40 Summer Crafts & Activities for Kids (2023)

Looking for summer crafts and activities for kids? 

You can still learn and create fun projects over the summer with your kids! These activities are fun and will keep your kids learning throughout the summer.

#29 is my favorite, so make sure to check it out!

Let’s get started with my 40 Summer Crafts and Activities for Kids.

Activity #1: Fireworks in a Jar Experiment

I have a science experiment you have to try this summer! Make your own fireworks in a jar!

I got this idea from The Genius of Play! It’s an easy science experiment that you can do right at home or in the classroom.

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

  • jar
  • vegetable oil
  • food coloring
  • water
  • spoon

B. Set-up

Fill a jar up 3/4 full with water. Then, in a bowl mix 1/3 cup vegetable oil and a few drops of food coloring. We chose to use rainbow colors, but you can use whatever colors you would like!

C. Activity

The kids will add the oil mix to the jar using a spoon to help guide it in slowly.

Watch the drops of food coloring spread out in the oil and water! It’s mesmerizing to watch. It looks like fireworks in a jar!

This is the perfect summer activity for Memorial Day or July 4th!

Make sure to check out The Genius of Play’s Summer Playbook to discover fun play ideas!

Activity #2: Alphabet Sunshine Craft

We ALL need a little sunshine! This project is such a bright and happy one! It’s also an excellent way to review upper and lower case letters.

It’s also a wonderful fine motor activity! Practicing fine motor skills is crucial for everyday life skills like button a shirt, zip their jackets, or tie their shoes.

sunshine alphabet

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

yellow clothespins

View Amazon's Price

B. Set-up

Paint a paper plate yellow! On yellow clothespins, write lower case letters on them with Sharpie.

Once the plate dries, draw eyes and mouth. Use pink acrylic paint and make circles for cheeks.

With Sharpie, write the upper case letters on the outside of the paper plate.

C. Activity

Have the kids clip on the correct lower case letter to the upper case. They should identify what the letters are before placing them on the plate.

Give them three options to choose from to place them on the plate. This will narrow down the options for them and make it not so overwhelming to them!

RELATED: Fun Fine Motor Activities

Activity #3: Ice Cream Counting

Looking for a fun way to get some counting practice in over the summer? This ice cream counting activity is sure to be a hit with your kids.

Whenever we break the playdough out, the kids end up playing with it for such a long time!

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

  • playdough (we love our Wild Dough, it smells amazing, and the colors are so bold)
  • cardboard
  • Sharpie
  • packing tape
  • dry erase marker

wild dough play doh

Want 15% off your Wild  Dough order? Use the code ABCDEE15 at checkout!

B. Set-up

On a piece of cardboard, draw an ice cream cone using a Sharpie.

Surround the piece of cardboard with packing tape! Make sure to cover the whole piece of cardboard.

C. Activity

Using a dry erase marker, write a number in the ice cream cone you want your little one to count.

They will use the dough to make ice cream scoops and place the correct amount on the cone!

Use a paper towel to erase the number and write a new one in. Repeat over and over 🙂

Use this board throughout the summer!

RELATED: Kindergarten Activities for Kids

Activity #4: Alphabet Ice Painting

Ice painting is one of my favorite activities to do with the kids when it’s hot!

The alphabet ice mold we have is PERFECT for getting some learning in while playing and creating.

alphabet painting

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

alphabet ice mold

View Amazon's Price

B. Set-up

Put water inside the alphabet mold and place it inside the freezer overnight!

C. Activity

Pop the ice letters out and place them in a sensory bin.

Grab some washable paint and put it in an art tray!

Let the kids have fun painting the ice. They should talk about which letter they are painting to go over alphabet recognition.

See if they can find the letters of their name, create words or go over letter sounds for older children!

RELATED: Alphabet Activities for Preschoolers 

Activity #5: Lemon Volcano Experiment

One of our favorites go-to science experiments is fizzy play! No matter how many times we do this experiment, it’s always a hit!

The kids love watching the eruptions made by the vinegar being added into play!

