Fun Craft Ideas to Do with Kids

Last Updated on July 10, 2024 by Michael

Are you tired of hearing your kids whine about being bored every five minutes? Do you find yourself daydreaming about shipping them off to a remote island just so you can have a moment of peace? Well, put down that imaginary plane ticket and get ready to embrace the wonderful world of crafting with your little ones! These fun craft ideas are guaranteed to keep your kids entertained for hours, or at least until they get distracted by a shiny object.

Potato Stamp Picasso

Who needs expensive art supplies when you have a sack of spuds sitting in your pantry? Grab a few potatoes, some paint, and let your kids channel their inner Picasso with this fun and easy craft.

Cut the potatoes in half and let your kids carve their own designs into the flesh using a butter knife (don’t worry, it’s not like they can make them look any worse than they already do) Dip the potato stamps into paint and let your kids go wild on a piece of paper Sit back and marvel at the abstract masterpieces your little ones create, and try not to think about how much money you could have saved on that overpriced art class you signed them up for last year

Toilet Paper Roll Transformers

Don’t throw away those empty toilet paper rolls just yet! With a little bit of paint, some googly eyes, and a lot of imagination, your kids can transform them into a cast of colorful characters.

• Let your kids paint the toilet paper rolls in a rainbow of colors (and try not to cringe when they mix all the colors together into a muddy brown)
• Glue on some googly eyes, pipe cleaners, and other fun embellishments to bring their creations to life
• Watch as your kids spend hours playing with their new toilet paper roll friends, and pat yourself on the back for being such a resourceful parent

Macaroni Masterpieces

Forget about those boring old macaroni necklaces from your childhood. It’s time to take macaroni art to the next level with these creative project ideas.

Give your kids a blank canvas and a variety of different pasta shapes to work with. Let them create their own pasta portraits, landscapes, or abstract designs. Try not to cringe when they inevitably start eating the raw pasta off the canvas (hey, at least it’s a healthy snack, right?).

Once their masterpieces are complete, spray them with a clear sealant to preserve them for posterity (or at least until you accidentally knock them off the shelf while dusting).

Slime Time

Kids these days are obsessed with slime, and for good reason. It’s squishy, stretchy, and endlessly entertaining. Plus, making your own slime at home is a fun and easy science experiment that your kids will love.

Gather up some basic ingredients like white glue, borax, and food coloring. Let your kids mix and match the ingredients to create their own custom slime concoctions. Try not to gag when they start stretching the slime between their fingers and making disgusting squelching noises.

Warn them not to get the slime stuck in their hair, because trust me, that’s a nightmare you don’t want to deal with.

Nature Scavenger Hunt

If you’re tired of being cooped up inside all day, why not take the crafting outside with a fun nature scavenger hunt? Not only will your kids get some fresh air and exercise, but they’ll also have a chance to flex their creative muscles.

Give each child a bucket or bag and a list of natural items to find, like leaves, acorns, and interesting rocks. Once they’ve collected their treasures, bring them back inside and let them create their own nature-inspired art projects.

Watch as they glue leaves onto paper to create funky collages, or paint rocks to look like tiny animals. Just make sure to check their pockets before you throw their clothes in the wash, because nobody wants to find a handful of acorns in their clean laundry.

Cardboard Box Castles

Why spend a fortune on expensive playhouses when you can just raid your recycling bin instead? With a few large cardboard boxes and some basic craft supplies, your kids can build their own epic fort or castle.

Help your kids cut and tape the boxes together to create the basic structure of their fort. Let them decorate the outside with paint, stickers, and other fun embellishments. Watch as they spend hours playing inside their new cardboard kingdom, and try not to be too offended when they ban you from entering (apparently, parents have cooties).

When they’re done playing, simply recycle the boxes and start all over again next week (because let’s face it, cardboard boxes are like crack for kids).

Shaving Cream Marbling

If you’re looking for a craft that’s equal parts messy and beautiful, look no further than shaving cream marbling. This fun technique involves swirling paint into a layer of shaving cream to create stunning, one-of-a-kind designs.

• Spray a thick layer of shaving cream onto a baking sheet or tray
• Let your kids drop food coloring or liquid watercolors onto the shaving cream and swirl it around with a toothpick or skewer
• Gently press a piece of paper onto the surface of the shaving cream, then lift it up to reveal the beautiful marbled design
• Repeat the process with different colors and patterns until your kids have created a whole stack of gorgeous marbled paper

Just make sure to have plenty of paper towels on hand, because things are about to get messy.

Recycled Robot Pals

If you’re tired of stepping on tiny toy parts and tripping over piles of plastic junk, why not put all that clutter to good use by creating some cool recycled robot pals with your kids?

Gather up a bunch of old electronics, toy parts, and other small bits and bobs from around the house. Give your kids some glue, tape, and other basic craft supplies and let them go to town creating their own unique robot designs.

Watch as they proudly show off their new robot friends, and try not to laugh when they start having conversations with them (hey, at least they’re using their imagination, right?). When they’re done playing, simply toss the robot parts back into the junk drawer and start all over again next week (because who needs fancy toy stores when you have a never-ending supply of random household objects?).

Painted Rock Pet Rocks

Remember those cute little pet rocks from the 70s? Well, they’re back and better than ever, thanks to this fun and easy craft idea that your kids will love.

Head outside and let your kids collect a bunch of smooth, round rocks in various sizes. Bring the rocks back inside and give your kids some paint, googly eyes, and other fun embellishments to decorate them with.

Let them create their own quirky rock characters, like silly face rocks, rainbow unicorn rocks, or even tiny rock villages. When the paint is dry, help your kids build a special habitat for their new pet rocks, complete with a cozy bed made out of a shoebox and some soft fabric scraps.

Watch as they play with their new rock friends for hours on end, and try not to get too attached when they inevitably forget about them a week later (hey, at least rocks don’t need to be fed or walked!).

Bubble Wrap Stomp Painting

If your kids are bouncing off the walls with energy, why not put that hyperactivity to good use with this fun and physical craft idea?

Lay out a large sheet of bubble wrap on the floor, bubble side up. Squirt some paint onto the bubble wrap in various colors. Let your kids put on some old shoes or go barefoot, then let them stomp and dance all over the bubble wrap to create a unique abstract painting.

Once they’re done stomping, carefully peel the bubble wrap away to reveal the colorful masterpiece underneath. Hang the finished painting up on the fridge or frame it and give it to grandma as a special gift (because what grandma doesn’t love a good foot painting?).

And there you have it, folks – ten fun and creative craft ideas that will keep your kids entertained for hours on end (or at least until they get hungry and start demanding snacks). So go ahead and embrace the mess, the chaos, and the sheer joy of crafting with your little ones. Who knows, you might even discover your own inner artist in the process! Just remember to stock up on paper towels and wine, because trust me, you’re going to need both.