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Summer crafts for Kids

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Planning Summer activities can be a lot of fun! Summer crafts for kids are a great way to beat boredom, stay out of the heat, and make fun memories too. Need ideas to get your summer started right this year?

I’ve put together a super fun list of summer crafts for kids that’s sure to bring hours of fun, creativity, and entertainment for your kids this year. Don’t miss paper plate crafts, DIY ocean animals, and sidewalk chalk projects that are perfect for your kiddos!

Plus, many of these summer craft ideas are easy for moms to pull together at the last minute too.

summer crafts for kids

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from purchases made through links in this post at no cost to you.

Summer Crafts for Kids

Summer crafts aren’t just for fun, they’re also a great way to help early learners retain all the skills they’ve been practicing in preschool and kindergarten this year. Check out some of my favorite summer crafts for kids that encourage fine motor skills, creativity, and following directions.

Paper Plate Rainbow Fish Craft

This adorable paper plate rainbow fish craft is so easy to make using only a paper plate and some colorful cupcake liners.

rainbow fish craft paper plate
Rainbow Fish Craft by Mommy Made That

This would pair perfectly with the ever popular Rainbow Fish book or any of these great summer book suggestions.

DIY Sidewalk Chalk Pops

These Sidewalk Chalk Popsicles from Project Nursery are super fun to make and a lot of fun to use too!

Watermelon Paper Fan

Watermelons and summer fun go together like peas and carrots! This Watermelon Paper Fan from The Kindergarten Connection is a great way to beat the heat and have fun getting creative with your kids too.

Floating into Summer Craftivity

I don’t think there is anything more fun than combining crafts with a little bit of writing. This adorable summer craftivity includes a boy and a girl with a pool floatie. It also includes 8 writing pages.

summer crafts for kids

Paper Pirate Hats

Get ready for a pirate adventure this summer! These Pirate Paper Hats from Super Simple are perfect for all your pirate games and adventures. Plus, they’re easy to make with kids.

Popsicle Stick Pool Frieinds

Cupcake liners and popsicle craft sticks combine to create adorable new friends in this summer craft for kids. Have fun making your very own Swimming Pool Buddies from Glued to My Crafts for fun in the sun.

Preschool Boat Craft

Not only is this a great educational tool that incorporates learning and engineering, but kids love watching their little sail boats float on top of the water. It’s an accomplishment they can hold with them all their life.

preschool boat craft
Preschool boat craft by The Inspiration Edit

Paper Windmills

My daughter loves watching paper windmills in our garden. This summer, she can make her own Paper Windmill Craft from Easy Crafts for Kids. It’s a fun way to build STEM skills with your kids and get crafty too.

Seed Mosaic Process Art

Process art projects can be lots of fun for little ones this summer. These projects focus on the process, not the finished product. Have fun crating your own Seed Mosaic Craft from The Keeper of The Memories as you explore and learn about gardens and feathered friends.

Popsicle Arts and Crafts

Popsicles don’t just make for a yummy summer treat. They also make for an adorable summer craft for kids.

You may be asking what’s cuter than one popsicle craft. How about four popsicle crafts!

popsicle crafts

Grab all four sweet treats, coloring pages, and 6 writing pages that come with it today!

Watermelon Craft and Activities

This watermelon craft is a great summer activity to keep your kids learning all summer long.

watermelon craft

Create the summer art then work on counting, ten frames, and fine motor skills using the extra summer worksheets!

Patriotic Crafts for Summer

Show your patriotic spirit this summer with adorable handprint crafts and cut and paste printables that show your love for the USA.

Handprint 4th of July craft

Everyone loves a good handprint craft. They’re the perfect keepsake to remind mom and dad just how little their children once were. This flag craft is a great way to do just that.

summer craft for kids

Start by cutting red construction paper into strips and gluing them on a piece of plain white paper to look like stripes. Then trace your child’s hand on blue paper and glue it in the top left corner. Finally, add star stickers onto the the handprint to make an adorable American Flag craft for kids.

Fireworks Salt Painting

Paint your very own fireworks show for the 4th of July with this Fireworks Salt Painting Craft from Busy Mommy Media. You’ll need salt, glue, paint, and paper to celebrate Independence Day with this cute summer craft for kids.

