This Post Contains Affiliate Links. Please Read Our Disclosure for Full Information.

Summer with kids is magical… but also, let’s be real, it comes with the classic “I’m bored” soundtrack playing on repeat 😅 That’s where easy summer crafts and activities totally save the day. Whether you’re planning backyard fun, rainy-day indoor crafts, screen-free activities, or cute Pinterest-worthy projects, these ideas will keep kids entertained, creative, and happily busy for hours.

The best part? You don’t need fancy supplies or complicated prep. Most of these summer kids activities use simple craft materials, outdoor play items, and everyday home supplies. From colorful art projects to water play and sensory fun, these ideas are perfect for toddlers, preschoolers, and younger kids who need something fun, hands-on, and exciting to do all summer long ☀️

---

#1. Make Colorful Paper Plate Sun Crafts

Paper plate sun crafts are one of the cutest and easiest summer crafts for kids because they’re bright, cheerful, and super beginner-friendly. Kids can paint a paper plate yellow or orange, then glue on paper triangles, tissue paper, pom-poms, or glitter to create sun rays. It’s simple enough for toddlers but still fun for older kids who love decorating.

This activity is perfect for a summer afternoon because it encourages creativity without needing expensive supplies. You can even turn the finished suns into wall decor, fridge art, or a cute summer garland for the playroom.

👉 Style Tip: Use different shades of yellow, gold, and orange for a more Pinterest-worthy finished look.

🛍 Shop Paper Plates Craft Kit Here

---

#2. Create a Backyard Water Balloon Game

Nothing screams summer fun like water balloons 💦 This activity is perfect for hot days when kids need to burn energy and cool down at the same time. You can set up simple games like water balloon toss, target splash, relay races, or a backyard balloon hunt.

Water balloon activities are great because they work for groups, siblings, playdates, and even birthday parties. Kids stay active, laugh nonstop, and enjoy outdoor play without needing screens.

👉 Style Tip: Set up colorful buckets or baskets around the yard to make the activity feel like a mini summer carnival.

🛍 Shop Reusable Water Balloons Here

---

#3. Paint Rocks for Garden Decorations

Rock painting is such a calm, creative summer activity for kids 🎨 Let them collect smooth rocks from the yard or park, wash them, and paint them with bright colors, patterns, animals, flowers, fruits, or cute smiley faces.

Once the rocks dry, kids can place them in the garden, along pathways, or inside plant pots. It’s a sweet way to let them decorate outdoor spaces while feeling proud of their artwork.

👉 Style Tip: Use acrylic paint pens for cleaner details and less mess than regular paintbrushes.

🛍 Shop Rock Painting Kit Here

---

#4. Build a DIY Popsicle Stick Bird Feeder

A popsicle stick bird feeder is the perfect mix of craft, nature, and summer learning 🐦 Kids can glue popsicle sticks into a small box shape, decorate it with paint, attach string, and fill it with birdseed.

This activity keeps kids busy during the crafting process and gives them something exciting to watch afterward. They’ll love checking if birds visit their feeder each morning.

👉 Style Tip: Paint the feeder in bright summer colors like aqua, yellow, coral, and lime green.

🛍 Shop Popsicle Sticks Craft Kit Here

---

#5. Set Up a Sidewalk Chalk Art Challenge

Sidewalk chalk is a summer classic for a reason ✨ Give kids a prompt like “draw your dream beach,” “make a rainbow road,” or “create a giant hopscotch game.” This turns regular chalk drawing into a fun challenge that can keep them busy for hours.

Kids can draw murals, obstacle courses, treasure maps, or even life-size board games on the driveway. It’s creative, active, and perfect for outdoor summer fun.

👉 Style Tip: Take photos of their chalk art before it washes away so they can feel like real little artists.

