Hey there, crafty parents! 🌞

We know that summer holidays are a mixed bag of excitement, adventure, and—let’s be honest—a whole lot of juggling. But don't worry, we're here to make things a little easier (and a lot more fun) with some free craft ideas to keep your little ones entertained.

Now, before we dive in, let's get one thing straight: this isn’t about adding more pressure to your already full plate. You might try all of these ideas, or you might not do a single one, and that's perfectly okay! We're here to support you, not stress you out. So, if you like what you see, feel free to like, comment, save, or share—but only if you want to. No strings attached, promise! 🤗

Let's be real—there’s so much talk about making the most of these '18 summers with your kids.' And while that’s a lovely thought, the truth is that summer can sometimes feel like an emotional rollercoaster. It's a season of ups and downs, and it's okay if things don't always look like a Pinterest board. We’re all in this together, and no one expects perfection (especially not us!).

So, without further ado, here are some fun and simple craft ideas that your kids will love, and you’ll enjoy too. Whether you’re in the mood for some messy art, nature-inspired projects, or just something to keep the kids busy while you catch your breath, we’ve got you covered.

1. An Easy Vase Of Flowers

Most of us have a bit of cardboard hanging around, & I think this is one of my faves. Super simple craft activity with some fun & often impressive results. Draw or even paint on a vase, punch the cardboard with a pencil & place the foliage or flowers in those spots! Ta da!

2. Leaf Creatures

Glue the leaves of choice down to a piece of card or paper.
Add some goggly eyes and cut some pipe cleaners down to size. Sculpt them a bit for hands, elbows, knees and feet, then have fun playing with the directions they head in. We had fun making the leaves look like they're running 🏃!

3. Stick Person

Find a couple of sticks which might work well as a body and arms. Attach these to each other with some twine. Then get your threads & start wrapping around the stick. When I was nearing the end of one colour, I knotted the old colour to the new colour so that it was a seamless wrap.

To create the hair, wrap some thread around a small piece of cardboard, secure with a separate thread, effectively in the central parting zone, then cut on the alternate side & trim. Stick the hair onto the top of the stick, add googly eyes 👀 and ta da!

4. Noughts & Crosses

You can't beat a game of noughts & crosses, & even more fun if you've built the set yourselves. We used twine to attach the sticks to each other, but it could have been thread or wool or even some elastic bands.

5. Create a Natural Scene

Challenge the kids to make a scene out of natural materials. Just add paper / card and glue, then they can find the leaves 🍃 & twigs of their choice to complete their craft.

6. Make a Lion

It's so simple to create this lion 🦁 from some leftover cardboard, a pen & a few dandelions! They really do make the perfect lion's mane.

A few crafty tips -
✏️ we drew around a saucepan to make the perfect circle
✏️ punching holes with the sharp end of the pencil is the perfect size for your greenery or flowers

7. Create Your Name

If their names are too easy, then give them a whole list of names to find leaves & twigs for, & set them off on a mission. Keep this one up your sleeve if the Summer Holidays are feeling long.

8. Rainbow Leaf Printing

Create & paint rainbow colours or patterns on leaves and then get the kids to experiment with how they print out on paper. Happy painting ❤️

 

9. Sand Art

You don't need to be at the beach to make a sandcastle!
And if you're the kind of person who doesn't like getting too sandy, this kids craft activity is your new best friend.Get the kids into the garden & they could create a line drawing of absolutely anything. You need PVA glue with a small nozzle at the top, then sprinkle sand & shake! 

10. Create a Beach Scene

Save this if you think the kids will love creating this beach scene this summer. Set them free with some colouring pencils or watercolours, glue & sand and let their imaginations run wild. I love this craft because it was weirdly calming to do. 

Remember, these ideas are here to inspire you, not to add more to your to-do list. Whether you tackle them all or just one, the most important thing is to enjoy the time with your little ones and make memories that matter (even if those memories include a little bit of chaos).

Here’s to a summer full of crafts, creativity, and lots of fun—whatever that looks like for you! 🌟