Fireworks Cut and Paste Craft

You can’t celebrate the Fourth of July or New Years without fire crackers. This cut and paste firework craft is an easy summer craft for kids. Just print, cut, and glue any of these adorable fire crackers for a simple and fun summer craft.

firework craft

Patriotic Wreath Craft

This patriotic paper plate wreath is a fun craft for kids to make this summer. Plus it’s the perfect decoration for Memorial Day and the 4 of July. 

patriotic wreath for kids
Patriotic Wreath by The Keele Deal

Fire Cracker Craft

Looking for a fun and easy paper firecracker craft to make with your kids for the 4th of July? This easy paper craft can help their imaginations explode with creativity.

fire cracker craft for kids
Fire cracker craft by Two Kids and a Coupon

Under the Sea Crafts for Preschoolers

Pool Noodle Sharks

These cute pool noodle sharks are a wallet friendly summer craft for kids!

shark craft for kids
Pool noodle shark craft from Mama Cheaps

Fish friends in slime

Do your kids love slime as much as mine? If so, this Fish in Slime craft from My Frugal Adventures is going to be a favorite. Have fun making your own blue slime in a bag and adding fishy friends for lots of imaginative play.

Free Shark Hat

Kids will love to create their own shark headband to wear this summer. It’s easy with the free template. 

shark hat craft
Shark hat craft by Simple Everyday Mom

Craft Stick Octopus

If you’re looking for an adorable way to build fine motor skills this summer, you’ve found it! This Craft Stick Octopus from Craft Project Ideas is a cute beach buddy and a creative way to build strong finger muscles too.

Crab Toilet Paper Roll Craft

Toilet paper roll crafts are some of my favorite summer activities because they’re simple to make and always turn out so cute.

crab craft from toilet paper rolls
Toilet paper roll crab craft from Then It Dawned On Me

Take this crab craft for example. With materials you most likely have on hand, you can create an adorable sea creature craft which is perfect for summer time fun!

Mermaid Handprint Craft

Turn your kiddos hand into an adorable mermaid with this handprint mermaid craft.

handprint craft for kids of a mermaid
Mermaid Handprint Craft by Simple Everyday Mom

Ocean Rock Painting Tutorial

Follow this simple step-by-step tutorial for how to paint these stone-cold sharks.

rock painting tutorial
Rock Painting from Sustain My Craft Habit

Dye Sand

Did you know that you can dye sand? Kids will enjoy making colorful sand castles or even sand bottle art. Learn how to dye sand today.

how to dye sand
Dye Sand by Diana Rambles

Shaving Cream Seashells

This Shaving Cream Seashell Art project from Projects for Kids is a great way to use up all the shells your kids collected at the beach this summer. Grab some shaving cream and get ready to create unique and beautiful shell art with this summer craft for kids.

Crab Craft for Kids

Looking for a cute ocean animal craft to create this summer? If so, you won’t want to miss this cute paper crab craft.

crab craft for kids
Crab craft from Mommy Made That

Grab the free template and some scissors for an easy summer craft for kids.

Mermaid Toilet Paper Roll Craft

This adorable mermaid toilet paper roll craft is the perfect mermaid craft. It comes with a free printable template making it an easy and fun mermaid craft for all ages!

Yarn Sea Turtles

Need a summer fidget? These cute Yarn Sea Turtles from The Craft Train are a summer craft your kids can really get their hands on if you know what I mean. Don’t miss this adorable craft for your preschool ocean theme or unit study this summer.

Seashell Turtle Craft

Want a cute summer craft that’ll keep the kids entertained? Grab some seashells, paint and glue and make this adorable seashell turtle.

seashell turtle craft
Seashell Turtle by Fun Money Mom

Printable Ocean Crafts

If you’re like me, you probably can’t decide which ocean craft you want to create. It’s so hard to choose when they’re all so adorable.

ocean crafts

Create mermaids, snorkelers, and all the ocean animals with this fun under the sea craft bundle.

More Summer Art for Kids

Butterfly Toilet Paper Roll Craft

This butterfly toilet paper roll craft is a super cute craft for kids of all ages and a great way to keep them entertained on a rainy day! For more butterfly craft ideas be sure to check out my butterfly post!

