Fun Kids Summer Crafts For Children’s Art Week

The summer holidays are rapidly approaching and after months of being cooped up inside through record-breaking cold snaps and months of lockdown, it couldn’t come any sooner. While we’re looking forward to spending quality time at home (and in the warm weather!) it’s also hard to come up with fun ideas to keep the little ones occupied when we’ve had to get very creative over the past year and a half.

Never fear though, we’re here with heaps of fun and easy summer crafts that are perfect for spending those long summer days. From recycled nature-themed crafts to indoor activities you’ll want to stash away for a rainy day, we have plenty of options for the whole family to enjoy. There’s no better time to explore all of the fun you can have crafting with your little ones since it’s children’s art week! In our last crafty blog, we talked about upcycling your furniture with Little Greene Paint; and we have even more to offer this week, so read on for some fantastic ideas.

Get Out In The Great Outdoors With Homemade Bird Feeders

Our back gardens have seen a lot of mileage since the first lockdown, but it’s true when they say there’s no place like home. Summer is the perfect time of year to get out and about in nature, so why not bring all the fun of the great outdoors to your own backyard? A brilliant way to get the little ones involved with nature, and with a simple project the whole family can enjoy, is with recycled bird feeders.

All you need for this avian art project is:

• One plastic bottle 
• Two wooden spoons (you can do one if you like though!)
• One eyelet 
• Twine
• Birdfeed

All you need to do to make this easy bird feeder is drill a hole in each side of the plastic bottle and slide your wooden spoon through, and repeat if you’re using two spoons. Screw the eyelet into the top of the bottle and tie the twine through so it’s ready to hang up in your garden. Then all you have to do is fill up the feeder with birdseed, and enjoy all of your new garden visitors!

You can even make an activity for the whole summer from this craft, with the RSPB wild challenge birdwatching sheet, and see how many bird species you can spot.

Make Some Floral Fun With Painted Plant Pots

Bird watching isn’t the only way you can enjoy your back garden this summer! Flex your green thumb and add a fun touch to your garden with a hand-painted plant pot. This is a very fun project the whole family can get involved with, and really lets your wee ones get creative with their very own customised plant pot.

To create your painted plant pots you’ll need:

• Terracotta or clay plant pots in any size you like
• Outdoor acrylic-based paint (you don’t want the paint to run!)
• Paintbrushes
• Paint palette

The best part about this craft is there really aren’t any rules, you can get as creative as you like with patterns and designs! Just like with your recycled bird feeder, this plant pot can turn into a summer-long activity. You can have the kids plant something of their own and teach them to take care of it throughout the holidays, for an educational and fun project.

Bring On Beach Days With Tie-Dye Towels

We know that UK weather isn’t exactly tropical at the best of times, but who doesn’t love a beach day? With so many brilliant beaches dotted all around the coast, it really isn’t summer without a trip to the seaside. Holidays might still not be on the cards for this year, but there’s still plenty to enjoy with a staycation.

One way to liven up your next trip, and get the kids involved in some family arts and crafts, is with the ever so classic tie-dye. The tie-dye trend is on the rise, and the best part is that it’s so easy to do at home. All you need for an on-trend towel is:

• One spray dye or tie-dye kit 
• One white cotton towel
• Gloves
• Bin bags or any cloth

Thanks to the tie-dye trend finding new popularity, there are heaps of options for DIY enthusiasts both online and in most hobby shops. Spray dyes are slightly easier for kids to operate, but can be difficult to find. Tie-dye is much easier to find, and as long as you use gloves and set down bin bags or cloths it’s a surprisingly low-mess activity. 

Beat The Heat With Sponge Water Bombs

There’s no better way to get through a heatwave than with a good old fashioned water fight. Every kid loves to get stuck into their water balloons, but for adults, keeping the wee ones safe and clearing up afterwards can be a total pain. Not to mention, plastic water balloons can be seriously bad for the environment. Luckily, we have an environmentally friendly and safer alternative that’s super easy to make.

Sponge water bombs are a reusable way to enjoy water fights that are cheap and easy to make. All you need is:

• Kitchen sponges (without the scrubber side of course)
• Fishing line
• Scissors

To make these sponge bombs all you have to do is cut them into fourths lengthwise, stack two layers of four sponges (in two different colours if you want to be fancy), tie the fishing line around the middle of your stack as tightly as possible. Then all you have to do is soak them and enjoy.