🛍 Shop Sidewalk Chalk Set Here

---

#6. Make Ocean Sensory Bins

Ocean sensory bins are perfect for toddlers and preschoolers who love scooping, pouring, and exploring 🌊 Fill a plastic bin with blue water beads, kinetic sand, seashells, toy fish, scoops, and small cups. Kids can pretend they’re exploring the ocean while building fine motor skills.

This is an amazing indoor or shaded outdoor activity for hot summer days. It feels calming, creative, and super engaging.

👉 Style Tip: Use a large tray or towel underneath for easier cleanup.

🛍 Shop Ocean Sensory Bin Toys Here

---

#7. Create DIY Bubble Wands

Bubble activities are pure summer joy 🫧 Kids can make their own bubble wands using pipe cleaners, beads, and craft sticks. Let them shape the pipe cleaners into hearts, stars, circles, or flowers, then dip them into bubble solution and test which shapes make the best bubbles.

This craft turns into an outdoor activity right away, so kids stay busy even after creating the wands.

👉 Style Tip: Use colorful beads on the handles to make each bubble wand feel personalized and cute.

🛍 Shop Bubble Wand Making Kit Here

---

#8. Have a Summer-Themed Paint Day

A themed paint day is an easy way to make simple art feel exciting 🎨 Set up paper, washable paints, brushes, and a few prompts like watermelon slices, sunshine, ice cream cones, beach balls, flowers, or palm trees.

Kids can paint one picture or create a whole summer art collection. This activity works beautifully indoors on rainy days or outside on a picnic table.

👉 Style Tip: Display finished paintings on a string with mini clothespins to create a cute summer art wall.

🛍 Shop Washable Paint Set Here

---

#9. Make Fruit-Themed Paper Crafts

Fruit crafts are bright, cheerful, and totally Pinterest-friendly 🍉 Kids can make paper watermelons, pineapples, lemons, strawberries, or oranges using construction paper, markers, glue, and scissors.

These crafts are great for summer learning too because kids can talk about colors, shapes, fruits, and healthy eating while creating. They also make adorable wall decor for bedrooms or classrooms.

👉 Style Tip: Use layered paper textures like tissue paper and cardstock to make the fruits look more fun and dimensional.

🛍 Shop Construction Paper Pack Here

---

#10. Set Up a Backyard Obstacle Course

A backyard obstacle course is perfect for energetic kids who need to move 🏃‍♀️ Use cones, pool noodles, hula hoops, jump ropes, cushions, buckets, and chalk lines to create a fun course.

Kids can crawl, jump, balance, toss, run, and race through different stations. It keeps them active for hours and can be changed every day to feel new.

👉 Style Tip: Add a timer and let kids try to beat their own best score for extra excitement.

🛍 Shop Kids Obstacle Course Set Here

---

#11. Make DIY Sun Catchers

Sun catchers are such a pretty summer craft because they look magical when light shines through them ✨ Kids can make them using contact paper, tissue paper pieces, pressed flowers, or colored cellophane.

Hang the finished sun catchers on windows, porch doors, or bedroom walls for a glowing summer effect. This activity is calm, creative, and great for building patience and fine motor skills.

👉 Style Tip: Use flower, butterfly, or rainbow shapes for the cutest summer vibe.

🛍 Shop Sun Catcher Craft Kit Here

---

#12. Create Ice Painting Art

Ice painting is a cool summer activity — literally ❄️ Freeze colored water in ice cube trays with popsicle sticks as handles. Once frozen, kids can “paint” on paper as the ice melts.

It’s sensory, creative, and perfect for hot days. Kids love watching the colors blend and drip across the paper.

👉 Style Tip: Use watercolor paper or thicker cardstock so the melting ice doesn’t tear the paper quickly.

🛍 Shop Ice Cube Trays Here

---

#13. Make Friendship Bracelets

Friendship bracelets are a classic summer craft that never gets old 🌈 Kids can use embroidery thread, beads, letter charms, or elastic string to create bracelets for friends, siblings, parents, or themselves.