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

sensory bin

View Amazons Price

B. Set-up

Cut the ends off both sides of the lemons. Then, cut the lemon in half! Stick a popsicle stick inside and around the lemon!

C. Activity

*Drop a few drops of food coloring in each lemon. We chose to do rainbow colors! Add a few drops of dish soap and 1/4 cup of baking soda to each lemon.

*Then, push it down in the lemon by using a popsicle stick! Lastly, add on the vinegar using a measuring cup or squirt bottles!

*Watch the eruption occur! Your kids will be AMAZED and love the colors that come out of these lemons

RELATED: Letter L Activities and Crafts

Activity #6: Ocean Ice Melt

We love rescuing toy activities! The kids get so excited to be able to release their animals from being trapped!

This activity is especially fun during the summer. It’s a great way to cool off!

ocean animal melt

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

ocean animal toys

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B. Set-up

Place the ocean animals in a circle ice mold and place it in the freezer overnight! You can also add a few drops of blue food coloring to make it look like the ocean.

C. Activity

Fill up some squirt bottles with warm water. Place the ice in a sensory bin!

Have the kids use the squirt bottles full of warm water to release their ocean animal toys! See how long it takes them to free each animal!

RELATED: Outdoor Activities for Kids 

Activity #7: Popsicle Craft

When I think of summer, one of the things I think about is popsicles!

I’m sorry in advance; doing this craft may get your kids excited to have some real popsicles after creating 🙂

popsicle craft for kids

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

View Amazon's Price

B. Set-up

Draw a popsicle shape on colored card stock paper and cut them out.

C. Activity

There are a few different ways you can have the kids create their own popsicles! They can use poms to make prints all over the paper, Q-tips to trace lines and make dots, or use masking tape to do a paint resist activity.

To do the tape activity, simply add masking tape in the spots where you want there to not be any paint. We just did stripes (check out the video to see how this looks).

Then, pull off the tape after using poms to paint in the open spots!

The kids can either tape a popsicle stick to the back of the paper or you can hot glue it on to ensure it stays on!

RELATED: Fine Motor Activities for Kids 

Activity #8: Summer Learning Activity Book

I really enjoy making these activity books. It is JAM PACKED with learning!

In this activity book, your little ones can work on the following skills: alphabet matching, colors, shapes, patterns, beginning sounds, counting, and numbers.

Check out what is in the entire activity book by checking out this video!

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

Click HERE to grab your Summer Learning Activity Book.

Activity #8: Alphabet Sand Matching Bin

Alphabet matching is a great way to review the letters of the alphabet with preschoolers!

It’s a way to check for understanding that kids can differentiate between the letters. This is a FUN and engaging way to get them excited to learn.

summer letter match

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

Click HERE for your FREE Summer Letter Match Printable

sand toys

View Amazon's Price

B. Set-up

Dump the sand into a sensory bin! Add in the letters and sand toys in.

Print off my letter matching sheet! Both upper and lower case letters are available.

C. Activity

Your little ones can play with the sand and dig for letters with the shovel.

When they find a letter, they should identify it and then match it up to the letter on the printable.

Try to have them find all the letters of the alphabet!

RELATED: Alphabet Activities for Preschoolers

Activity #9: Sandcastle Craft

Using sand to create art is SO much fun! It was also nice to use sand in a different way than what we are used to.

This is a perfect craft when you need to go inside to beat the heat!

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

Click HRE to grab your FREE Sandcastle Template

B. Set-up

Print off my sandcastle template and copy it onto a white piece of paper. You can also draw it if you want and not use my template!

Outline the drawing in glue.

C. Activity

Make sure to place an art tray under the paper. Then, dump the sand on the glue!

Remove the access sand by picking it up and shaking it onto the tray. The sand should have stuck to the glue.

Paint seashells using watercolors and glue them to the bottom of the paper!

RELATED: ABCDeeLearning’s Teaching Resources

Activity #10: Mermaid Sensory Bin

My daughter is really into mermaids right now, so I knew I just had to come up with a themed bin! This one is so fun for summer with the colored sand.

