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Crafting is one of the best ways to boost a child's creativity. Whether you're looking for spring crafts, summer crafts, fall crafts or winter crafts, there's a DIY project out there that'll keep them entertained for hours. Think toilet paper frogs, yogurt animal cups, craft stick airplanes, cardboard suns and more! To make it easy to sort through the endless list of DIY art project ideas online, we've rounded up the best easy crafts for kids right here.
Every age group can benefit from an amazing day of crafting at home or at school — working with their hands can help preschoolers and toddlers develop fine motor skills and increase their confidence with sensory activities like making hand drums and filling bottles with colorful glitter. They can paint to their heart's content, crayon and draw smiling faces on their craft stick octopuses, animal bookmarks and pom-pom monsters (one of the Halloween-inspired crafts on the list). Many of these ideas are straightforward enough for little ones to try with supervision — however, some projects may require more hands-on assistance. But the good news is you can find most of the supplies (buttons, glue, tissue paper, coffee filters and paper plates, for instance) right in your craft box, ready to be put to use.
On our list, you'll find the best craft project options for kids from popular DIY blogs as well as a few of our favorite holiday-specific crafts, including options for Earth Day and Father's Day. And since it's never too early to plan, we've also included some crafts for the holidays, since Thanksgiving and Christmas are always great times for kids to get crafty. Say goodbye to boredom!
1
Embellished Bow
Here's a quick way to take a basic straw basket to the next level! Kids can embellish bows with iron-on patches and stenciled monograms. Help them create their own bows using a 3" wired ribbon or purchase a large one to design. Then, use fabric glue to attach the decorative patches.
2
Monster Windsocks
This is a great group project for the kids. Let the kids cut, fold and draw on cardstock to create wide-eyed monster windsocks for the backyard.
3
Paper Flowers
They'll enjoy making these colorful paper flowers to decorate their bedrooms. They'll first fold dyed cupcake liners in half and cut out petal and fringe shapes. Have them fold a piece of floral wire in half and twist it around the faux flower stamen. Poke the wire through the center of three to four paper liners. Finish it off by wrapping floral tape around the base of the liners and bringing it all the way down the stem.
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4
Paper Bag Kite
Spring is the perfect time to fly a kite. Luckily, kids can make their own with paper lunch bags. Let them embellish the bags with stickers, washi tape, paint and any other accessories. Then, work on attaching the yarn and streamers so the kite will be ready to fly.
5
Carrot Treat Cones
Easter may have passed, but that doesn't mean this carrot treat cone craft should too! To make, you'll need to print out our carrot template. Then gather the essentials: coffee filters, orange paper, double stick tape, green craft paint, twine, a clothespin, a wire hanger, paper towel and scissors.
Steps:
- Mix a few drops of green craft paint with water until it reaches the consistency of milk. Soak coffee filters in the paint mixture until fully saturated (you can do this simultaneously).
- Squeeze out excess paint and lay the filters flat to dry on paper towels or hang them from a hanger with a clip or clothespin. Download our template and trace it onto orange paper.
- Cut out and roll the template into a cone shape, adhering the sides with double stick tape. Cut out the center of the painted coffee filters.
- Attach the remaining paper to the inside edge of the cone with double-stick tape. Fill the “carrot” cone with small treats and tie twine around the top to close.
6
Dinosaur Nightlife Terrarium
Transform mason jars into terrariums fit for mini plastic dinosaurs. It also makes a creative nightlight for kids who are still scared of the dark.
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7
Clay Crab Necklace
If your kids are obsessed with sea creatures, they'll love making and wearing their very own crab necklaces. Plus, the craft only requires clay, twine and an eye hook.
8
Cardboard Suns
Here's an eco-friendly craft that requires lots of cardboard and creativity. Help your little ones cut, paint and design large and mini cardboard suns to scatter around the backyard.
9
Paint Marker Candles
Grab some paint markers (or acrylic paint) and watch them draw flowers, swirls and all sorts of cool shapes and designs on taper candles. Use a clean cloth with rubbing alcohol to remove any lint and debris before starting.
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10
Toilet Paper Frog
You're sure to have these supplies in your kid's craft box. Grab those discarded toilet paper rolls for kids to paint and turn into frogs. Then, have them transform paper plates into lily pads.
11
Painted Baskets
It doesn't get more simple than this: Kids can spend time outdoors painting the wood strips of plain wooden baskets to carry their toys in and out of the house.
12
Pool Noodle Boats
After making these eye-catching boats, have your kids set them afloat in the tub or swimming pool. It's a fun craft to recycle any old pool noodles and paper straws.
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13
Tissue Paper Suncatcher
Purchase or gather discarded tissue paper for them to make into suncatchers. They'll also need laminating sheets, tape and an Earth-shaped template.
14
Bunny Bags
Use our bunny-ear template to DIY these bunny bags. They'll have to trace the outer ear onto white felt and the inner ear onto colorful or patterned fabric. Show them how to attach the ears to the top of a canvas bag with hot glue. Then, hot glue on a pom pom nose and pipe cleaner whiskers to complete the bunny bag's look.
15
Craft Stick Airplane
They'll love zooming around the house or backyard with their craft stick airplanes. Paint the craft sticks (or use pre-colored ones) before gluing them together to make these aircrafts.
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16
Craft Stick Octopus
Only a few materials, including craft sticks for the tentacles and foam for the faces, are needed to make these cute octopi.
17
Glow-in-the-Dark Flip-Flops
Purchase glow-in-the-dark paint and watch them decorate their flip-flops in all sorts of colors and looks. Plus, they can wear them outside (or use them as house shoes) once dry.
18
Animal Bookmarks
They'll have such a fun time making adorable animal bookmarks, from blue bunnies and orange chicks to purple sheep and yellow rabbits. Blogger Thena recommends this craft for kids of all ages and used this printable to start.
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19
Cactus Handprints
Trace their hands on green cardstock to make the cacti. Use brown cardstock for the pots, add googly eyes and draw on a cute smile.
20
Cereal Rainbow
Preschoolers can practice color matching with this rainbow craft. Use Froot Loops or any other colorful cereal brand, like fruity Cheerios. Use glue to draw the rainbow lines, then help them stick their loops on top. And if you prefer to save your cereal for breakfast, use buttons instead.
Mariah Thomas
Assistant Editor
Mariah Thomas (she/her) is an assistant editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home and lifestyle content. Mariah has more than four years of editorial experience, having written for TLC, Apartment Therapy, Women's Health and Avocado Magazine. She received her master's degree in journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and published her first book, Heart and Soul: Poems of Thoughts and Emotions, in 2019. She's also the founder of RTF Community a platform for creatives of color to connect, learn and showcase their work.