Paper Lemonade Craft

These adorable Paper Lemonade Crafts from Pitter Patter Art are perfect for decorating your summer lemonade stand. Add more fun by making your own homemade lemonade in the kitchen when you’re done with this summer craft for kids.

Sunshine Suncatcher

Check out this Suncatcher Craft from Lessons for Little Ones for a fun way to talk about light with your preschoolers this summer. Plus, it’s an easy craft for little hands to make on a hot summer day.

Easy Sun Catcher Craft

Make a colorful sun catcher craft with kids. This looks pretty when hung outdoors and it serves as a deterrent to birds who may be trying to attack your garden.

easy sun catcher craft for kids
Sun Catcher craft by Mess for Less

Tie Dye T-Shirts

Making Tie Dye T-Shirts is a lot of fun! With these simple Sharpie Tie Dye Shirts from Natural Beach Living, your kids can have all the fun this summer without all the mess for mom.

Firefly Recylcing craft

This cute summer craft for kids is the perfect way to recycle plastic water bottles. Your kids will love building their own summer night light friends as they create Plastic Bottle Fireflies from One Little Project.

DIY Flower Crown

This DIY egg carton flower crown is so easy to make! Using supplies you probably already have at home, learn how to make a unique and beautiful egg carton headband, and recycle some fun into playtime.

diy flower crown
DIY Flower Crown by Mimosas and Motherhood

Kaleidoscope kids Craft

Watching kaleidoscopes turn is even more fun than watching paper windmills! This summer craft for kids will have your little ones building their own Kaleidoscope Craft from Darcy and Brian for hours of fun.

DIY Moon Sand

This moon sand is perfect for building sandcastles indoors or backyard fun this summer! Make your own DIY Moon Sand with a recipe from The Craft at Home Family and start your castle building competition today.

Easy Fathers Day Arts and Crafts

Mothers Day has came and went but Fathers Day is right around the corner! Create an adorable punny craft this Fathers Day and tell Dad how special he is.

easy fathers day craft

Bubble Painting Project

Do your kids love painting and blowing bubbles? Combine both their loves with this Bubble Painting Craft from Living Well Mom. It’s a fun way to explore bubbles, color mixing, and science with your early learners this year.

Water Balloon Painting Craft

Turn your water balloons into a fun outdoor art project, using water balloons to make prints. Grab the free ice cream template to make this craft today.

water balloon painting
Water Balloon Painting by The Salty Mamas

Button Snail Craft

If you love a good paper plate kids craft, you won’t want to miss this one! Make your own cute Button Snail Craft from ABCDee Learning this summer.

Easy Paper Tulips

Paper crafting is a fun way to help your preschoolers build finger strength this summer. Check out this Paper Tulip Craft from Red Ted Art to make flowers that never die with your kids this summer.

Toilet Paper Roll Popsicle Craft

These toilet roll popsicles are easy to make and great to play with afterwards. Kids can Get creative and make their favorite popsicle.

Pineapple Lacing Craft

Practice lacing skills with this adorable Pineapple Craft from Kids Craft Room. It’s a really cute summer craft for kids to practice building fine motor skills for next school year.

Camping Summer Craft

These camping themed summer crafts are both easy and fun to make. Create a smores craft of your favorite camping snack and a camping tent craft for kids.

camping crafts for kids

Coffee Filter Butterflies

This simple summer craft for kids led to walls covered in butterflies at our home! Learn how to make your own Coffee Filter Butterflies from Organized Island for all kinds of summer fun with coffee filters and markers.

Firefly Craft for Summer

Whether you call them fireflies or lightning bugs, this summer craft is sure to be a hit. Grab this firefly craft today and the accompanying coloring page as well!

firefly craft of a lightning bug

In Conclusion

I hope you have had just as much fun checking out this list of summer crafts for kids as I did compiling it! There are so many fun and crafty things you can do indoors and out with your children this summer. I just know you’re going to have fun with these easy summer crafts. 

Don’t forget to share your own favorite summer craft ideas for kids in the comments. I can’t wait to read about your ideas and try a few with my kids this summer too!

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