Summertime is the perfect season to dive into some fun and colorful crafts with your little ones. Here are 21 delightful and easy summer craft ideas that will keep your toddler entertained while sparking their creativity.
Pom-Pom Caterpillars
Glue colorful pom-poms onto a strip of cardboard to make adorable caterpillars. My little one loves choosing the colors and giving them a googly eye face!
Cardboard Tube Octopus
Paint a cardboard tube and add paper tentacles for an octopus friend. We love making a whole ocean scene with them!
Egg Carton Turtles
Transform an egg carton into tiny turtles with some paint and imagination. Watching my toddler’s delight as she paints each shell is priceless!
Sunflower Fork Painting
Dip a fork in paint to create sunflower petals on paper. It’s a simple technique that even my little one can master!
Bubble Wrap Fish
Use bubble wrap to paint scales on paper fish. This craft is a splash of fun, and my toddler giggles every time she pops a bubble!
Fruit Stamping
Cut fruits like apples or oranges in half and dip them in paint for a fun stamping activity. It’s a juicy way to combine playtime with crafting!
Rainbow Pasta Necklaces
Dye pasta different colors and let your toddler thread them onto yarn for a bright necklace. It’s a wearable rainbow they can be proud of!
Nature Collage
Take a stroll outside and gather leaves, flowers, and twigs for a nature collage. It’s amazing how toddlers can create art from the simplest things found in the backyard!
Leaf Rubbings
Place leaves under paper and rub with crayons to reveal their patterns. Each rubbing is a discovery, and we often frame our favorites!
Paper Plate Sunshine
Turn a simple paper plate into a smiling sun using yellow paint and a bit of imagination. My toddler and I love adding rays with strips of yellow construction paper—it’s a bright spot for any summer afternoon!
Sand Art Bottles
Layer different colors of sand in a bottle for a calming craft. My little one loves watching the colors swirl as we shake them gently.
Sponge Sailboats
Create sailboats using sponges and paper sails. We love racing them in a kiddie pool during hot afternoons.
Painted Rocks
Gather smooth rocks and paint them with fun designs. My toddler’s favorite is turning them into colorful ladybugs.
Yarn Stamping
Wrap yarn around a block and use it to stamp patterns on paper. The surprise designs always bring smiles and laughter!
Foam Cup Flowers
Use foam cups and paint to create beautiful flowers. It’s a simple craft that brightens up our kitchen window!
Paper Bag Kites
Decorate a small paper bag and attach a string to create a tiny kite. We love running around the yard with it trailing behind!
Cotton Ball Sheep
Glue cotton balls onto paper to create fluffy sheep. My toddler adores giving the sheep a colorful pasture with crayons.
Bubble Painting
Blow bubbles in paint to create unique splash patterns on paper. It’s a bubbly mess that results in beautiful art!
Tissue Paper Suncatchers
Layer colorful tissue paper between contact paper to make simple suncatchers. Watching sunlight through them is pure magic for little eyes!
DIY Wind Chimes
String together colorful beads and bells to create a simple wind chime. We hang ours by the window to enjoy the soothing sounds during a summer breeze.