My kids and I do a lot of summer crafting. If you’re searching for engaging summer crafts for preschoolers, this curated list has plenty of easy, fun ideas to keep little hands busy.
Crafting with preschoolers is one of my favorite ways to relax and spend quality time together. These projects are simple, colorful, and designed for short attention spans and developing fine motor skills.
Here’s to a summer full of creativity and hands-on fun!
1. Popsicle Tissue Paper Craft
A popsicle tissue paper craft is a bright, seasonal project that preschoolers love. With colorful tissue squares and a few basic supplies, kids can design their own frozen treat and practice color matching and gluing skills.
2. Rainbow Popsicle Stick Craft
Preschoolers often love rainbows. This popsicle stick rainbow craft is quick, simple, and perfect for practicing patterning and fine motor control while letting kids choose their own colors.
3. DIY Paper Watermelon
This paper watermelon craft is cute and practical—made with paper plates and popsicle sticks. Little ones enjoy decorating their watermelon slices and using them as hand fans on hot days.
4. Pipe Cleaner Butterflies
Pipe cleaners are versatile and easy for preschoolers to manipulate. These colorful butterflies use pipe cleaners, simple embellishments, and clothespins to create playful, three-dimensional insects.
5. Ladybug Craft
Ladybugs are a favorite bug-themed craft for preschoolers. Using toilet paper rolls, construction paper, and simple decorations, kids can make cheerful ladybugs while practicing cutting and gluing skills.
6. Paper Plate Rainbow Craft
This paper plate rainbow includes a sunny paper plate and dangling rainbow streamers. It’s a cheerful, display-worthy craft that reinforces color recognition and cutting practice.
7. Paper Plate Flower Craft
Summer and flowers go together. This paper plate flower craft allows preschoolers to paint, arrange petals, and create colorful blooms to hang on the wall or refrigerator.
8. DIY Shampoo Slime
Shampoo slime is an easy sensory activity that kids find mesmerizing. Made with simple ingredients like cornstarch, shampoo, and water, this slime mixes up fast and provides tactile play ideal for warm-weather days on the porch or deck.
9. DIY Hot Air Balloons
Hot air balloon crafts encourage imaginative play and personalization. Kids enjoy choosing colors and patterns, creating tiny baskets, and displaying their finished balloons around the room.
10. Paper Plate Fish Craft
Source: taminglittlemonsters.com
Beach-themed crafts are always a hit. These paper plate fish are bright, simple, and great for discussing ocean life while practicing painting and cutting skills.
11. Bubble Wrap Starfish Craft
Source: ourkidthings.com
Bubble wrap adds texture and sensory fun. Turn it into starfish shapes, let kids paint and press the wrap for interesting patterns, and watch them enjoy the tactile experience.
12. Sun Smudge Art
Source: taminglittlemonsters.com
Sun smudge art uses oil pastels or crayons to draw rays, then smudging techniques to create soft, glowing suns. It’s a simple, satisfying process that produces beautiful results.
13. Bubble Paint Flower Hydrangeas
Source: apieceofrainbow.com
Bubble paint—made from non-toxic paint and dish soap—creates fun textures. Kids can form hydrangea blooms by stamping bubble-painted circles, resulting in vibrant, tactile artwork.
14. Salt Painting
Source: onecrazymom.com
Salt painting pairs glue lines with salt sprinkled on top, then watercolor washes spread color along the salt. Kids love watching the paint travel and create shimmering, textured effects.
15. Sun Painting
Source: homanathome.com
Sun painting uses sunlight to “bake” painted creations, creating unique finishes. This outdoor activity is simple and fascinating for preschoolers to watch and participate in.
16. Paper Bag Kites
Source: somewhatsimple.com
Make inexpensive, personalized kites from decorated paper bags. These simple kites are easy to assemble and double as toys for active outdoor play once completed.
17. Coffee Filter Watercolor Fish
Source: ourkidthings.com
Coffee filters make excellent watercolor papers for vibrant fish. Kids can experiment with bleeding colors and then cut and assemble fish shapes for a lively underwater display.
18. Sponge Popsicle Craft
Source: happytoddlerplaytime.com
Sponge popsicles are a tactile way to decorate with pom poms, glitter, stickers, and paint. Kids love choosing materials and personalizing their popsicle creations.
19. Crab and Turtle Summer Craft
Source: artsycraftsymom.com
This crab and turtle beach craft is adorable and helps preschoolers refine scissor and glue skills while creating friendly seaside creatures to play with or display.
20. Coffee Filter Butterfly Crafts
Source: redtedart.com
Another coffee filter favorite: butterflies. These are bright, fluttery, and easy to decorate with markers, paint, or sprayed water for color blending.
21. Patriotic Star Wreath Paper Plate Craft
Source: glitteronadime.com
For a simple holiday project, make a red, white, and blue paper plate star wreath. Preschoolers can help paint, glue stars, and assemble a festive decoration to display on the door.