This is another activity we used with Crayola Play Sand! The colors are bold and fun for the kids to play and create with.

mermaid sensory bin

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

white shells

View Amazon's Price

B. Set-up

Dump blue, green, and purple sand into a sensory bin. Add in some glitter/sequins to be shiny (this was my daughter’s favorite part).

C. Activity

Add the mermaid’s in as well as shells and gems! The kids can mix the sand colors and explore mixing the water and the sand!

Have the kids scoop water using a measuring cup over to the sand section (if they would like).

This is the PERFECT colorful and fun summer sensory bin!

Activity #11: Squirt Gun Painting

Looking for a fun new way to paint with your kids?

They will love using a squirt gun to paint and create a masterpiece! This process to this art project is WAY too much fun!

squirt gun painting

How to do this activity

A.  Materials you need

liquid watercolors

View Amazons Price

B. Set-up

Put the liquid watercolors in each squirt gun! I used 4 squirt guns with different colors inside.

C. Activity

Let the kids spray away! Easy as that. They will LOVE seeing the colors appear and drip down the canvas!

RELATED: Outdoor Activities for Kids

Activity #12: Ocean Oobleck

Oobleck is just an amazing sensory experience for kids! It’s both a solid and a liquid! It’s honestly one of the coolest fillers and we love to use it!

Oobleck is the perfect filler for an ocean-themed sensory bin because it looks exactly like water, but it’s not!

ocean oobleck

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

craft sand

View Amazon's Price

B. Set- up

In a bowl, mix 2 cups of cornstarch, 1 cup of water, and blue food coloring; mix with a spoon!

Dump some sand into half your tray and dump the oobleck in the other half.

C. Activity

Add in some ocean-themed accessories! We love ours from Safari LTD. They are the perfect size for small-world sensory play setups like these.

Have the kids play, get a little messy and have fun! This is a great one to take outside.

I will tell you though; oobleck is really easy to clean up if you decide to do it indoors :).

RELATED: The BEST Sensory Bins for Kids

Activity #13: Crab Craft

Looking for a simple craft to try with your kids this summer? These crabs are PERFECT!

You just need a few supplies to pull this cute activity off at home or summer camp.

crab craft

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

acrylic paint set

View Amazon's Price

B. Set-up

Fold a paper plate in half and paint it red.

Fold a piece of red cardstock in half! Create a rectangle for the eyes, claws, and two sets of legs. Do this on the crease of the paper, so it makes double (makes it go faster!)

C. Activity

Cut out all the parts made from cardstock and glue them on using hot glue if you are in a rush. If you aren’t, you can use regular glue.

Add some googly eyes on the rectangles!

You can rock these back and forth if they are placed on a flat surface for some extra fun.

Activity #14: Ice Cream Puffy Paint

Puffy paint couldn’t be easier to make, and it feels so awesome when it dries!

The kids will love the process of this different art project! Making ice cream cone art is TOO much fun for the summer.

puffy paint ice cream

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

Click HERE for your FREE Summer Image

food coloring

View Amazon's Price

B. Set-up

Make puffy paint by mixing equal parts of Elmer’s white glue and foam shaving cream together in a bowl. Add the food coloring and stir.

Create a cone shape using brown construction paper and paste it to white paper.

C. Activity

Scoop out the puffy paint and spread it out around the printable to create ice cream cones!

You can make the cone in several different colors or just one!

Add sprinkles on at the end and let it dry overnight. Feel it in the morning to see how soft and squishy it is.

Activity #15: Watermelon Counting

I’m pretty obsessed with sensory bags. They are one of my go-to activities, especially with math and counting skills.

Sensory bags are a MESS-FREE activity that kids can use to practice fine motor skills.

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

colored sharpies

View Amazon's Price

B. Set-up

On the plastic bag, draw a few semi-circles to be the watermelons. Inside each one, draw a number for the amount of seeds you want your little one to practice.

In a plastic bag, dump a bottle of hair gel and a 1/2 cup of water inside.

Add a few drops of pink food coloring and a bunch of black beans and spread out the materials inside.

