🎨 12 Easy Summer Crafts For Kids
🍼 The Newborn Survival Kit
The first six months of parenthood are a blur of exhaustion. Stop trying to tough it out—these are the 5 absolute life-saving baby essentials that experienced moms literally refuse to live without. They will instantly solve your biggest sleeping, feeding, and soothing struggles.
🌙 Hatch Rest Baby Sound Machine
The ultimate sleep hack. You can entirely control this white noise machine and dimmable nightlight from your smartphone, meaning you never have to accidentally wake the baby while sneaking back out of the nursery after a 3 AM feeding.
🤧 FridaBaby NoseFrida Snotsucker
It sounds incredibly gross until your baby has their first cold and literally cannot breathe to sleep. Throw away those useless hospital bulb syringes—this doctor-invented tool safely clears congestion in seconds, and yes, the filter absolutely prevents any germs from reaching you.
💧 Haakaa Silicone Manual Breast Pump
Every breastfeeding mom's best kept secret. Simply suction this cheap, cord-free silicone cup to the opposite breast while you nurse to effortlessly catch every drop of liquid gold letdown that would otherwise leak onto your shirt and be totally wasted.
🧴 Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment
Forget buying ten different expensive, highly-fragranced creams. This is the only ointment you need. It miraculously cures severe diaper rash overnight, heals cracked nursing nipples, soothes baby eczema, and aggressively protects delicate skin from harsh winter wind.
☁️ Burt's Bees 100% Organic Burp Cloths
You will go through dozens of these a day, so do not cheap out on thin fabric. These thick, ultra-absorbent organic cotton cloths actually catch massive spit-ups before they ruin your only clean outfit, while remaining incredibly soft against your newborn's face.
Summer’s here, and with it comes the glorious chaos of kids home from school. We love them, obviously, but keeping those little whirlwinds entertained and off the screens can feel like a full-time job. Before you resort to letting them re-watch Frozen for the 37th time, I’ve got your back. We’re talking easy, breezy, super fun crafts that won’t require a fine arts degree or a second mortgage for supplies. Let’s get those creative juices flowing, shall we
1. Painted Rocks
Who doesn’t love a good rock hunt, especially when it leads to art Grab those smooth, flat rocks you find on your walks. A little acrylic paint and some imagination transform them into tiny masterpieces. Seal them with a clear coat, and they’re ready for their big debut.
Pro tip Hide your finished rocks around the neighborhood for others to find and re-hide. It’s like a treasure hunt with a creative twist.
This works because it gets them outside first, then brings the fun indoors (or keeps it outside, if you’re brave).
2. Nature Collages
Get those little explorers outside to collect leaves, petals, twigs, and maybe a cool feather or two. Back inside, unleash them on some paper and glue. It’s a literal walk in the park, followed by some sticky, beautiful art.
Pro tip Use contact paper instead of liquid glue for a less messy, self-adhesive canvas. Just peel and stick those natural treasures.
Super low-cost, high creativity, and zero complaints about being bored.
3. DIY Sidewalk Chalk Paint
Regular chalk is so last year. Let’s get liquid Mix equal parts cornstarch and water, then add a few drops of food coloring. Give them some brushes and let them paint the driveway or sidewalk. It’s messy, vibrant, and washes away with the next rain.
Pro tip Old muffin tins make perfect paint palettes for all their colorful concoctions.
Outdoor fun that cleans itself up. You’re welcome.
4. Tie-Dye Shirts
Unleash their inner hippie artist. All you need are white cotton shirts (or socks, or pillowcases), a basic tie-dye kit, and a willingness to embrace a little colorful chaos. Twist, rubber band, dye, rinse, and reveal.
Pro tip Do this outside. Seriously. Unless you love colorful countertops and a permanent rainbow on your patio.
Wearable art, instant cool factor, and a great way to upcycle old white tees.
5. Paper Plate Animals
The humble paper plate, ready for a glow-up. Kids can cut, glue, and color these into lions, frogs, fish, or even mythical beasts. Add some construction paper ears, pipe cleaner whiskers, and whatever else their imagination dreams up.
Pro tip Add a few googly eyes for instant personality. They make everything better.
Simple supplies, endless characters, and a great way to use up those party plate leftovers.
6. Pinecone Critters
Another nature walk, another craft waiting to happen. Collect pinecones of various sizes. Back home, use googly eyes, pipe cleaners, pom-poms, and felt to transform them into adorable little forest creatures. Think squirrels, owls, or even tiny monsters.
