Kids Summer Craft Kit
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True confessions time. Remember that fancy schedule that I made up with all kinds of outings? Well, it hasn’t really seen the light of day. We’ve been happy to be at home most of our days and have ventured out in the afternoons or weekends with FishPapa.
We’ve still done quite a few of the things we planned, but not the way I had planned on them.
For the most part, the kids, the FishBoys in particular, have been really pleased to occupy themselves. They have a list of chores that needs to get done first and then they have free time. They’ve read books, played outside, shot dart guns, played video games, and done the Lego/Playmobil thing. I think that the break from our school routine coupled with freedom to go where the whim moved them has been good for everybody.
Things were going along quite swimmingly. Until last week when I heard someone say, “I’m bored.”
Interesting. I wasn’t too worried about it, though. Since we haven’t even scratched the surface of all the things we could do in the last few weeks of vacation.
Last night I broke out a Kids Summer Craft Kit that I had waiting in the wings. If you already have a box of Kids Craft Supplies, summer is the time to beef it up!
Over the last few months I’ve collected activity books that we already had on our shelves as well a magazines to cut up as well as craft supplies. I corralled them in one big box, waiting for the dreaded sigh, “I’m bored.”
Last night the four younger ones had a great time making collages — well, three of them did, anyway. I handed them scissors, magazines, paper, and glue, as well as old file folders to decorate. One of the easiest crafts we could have done. I stood by to help cut and just talk. They were so absorbed in their projects. It was great fun to watch.
Here’s FishBoy6 to tell you about it. Talk about real life at the FishHouse, complete with whining toddler. But, this little man — oh my! Be still, my heart. He is a hoot!
(To see the video embedded in this post, click here.)
What to Include:
- scissors (and adult supervision as needed)
- glue sticks
- crayons or colored pencils
- old magazines you don’t care about
- construction or craft paper
- envelopes and stationery for letter writing – I also included in our kit a folder containing the letters from the child we sponsor through Compassion International. In this way, we can create cards and letters for Joseph while we’re crafting other things.
- art and craft books – I love almost everything that Williamson Publishing makes, such as Art Starts for Little Hands and Making Amazing Art
- activity books – These may or may not include crafts, but they are full of activities for kids to explore. Some good ones include: The Little Hands Nature Book, Gizmos and Gadgets, Science Play, and Great Games
- logic, mystery and thinking books – These are better suited for older kids who may not be into “little crafts.” Some to
Note to self: do this more often with the kids.
We like making cards for our family members! There is nothing as cute as a toddler’s card!
I save all of my junk mail enveloppes, and free address labels, since my 5 yo is all about making “mail” for others, including sealing up his Legos in the letters and sealing with stickers 🙂
my boys, 4 and 2, love to make collages. although the craft of the moment around here is painting with watercolors on the newspaper 🙂
That looks so fun! We make “cards” to send to the grandparents. The girls cut, use the glue sticks, and color (they are 3).
One of our favorite projects is choosing a particular topic and cutting pictures from old magazines to match. We recently did two posterboards comparing healthy and unhealthy foods.
We use a discarded shoe box to become a house–using old magazines to cut out people, furniture, “rugs”, art for the walls, etc. and glue stick the cutouts down. Sometimes, my kids glue paper or cardboard vertically to create walls for separate rooms. Even the outside of the house can be decorated, with cars, outside toys, flowers and trees, etc. Even my daughter with the short attention span can a lot of time designing and creating her “house.”
My children and I enjoy making cards to send to family and friends.
My girls love to cut out pictures of flowers especially & make their very own books. Collages are awesome! We’ve been talking about trying to make our own paper, too. We’ll see how that goes!
Well first of all, thanks for posting the video with your cuties on it, as well as the whinny toddler noise! Sometimes I feel like that I am going to crazy listening to my own whine makers and I’m the “only one” for some crazy reason. (I’m not being logical, just unreasonable!)
Anyway, we like to color and cut and staple. Especially making birthday cards for grandparents. They use my paper left over from printable coupons usually!
@Maya Andrews, By the way, we will be camping until Wed July 28, so if I win, someone else will prob need to be chosen 🙁 I won’t be checking email from the tent 🙂
Would love to make home made photo albums for the grandparents!