C. Activity

Tape the bag down to a flat surface with colored tape.

They will move the correct number of black beans in the bag to each watermelon! They can count as they go to practice counting and number recognition skills.

RELATED: Number Recognition Activities for Preschoolers

Activity #16: Car Wash Sensory

Do your kids love going to the car wash or washing the car at home? Mine LOVE it!

Coloring shaving cream is such an easy and fun process! This only took 5 minutes to set up. 

car washing sensory bin

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

toy cars

View Amazon's Price

B. Set-up

In a bowl, spray 2 cups of shaving cream and add few drops of food coloring. Then, mix it up with a spoon, then scoop it out into the container.

Grab your other storage bin and fill it up with some water and grab a towel for them to dry the cars off.

C. Activity

Let the kids have fun washing their toy cars! They can use the sponges, so it feels like they are really washing the vehicle. They can use the water to wash it off then dry!

RELATED: The BEST 22 Sensory Bins For Kids

Activity #17: Tic-Tac-Toe Relay

Looking for a fun way to get your kids active outdoors? This is such a fun family game!

The kids had so much fun playing this game! It’s such an easy set-up that’s perfect for a family get-together.

Check out this video below to see how to play this game!

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

yard spray chalk

View Amazon's Price

B. Set-up

With the yard spray paint (which is entirely safe to use and comes right off), make lines to create a tic-tac-toe board.

tic tact toe board

C. Activity

One person or team will have a set of 3 objects, and the other team will have another set of 3 objects that are different (see video above).

Create a starting line with cones or even the yard spray paint.

On the GO signal, the first person from each team will run to the tic-tac-toe board and place one of their objects in a space. They will then run back and either tag the next person in line, or if there are only 2 people playing against each other, they will pick up the next object and run back to the board.

Play goes on until one person gets three in a row. You can do this up or down, side to side, or diagonally.

If all players have all their objects on the board and there is no winner, it’s a tie, and you can start over.

RELATED: 20 FUN Exercises for Kids

Activity #18: Bug Sensory Bin

My kids are always fascinated by insects outside! It makes for such a fun sensory and play activity for kids.

While you are playing with this activity, discuss that insect starts with the letter i. If your little one is also working on beginning sounds, it’s important to have them say what sound the letter i makes.

insect sensory bin

How to do this activity

1. Materials you need

toy insects

Want 15% off your order from Safari LTD? Use the code ABCDEE at checkout! 

2. Set-up

In a sensory bin, dump 7 cups of flour, 1 cup of vegetable oil, and 1 cup of cocoa powder.  Mix it up! Move it to one side of the bin and place fake grass on the other half. Lastly, add in stones, sticks, and insects!

3. Activity

Have your little ones use the fine motor and gardening tools to play! They will have a blast exploring the bin and the insects. Talk about the different insects, what they eat and how many legs they have.

RELATED: Letter I Crafts and Activities

Activity #19: Fire Blow Painting

When I think of summer, I think of late-night bonfires with family and friends!

Blow painting is such a fun process for the kids to try. I love finding new ways for the kids to create. This didn’t disappoint!

fire blow painting

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

sticks craft

View Amazon's Price

B. Set-up

Add liquid watercolors to a shallow bowl or cup. You can also use a little water and food coloring.

If your straw is bendable, cut that part off to make it easier for the kids to move back and forth.

C. Activity

Dip the straw into the liquid and place a finger on the top of the straw to stop the liquid from escaping.

Once on the paper, they can let go, so it drops on the paper! They will then blow into the straw to spread the liquid around on the paper.

Repeat this with the different colors to make a fire!

Hot glue some sticks to the bottom to make this fun fire craft.

RELATED: Spring Crafts and Activities for Kids

Activity #20: Rainbow Ice Cream Sensory

Here’s another colored shaving cream activity! This once ice cream-themed and PERFECT for summer play.

Pretend to have your little one whip up some sweet treats with this sensory bin.

rainbow icecream sensory

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

silicone ice cream cones

View Amazon's Price

B. Set-up

In a bowl, spray 2 cups of shaving cream and add few drops of food coloring. Then, mix it up with a spoon then scoop it out into the container.