Pro tip Hot glue works best for securing tiny bits, but make sure an adult is handling the gun.
These little guys make cute decorations or new friends for their toy box.
7. Bubble Snakes
Bubbles are cool, but bubble snakes are next level. Cut the bottom off a plastic water bottle, cover the cut end with an old sock, secure with a rubber band, and dip it into bubble solution. Blow through the bottle’s mouth for an endless stream of bubbly goodness.
Pro tip Add a few drops of food coloring to your bubble solution for vibrant, rainbow-colored snakes.
Hypnotic, bubbly fun that keeps them entertained for ages.
8. Sun Prints
Art that uses actual sunshine How cool is that Grab some sun print paper (or make your own with a cyanotype kit). Place leaves, flowers, feathers, or small toys on the paper, expose it to the sun, then rinse. Watch the magic unfold as your image appears.
Pro tip Experiment with different levels of transparency in your objects for varied effects.
A little science, a lot of magic, and totally unique artwork.
9. Ice Cube Painting
Beat the heat while making masterpieces. Fill ice cube trays with water and a few drops of food coloring in each compartment. Insert a popsicle stick into each cube before freezing. Once solid, they’re ready to paint on paper.
Pro tip Use thicker paper or even canvas to prevent warping as the ice melts.
Refreshing art, literally. Plus, it’s a great sensory experience.
10. DIY Wind Chimes
Turn trash into musical treasures. Gather sticks, yarn, beads, old keys, bottle caps, or anything else that makes a pleasant sound when it clinks. Let them string and tie these items onto a sturdy stick or small hoop.
Pro tip Ensure the hanging elements are spaced so they can actually clink together in the breeze.
A sweet sound of summer, made by tiny hands, ready to hang on the porch.
11. Water Bottle Sensory Bottles
Keep those curious minds calm and captivated. Empty plastic bottles become magical worlds when filled with water, glitter, beads, small toys, and maybe a little food coloring. Seal the lid super tight with hot glue.
Pro tip Use clear glue or baby oil instead of just water for a slower, more mesmerizing flow of glitter and objects.
Portable calm, a visual wonderland, and surprisingly soothing.
12. Crayon Melt Art
Give those broken crayon bits a second life. Arrange crayon pieces (peeled, please) on a canvas or sturdy cardstock. Gently melt them with a hairdryer, watching the colors blend and drip. It’s surprisingly therapeutic.
Pro tip Tape off sections with painter’s tape for cool geometric designs, or try melting them onto a warm rock for a different effect.
Abstract art, zero waste, maximum cool. Plus, it’s a great way to use up those crayon stubs.
🧩 The Toddler Sanity & Learning Kit
Toddlers are tiny tornados. Instead of turning on the iPad in a moment of desperation, these 5 open-ended toys and clever tools foster independent, screen-free play while simultaneously saving your house from milk spills and crayon disasters.
🧱 Magna-Tiles 100-Piece Building Set
The undeniable king of open-ended play. It is the one single toy that a 2-year-old and a 10-year-old will both happily play with for an hour straight. They develop spatial reasoning, math skills, and independent focus—worth absolutely every penny.
🥛 Munchkin Miracle 360 Trainer Cups
Stop wiping up milk puddles. These genius, dentist-recommended cups allow kids to drink from anywhere around the rim like a real glass, but they instantly seal themselves the second the child stops drinking—even if they drop it on the floor.
🎧 Yoto Mini Kids Audio Player
The ultimate distraction for car rides or quiet time without the guilt of handing over a glowing screen. Kids control it completely by inserting physical cards to play audiobooks, music, and educational podcasts completely independently.
🧹 Melissa & Doug Wooden Cleaning Set
Toddlers desperately want to do exactly what you do. This kid-sized, highly durable wooden sweeping and mopping set redirects their chaotic energy into productive, confidence-building life skills while you actually get the real cleaning done in peace.
🎒 Montessori Travel Busy Board
The secret to surviving restaurants and airplanes with a two-year-old. Packed with buckles, zippers, shoelaces, and snaps, this soft, lightweight 'briefcase' develops critical fine-motor skills and keeps busy little hands occupied for surprisingly long stretches.
Conclusion
So there you have it. Twelve ridiculously easy ways to keep your little humans creating, exploring, and (most importantly) not asking for screen time. These crafts aren’t just about making stuff; they’re about making memories, sparking imagination, and giving you a few precious moments of relative quiet. Go forth and craft, you magnificent parent, you.
