It’s coming towards the end of the summer holidays and you’re probably starting to tear your hair out, so I’ve put this blog together of 5 Summer Crafts / Activities. I hope it gives you some inspiration to keep your children entertained.
Ice Painting – This is fun for all ages and also edible, but wear protective clothing as it will stain.
- Ice cube tray
- Small plastic bowls
- Plastic spoons
- Food coloring
- Scissors
- Thick paper
- Craft sticks or disposable ice cream spoons
To make the “paint”, use mix some food colouring with water and pour into the ice cube trays. The more food colouring you use the more intense the colour. Make a selection of colours and your children can experiment mixing the colours. Put sticks into the icecube and put them in the freezer for 4-6 hours or overnight. Once frozen lay out some newspaper or a protective cloth and put some thick paper on a tray and then let your children loose with the Ice paint.
They will love painting pictures, mixing colours, and possibly even tasting.
Potato Masher Creatures- Who would have thought you can have fun with a potato masher?
- Potato Masher
- Paper
- Card
- Poster Paints
- Glue
There are various creatures to make using a potato masher. I’m going to explain 3.
Caterpillar – Use your potato masher and some green paint and print onto paper in a “wave” shape. Clean the potato masher and dip into the red paint and print at the end of the wave to create the caterpillars head. Cut some circles to make eyes or you could use googly eyes if you have them and your catterpiller is complete.
Crab– Use your potato masher and use a colour of your choice to print onto paper once. Let it dry and then cut the shape out. Stick onto a piece of card. Cut out 8 small rectangle strips and 2 small circles with a small rectangle cut out of it. Use 6 of the strips for legs and use the other 2 strips for the front legs and add the circles to make claws. Finish off by adding some eyes googley eyes work best.
Lady Bug- Dip your potato masher in red paint and print onto some card. Cut out some small rectangular strips out of black card and some small circles also out of black card. Stick on the black strips to make legs and stick on the circles for the ladybug spots. Stick on some googly eyes and draw some antenna.
Dragonfly Craft- This craft is so simple but so effective.
- Dragonfly template
- Acrylic paint in assorted colors
- White cardstock
- Q-tips / Cotton Buds
- Scissors
- Paintbrushes
- Paint palettes
Print out the dragon fly stencil here.
Put various colours of paint out, so your children can get creative. Use the Q tips and dip them in the paint and dab them onto the dragonfly, use various colours to create a unique pattern. You could use gems down the centre of the body to add a bit of sparkle. Cut out your dragonfly to create a neat finish.
This tutorial came from projectswithkids.com.
Nature Scavenger Hunt
A few weeks ago, me and the girls went on a nature walk with some friends. They absolutely loved it and it was a great outdoor activity. Don’t forgot your picnic 😉
I’ve found a website from Buggy and Buddy for free printable Scavenger Hunts here.
Bored Jar
How many times have your children said to you “I’m bored!” Hopefully this could be a solution- well for a few minutes at least.
You will need:
- A old jam jar
- Paper / lolly pop sticks
- Pens
Use the paper and write a list of things you could do when you’re children are bored (see ideas below). Then you can cut up the paper and put the individual ideas in the jar. Alternatively you could write the ideas on lolly pop sticks and place these in the jar.
Here’s a list of ideas for inspiration:
- Read a book
- Write in your holiday book
- Tidy your bedroom
- Do one job
- Draw something
- Draw an animal
- Draw our house
- Paint something
- Watch a movie
- Make a gift for someone
- Tidy your desk
- Make homemade bubbles
- Have a bubble bath
- Make cupcakes
- Play on Moshi Monsters
- Go on Youtube and search funny things
- Make homemade Bubbles
- Make Gloop
- Make a treasure hunt
- Make something with a box
- Story starting – There is a monster in my garden….
- Story starting – Yesterday I went in a spaceship to….
- Story starting – There once was a little girl who liked to skip….
- Write a story about you.
- Go to the park
- Go to the beach
- Find shapes in clouds
- Create a family flag
- Make a musical instrument
- Do the recycling
- Build a time capsule
- Find something in your house that starts with every letter of the alphabet
- Have a picnic – indoor or outdoor. Teddies allowed.
- Have a scooter race.
- Play with a toy you haven’t played with in a while.
- Learn ten words in a different language
- Play on the trampoline
- Make homemade play dough
- Make and decorate paper airplanes
- Let Dad choose something to do
- Let Mam choose something to do
- Walk the dog
- Make an animal out of the things in the craft cupboard
- Make something with a box
- Make a den
- Play guitar
- Tidy under your bed
- Look through the cook books and choose something you can cook us all for tea
- Build something out of Lego.
- Make a list of black and white animals.
- Write three things about every
- Paint your nails
- Make a sock puppet
- Have a bubble bath
- Play a board game
- Make a board game of your own
- Customise your clothes
- Make something with your buttons
- Play on the Xbox
- Play on the wii
- Draw a picture blindfolded
- Draw a picture with your feet
- Make a video
- Write a poem
- Google something to make
- Make a card pyramid
- Go and collect some stones and make them into bugs
- Dance to loud music
- Play on the trampoline
- Start a club with your friends
- Tidy craft cupboard
- Sew something
- Bake cookies
- Play out with friends
- Ride your bike
- Water balloon fight
- Wash the car
- Play with the chalks outside
- Make a bookmark
- Make some homemade ice lollies