Place the cones/bowls in another bin.

C. Activity

It’s time to place your orders! Have the kids scoop different colors of shaving cream onto the cones.

This isn’t an edible bin, make sure the kids don’t accidentally eat it. If you are looking to make this an edible bin, you can make it with cool whip instead of shaving cream.

Kids can mix the colors around and have fun exploring with the shaving cream! This is a great bin to take outdoors.

Activity #21: Footprint Flip Flop Craft

This is the cutest keepsake summer craft that is a must-do activity!

I love seeing the kid’s feet and handprints in art projects. It seriously never gets old to me.

flip flop craft

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

art tray

View Amazon's Price

B. Set-up

Dump some paint on an art tray! Have your little one stick one foot onto the tray.

C. Activity

Guide the foot onto a piece of paper! Press their foot down, so their toes and footprints show up good!

Wash off their foot, then have the kids dip their other foot into the paint and repeat!

Cut around the footprint so there is a little paper still on it to look like a sandal.

Cut a few pieces of pipe cleaner to be the center of the shoe! Hot glue those down on both ends to make sure they stay.

Write the kid’s initials with the year to remember when you did it!

Activity #22: Celery Printed Fish Art

Did you ever think that celery could make amazing art? Well, it totally can!

Celery makes the perfect prints for fish scales! We had some old celery sticks that I knew needed to be put to good use.

celery printed fish

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

washable paint

View Amazon's Price

B. Set-up

Draw a fish shape using a marker on a piece of white paper. Add fins and a few facial features!

Dump the colors of the rainbow in a paint tray. We love the Crayola brand washable paint!

C. Activity

Place a celery stick in each of the colors.

Stamp the celery in order of the colors of the rainbow on the fish!

Your little one can use a marker to color in the fins at the top and bottom.

Lastly, we used dot markers to make bubbles for the fish.

Activity #23: Fizzy USA Play

When I think of July 4th and Memorial Day, I think about the people who have/had served our country, fireworks, and celebrating America!

Which makes fizzy play an excellent activity for the kids!

USA fizzy play

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

sensory bin

View Amazons Price

B. Set-up

In a tray, dump a package of baking soda!

In a cup, add a few drops of food coloring vinegar. Mix it up!

Add in a few festive accessories like glitter stars and hats.

C. Activity

Have the kids use droppers to squirt the food coloring mixture into the baking soda!

They will love seeing it fizz and erupt.

RELATED: STEM Toys for Kids 

Activity #24: Lemonde Craft

Ice-cold lemonade is the best on a hot summer day! This craft just screams summer!

The kids will love using sponges to create this craft with!

lemonade craft

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

hot glue gun

View Amazon's Price

B. Set-up

Create a cup shape using a pencil on cardboard.

Cut it out using a box cutter and then paint it pink or yellow with acrylic paint!

Cut a lemon in half and get some yellow acrylic paint ready for the kids.

C. Activity

Have the kids dip the cut lemon in yellow paint. They want to make sure that too much isn’t on the lemon, or it will not make the best prints.

They will make several prints on each cup. Then, they will paint a few white ice cubes on cardboard.

Hot glue a straw in the center of the cup and bend it, so it looks like it’s ready to drink!

This will look so good; you will have to grab some lemonade after making it!

Activity #25: Whale Cup Craft

Would you have known these were green cups leftover from Christmas? Amazing right!

I love being able to reuse things that would not have been used any longer. I keep a huge stash of items like this around to use them instead of just tossing them.

whale cup craft

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

paper cups

View Amazon's Price

B. Set-up

Paint the cup blue using acrylic paint. You may have to do several layers.

At the top of the cup, use a screwdriver to create a small hole at the top for the spout.

Create fins using blue cardstock paper and a tail!

C. Activity

Glue googly eyes, the fin and tail on the cup using hot glue!

Cut a few pieces of pipe cleaner and stick them inside the top to be the water coming from the spout.

Draw on a smile using a marker, and you have the cutest little whale cup craft!

