Preschool has been out for about three weeks now. Grammy and Papa have visited twice already. And still, I’m on a countdown until school starts again. (As my husband puts it, the kid and I have a way of pushing each other’s buttons.) No matter how much counting I do, though, I’ve still got about ten weeks to get through, so it’s time to get planning! Check out some of the awesome art projects I found to ensure that our family fun time is…well, actually fun.
Squirt Gun Painting: I’m so excited to try this one! After explaining it to the kid, I can say I may be more excited than she is, although that could be because she has never seen a squirt gun. Whatever. I’ll tell her it’s a blaster and she can use it to be Princess Leia shooting Storm Troopers. She’ll have fun and we’ll get some awesome, unique wall décor in the process.
Colorful Metal Washer Wind Chime: My daughter has been asking for a wind chime for a couple of years now. Instead of buying one, I think we’ll make one this summer! The supplies for this project are inexpensive to assemble, and I like that there are going to be steps. The kid doesn’t have the longest attention span for crafts, so the fact that we can spread this one out over a couple of sessions (or days) will keep her from walking away mid- project. Now, with a young child, I’m inclined to use paint and a brush rather than spray paint; then I can seal the washers with a spray sealant so the paint won’t chip. Also, there’s a bonus lesson in this project: tying!
Sparkler Firework Craft: The Fourth of July is coming up, so how about making some long-lasting sparklers to play with? This simple craft just needs tin foil, cellophane, straws, tape, and scissors. Your kids can (safely) play with fireworks all holiday long. And think of the pretend play opportunities and celebrations they can have all summer!
Print Art: Painting is fun, but sometimes using a plain old brush can be pretty boring. Why not try painting with a dish brush, a straw, a fork, a toilet paper roll, marbles, textured paper towel tubes, or a sponge? You can also make painting with brush a new experience by using a brush in place of the pencil in a compass. This is one of those “the possibilities are endless” projects.
Melted Bead Sun Catchers: I’m sure you’re familiar with meltable Perler fuse beads (which seem to have come a long way since I was a kid). Have you ever considered using pony beads for a similar craft adventure? The neat thing about using pony beads is that you can get transparent colors and clear beads, making for an awesome sun catcher!
Cardboard TV: How about some screen time this summer? No, no, no, not that kind. Make a cardboard TV that shows the kids’ art on its channels! For preschoolers, learning to draw and write inside a small area of the page—the “screen”—is apparently a useful skill. (Look at all the stuff you learn when your kid is in preschool! Pro tip: walking on their heels is another random skill they should learn.) Let your littles enjoy crafting their TV and the limitless screen time that will follow.
Clay Catch-All Bowls: Okay, this is probably the craft for the summer. I saw it on a friend’s Facebook page and thought it was awesome. But, these bowls are made using Sculpey clay, which my husband has warned me is very hard to manipulate. The directions for the bowl suggest that, although a 3- or 4-year-old can do the project, it may be better for ages 5 and up because the clay is not non-toxic. Be sure the kiddos are working with lots of supervision on this one, regardless of their age. Anyway, these gorgeous catch-all bowls do require a fancier-than-normal crafting tool, so you’ll need to do a bit of advance planning. I’m saving this one for a really rainy or unbearably hot day when we’ll be stuck at home together all. day. long. We can get our holiday gifts done early, eh? How’s that for planning ahead?!
I hope you all are enjoying your summer time with kiddos and that these craft projects provide you with a bit of inspiration for those long days!