, talk, and enjoy each other’s company.
If you’re especially proud of your masterpiece, glue it together and frame it as a summer keepsake.
The Best Summer Memories Don’t Have to Be Complicated
Children rarely remember whether an activity was expensive or perfectly planned.
What they do remember is spending time with you.
Sometimes the simplest easy summer crafts for kids become the memories your family talks about for years.
Which one will you try first?
I’d love to see what your family creates! Tag me on Instagram @ParentingSimply1 so I can celebrate your summer fun with you.