Activity #26: Summer I SPY

I SPY activities have become a staple for us! The kids enjoy searching for the objects and seeing if they can find all of them before the other one can.

This is a wonderful and fun way to get some counting practice in as well!

summer I SPY

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

Click HERE for your FREE Summer I SPY Printable

B. Set-up

Print off the I SPY sheet and grab a marker!

C. Activity

Go through each of the objects on the sheet and have the kids find them on the sheet. Once they find one, cross it off with a marker, so they don’t go back to the same one. Have them write the amount there is on the line!

RELATED: Teaching Resources

Activity #27: Shark Paper Plate Craft

I have another simple paper plate craft for you! Who’s little one loves sharks?! They are a favorite over here!

All I can think about when I see this craft is the song Baby Shark.

shark paper plate craft

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

B. Set-up

Fold a paper plate and paint the front blue!

Draw two fins and a tail using cardstock paper.

C. Activity

Using a glue stick, put one fin on the front of the plate and one fin on the back to be the dorsal fin.

Paste the tail on the inside of the plate so it’s sticking out of the side!

Add on googly eyes and draw on a smile! If you want to add teeth, use a Q-tip and dip it in white paint to make teeth by the mouth!

Activity #28: Color Scavenger Hunt

Scavenger hunts are the best outdoor activities! Kids just love being the first to find something!

I always pretend like I am looking too, and that always gets the kids excited to find items before me!

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

colored clothespins

View Amazon's Price

B. Set-up

Cut out a small piece of cardboard and paint/color a few different colors you would like the kids to find outdoors. Clip the clothespins on the board so the objects will be secured on there!

C. Activity

Go outside and start searching for some different colors! I ended up taking the kids to the Metroparks to find some different colored objects. We didn’t have a bunch in our own yard, and it makes for a fun field trip outdoors!

RELATED: Outdoor Activities for Kids

Activity #29: Pasta Pineapple Craft

Pasta-painted activities have quickly become one of my favorite art activities to do with the kids.

The process is fun for them, it’s easy, and it always turns out so stinking cute.

pinapple pasta painted craft

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

Click HERE for your FREE Summer Images

B. Set-up

Dump some wheel pasta in a plastic bag. Also, dump some yellow acrylic paint in the bag, shake it up, and dump it out on parchment paper on an art tray.

Repeat this process with green paint and the bow tie pasta.

C. Activity

Use the FREE pineapple template or draw a pineapple shape on cardboard.

Paint the bottom of the pineapple yellow and the stem green.

Glue on googly eyes and draw a mouth with a marker.

Squirt glue onto the yellow parts and start adding on the wheel pasta. Then, add on the green bow tie pasta noodles!

This is such a cute and fun sensory art project for the kids!

Activity #30: Edible Rainbow Sand

Sensory play is always more fun when it’s edible! This taste-safe sand is colorful and fun for both toddlers and older kids.

Amazingly, you can make this sand so easily using Fruit Loops!

edible sand for kids

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

food processor

View Amazon's Price

B. Set-up

Sort the Fruit Loops by color in bowls!

Blend each color of Fruit Loops using the food processor. Dump the ground up “sand” into the sensory bin.

C. Activity

Have the kids play with the sand using sand toys. They can try to taste it, or they can just play!

Kids can practice scooping, pouring, and play with their sand toys. This is the perfect way to play with sand this summer!

Activity #31: Washable Window Paint

I have such a fun way to keep your little ones busy outside so you can sit and relax!

What a fun summer activity for kids! It’s simple to put together and only a few ingriendents.

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

  • dish soap
  • washable paint
  • muffin tin
  • flour

B. Set-up

Add about 4-5 tablespoons of dish soap to each compartment of the muffin tin. Then, dump in 3-4 tablespoons of washable paint. Lastly, mix in a little bit of flour to each one to get your desired consistency.

C. Activity

I used a straw to mix up the paints, this was an easy way to mix them without spilling over to the other colored paints.

Take it outside and let the kids use paintbrushes to paint on the windows! They can get creative and draw pictures or just explore the paints by color mixing and making their own designs.