This activity keeps hands busy and encourages creativity, patience, and color matching. It’s perfect for quiet afternoons, road trips, or playdates.

👉 Style Tip: Create a little “bracelet-making station” with beads sorted by color for a cute and organized setup.

🛍 Shop Friendship Bracelet Kit Here

---

#14. Set Up a Lemonade Stand Pretend Play

A pretend lemonade stand is such a cute summer activity 🍋 Kids can make signs, decorate cups, create pretend money, and set up a mini stand in the backyard or playroom.

This activity combines crafting, imaginative play, math practice, and communication skills. Kids can “sell” lemonade to family members, stuffed animals, or friends.

👉 Style Tip: Use yellow paper garlands or lemon cutouts to make the stand look extra adorable.

🛍 Shop Lemonade Stand Playset Here

---

#15. Make DIY Kites

DIY kites are a fun summer project that feels extra rewarding once kids see them fly 🪁 Use lightweight paper, wooden sticks, string, tape, and markers to create simple kites.

Kids can decorate their kites with patterns, stickers, names, or colorful tails. Then take them outside on a breezy day and turn the craft into an active outdoor adventure.

👉 Style Tip: Add ribbons or tissue paper tails for extra movement and color in the wind.

🛍 Shop DIY Kite Kit Here

---

#16. Create Nature Collage Art

Nature collage art is a beautiful screen-free summer activity 🌿 Take kids outside to collect leaves, flowers, small twigs, grass, and interesting textures. Then let them glue everything onto paper to create animals, landscapes, faces, or abstract art.

It encourages kids to slow down, observe nature, and use their imagination. This is perfect for backyard afternoons, park visits, or nature walks.

👉 Style Tip: Press flowers and leaves for a few hours before crafting so they lay flatter on paper.

🛍 Shop Kids Nature Craft Kit Here

---

#17. Make Pool Noodle Boats

Pool noodle boats are adorable and super fun for water play 🚤 Cut pool noodles into small sections, add paper sails with toothpicks or straws, and let kids decorate them. Then float them in a kiddie pool, bathtub, bucket, or water table.

Kids can race their boats, test different sail shapes, and experiment with water movement. It’s playful, creative, and STEM-friendly without feeling like school.

👉 Style Tip: Use waterproof markers or foam stickers to decorate the boats.

🛍 Shop Pool Noodles Here

---

#18. Set Up a DIY Outdoor Art Station

An outdoor art station lets kids get creative without worrying too much about mess 🎨 Set up a small table with washable paints, markers, crayons, stickers, paper, glue, and craft supplies. Let kids choose their own projects and create freely.

This is great for long summer days because kids can return to the station again and again. It encourages independent play and creative confidence.

👉 Style Tip: Use baskets or trays to organize supplies so the setup looks cute and easy to clean.

🛍 Shop Kids Art Supplies Set Here

---

#19. Make Summer Activity Jars

A summer activity jar is perfect for beating boredom fast ✨ Write simple activity ideas on popsicle sticks or colorful paper slips, then place them in a jar. Whenever kids say, “I’m bored,” they can pick one and do it.

Ideas can include “paint a rock,” “make a fort,” “draw a beach scene,” “water the plants,” “do a chalk maze,” or “make a snack plate.” It’s simple, fun, and helps kids feel excited about choosing their own activity.

👉 Style Tip: Color-code the slips by indoor, outdoor, quiet, and messy activities.

🛍 Shop Popsicle Sticks Here

---

Final Thoughts

Keeping kids busy during summer doesn’t have to mean complicated planning or expensive activities. With a few simple supplies, a little creativity, and a cozy setup, you can create hours of screen-free fun right at home ☀️

These easy summer crafts and activities are perfect for keeping kids entertained, creative, active, and happily engaged all season long. Whether you try paper plate suns, rock painting, water balloon games, sensory bins, or a summer activity jar, each idea adds a little more fun and magic to those long summer days.