Once they are all done, spray off the window using a hose. We did this immediately after we were done, I would suggest doing this to ensure that it comes off.

This is the perfect summer art activity for kids!

Activity #32: DIY Kinetic Sand Recipe

Want to make your own kinetic sand? This is the BEST recipe! I have tried a few different ways to make it right and I finally found the best recipe.

It’s SUPER easy and a fun summer activity for kids!

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

  • oil
  • sand
  • cornstarch
  • measuring cups
  • sensory bin
  • toys

B. Set-up

In a bowl mix together 2.5 cups of sand, 1.5 cups of cornstarch, and .5 of oil. We used vegetable oil but baby oil or canola oil would work too! You can add a little bit of oil if you need it to be more like kinetic sand, I had to add a little bit more than .5 cups in.

Mix it together in a bowl, we also added blue food coloring because we had white sand. You can get colored sand at the store!

C. Activity

Grab some play dough toys or sand toys and let the kids play! You can make one color of kinetic sand or you can try to make a few different colors!

Kinetic sand is such a fun sensory activity and it’s a great way to play outside during the summertime!

Activity #33: Craft Boat Ideas

Make your own boats this summer for your kids to play with in the water!

This is great to make for the pool, water table, or even just a plastic container. This summer activity is perfect for kids.

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

  • pool noodles
  • knife (adult will use)
  • wine corks
  • small rubber bands
  • sponges
  • skewers
  • foam paper
  • scissors

B. Set-up

Cut the pool noodle into small sections using a knife. The adult will do this part of the project.

Grab the rest of your supplies to make the boats!

C. Activity

Create a triangle shape out of foam paper and cut it out. Then, cut a skewer to be able to fit on the foam paper. Poke holes at the bottom and top of the foam paper to make the sail. You will do this for each of the types of boats.

To make the wine cork boats, grab 3 wine corks and wrap two small rubber bands around them to hold them together. Then, poke the skewer through the middle wine cork to make the boat!

Create the sponge boats by cutting a little off of the sponge so it’s not so big. Then, poke the skewer through to make the boat. I suggest using a more heavy duty sponge, we used the dollar store brand and it didn’t hold up as well.

Lastly, make the pool noodle boats by poking the skewer through one side of the pool noodle and you have three boats!

Add water to a sensory bin. You can use blue food coloring to color it or leave it the way it is.

Let the kids play with the boats by using a straw to blow them around. They can also just play with them with their hands or even add small toys to them.

Activity #34: Summer Color by Code

This color-by-code summer activity is a fun way for kids to work on numbers! There are 7 FREE coloring pages included in this pack.

My son loves the color-by-code printables SO much! They are by far his favorite learning activity.

summer free color by code

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

  • Color by Code sheets
  • crayons
  • markers

Click HERE for your FREE Summer Color by Code

B. Set-up

Print off the sheets that you want to use!

C. Activity

Make sure your child understands how to read the key at the top of the page. Then, they will color each number in the picture based on what the key says.

These are my kid’s favorite out of all the printables I create. They love revealing the picture at the end!

RELATED: Math Printables 

Activity #35: DIY Bubble Station

Bubbles are a HUGE part of summer when it comes to kids activities.

Kids of all ages love bubbles. As adults, we even love bubbles, right?! Here is a fun way for the kids to be able to able get their own bubbles so the adults don’t have to keep constantly filling it up for them!

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

B. Set-up

In a drink dispenser, you will by dumping 10 cups of water, 1 cup Dawn dish soap, and 1 cup of light corn syrup.

C. Activity

Mix these ingredients together slowly in the dispenser.

Then, have the kids use a dispenser to fill up their bubble cups or trays with bubbles! They can use bubble wands or their bubble toys to play!

Activity #36: Kool-Aid Play Dough

This is the BEST smelling playdough recipe out there! Plus, it’s super easy to make.

Making Kool-Aid playdough is a fun summer activity for kids.

kool aid play dough

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

  • Kool-Aid packets
  • flour
  • vegetable oil
  • water
  • salt
  • play dough toys
  • bowls
  • spoon

B. Set-up

Mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl. You will be adding 1 cup of flour, 1/4 cup of salt, and the Kool-Aid packet. Use a spoon to mix these ingredients together.

Then, start boiling 2/3 cup of water.

C. Activity

Add the boiling water to the dry mix along with 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. Then, use a spoon to mix everything together until it forms the right consistency of play dough!

Use your hands to knead the dough and leave it to cool!

Then, once it cools, let the kids play! Use cookie cutters or playdough toys to play.

Store this in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This can be kept for up to 2 months!

Activity #37: Tie Dye Name Towels

Tie-dying is such a fun summer activity to do with your kids!

This method of tie-dying is EASY for the kids to do because all they have to do is spray the tie-dye paint onto a towel!

tie dye name towel

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

tie dye spray kit

View Amazon's Price

B. Set-up

Lay out the white towel and use duct tape to form the letters of your child’s name on the towel.

Then, add water to the spray bottles with the tie-dye powder.

C. Activity

Spread out a table cloth down on the ground. You can do this on the cement or grass. I suggest doing it on the grass because tie-dye can stain the cement.

Then, lay out the towel! Have the kids start spraying the towel with the tie-dye paint! They should paint the entire towel and not leave any white spots.

Let it air dry. Then, peel off the tape to reveal your kids’ names! Once the one side is dry, you can flip it over and paint the other side if it didn’t go all the way through. The spray bottles tend to be weaker than the squirt bottles, so they may not soak through.

Follow the steps to ensure the tie-dye color stays!

Activity #38: Walking Water Experiment

I love when experiments are easy but educational at the same time!

The walking water experiment is a great summer activity because the kids get to work with water. They will also learn about how colors mix to make new colors.

walking water experiment

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

  • cups/tray/muffin tray
  • paper towels
  • water
  • food coloring

B. Set-up

We used our play tray from Inspire My Play. However, you can do this experiment using 6 clear cups or even a muffin tray!

Add water to all of the cups or slots of the tray. If you are using cups, make them into a circle formation.

C. Activity

In the first slot or cup add red food coloring, in the third add yellow, and in the fifth add blue.

Fold one piece of a paper towel in half and cut off 1/3 of it. Place one end in the red and one end in the clear water. Do this for each of the colors. There should be two ends in each of the cups or slots of the tray.

Wait to see the colors move through. the water! This process takes about a half-hour to happen.

Have the kids form. a hypothesis to see what they think is going to happen. Talk about what colors mix to make new colors!

Activity #39: Alphabet Soup

Everything is always more fun when you add water! This alphabet activity works perfectly for a summer learning activity.

My favorite part about this activity is that you can use a can to play along! I love being able to recycle and play!

alphabet soup

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

Click HERE for your FREE Rainbow Alphabet Mat

B. Set-up

In a sensory bin, add water and some plastic/foam letters.

C. Activity

Your little one will scoop the letters, say them and then place them on top of the matching letter on the alphabet printable.

RELATED: Sight Word Activities for Preschoolers

Activity #40: Flower Posting Activity

Check out this fun way to do a nature or flower hunt outside with your kids!

My kids loved collecting flowers for their own flower bouquets!

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

  • cardboard
  • acrylic paint
  • flowers
  • screwdriver

B. Set-up

Grab a piece of cardboard and paint a flower case on it!

Then, use a screwdriver to poke holes above the vase.

C. Activity

Have the kids head outside to search for flowers they want to pick! They can pick the flowers and poke them through the holes you created.

You have to, you may have to cut the stems before placing them into the holes if they are too big.

The kids have their own beautiful flower case to display! This is such a fun outdoor activity for kids.

RELATED: Flower Crafts for Kids

Final Thoughts and Conclusion

Summer is the time when you get to spend some extra time with your kids!

I hope you found some crafts and activities that will fill your summer with great memories and fun! Which activity was your favorite on the list? Comment below to let me know, I’d love to hear from you!

Happy Summer!

Deena

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