Looking for a fun and creative way to keep your kids entertained at home? Making these easy kids crafts is a great way to get kids engaged in a fun and educational activity that promotes their creativity and imagination. With just a few simple materials that you likely already have at home, you can make a wide variety of easy crafts that your kids will love. Whether you’re looking for a quick activity to fill some spare time or a longer project to occupy an entire afternoon, there are plenty of easy and fun crafts that your kids can make at home.
Paper Plate Easy Kids Crafts
Paper plate animals: Use paper plates and markers to create fun animal faces. Cut out ears, noses, and whiskers from construction paper and glue them onto the plates to create different animals.
Paper Plate Sunflower: Cut the center out of a paper plate and let the kids paint the plate yellow. Use green construction paper to create the stem and leaves, and add a few black seeds in the middle.
Paper Plate Ladybug: Paint a paper plate red and let it dry. Cut out black circles for the head and spots, then add googly eyes and pipe cleaner antennae.
Paper Plate Rainbow: Cut a paper plate in half and let kids paint each half a different color of the rainbow. Glue the halves together to create a rainbow shape.
Paper Plate Easter Bunny: Cut out bunny ears from white construction paper and let kids decorate them with markers or stickers. Glue the ears onto a paper plate, then add googly eyes, a pink pom-pom nose, and whiskers.
Paper Plate Fish: Cut a paper plate in half and let kids decorate it with markers or paint to create a fish. Use construction paper to create fins and a tail, then add googly eyes.
Paper Plate Dream Catcher: Cut out the center of a paper plate, then let kids decorate the edge with markers, stickers, or paint. Use yarn or ribbon to create a web in the center of the plate, then add feathers or beads for decoration.
Nature Crafts for Kids
Using natural materials in crafting is a great way to get kids engaged with the outdoors and to help them appreciate the beauty of nature. Here are some fun and easy crafts that kids can make with natural materials:
Leaf Prints: Collect leaves of different shapes and sizes, then use them to create leaf prints. Paint one side of the leaf with acrylic paint, then press the painted side onto paper. Remove the leaf to reveal a beautiful leaf print.
Nature Mobile: Collect natural materials like sticks, leaves, acorns, and pinecones, then use twine to tie them together and create a nature mobile.
Pinecone Bird Feeder: Spread peanut butter onto a pinecone, then roll it in birdseed. Hang the pinecone outside and watch the birds come to feast.
Twig Picture Frame: Collect twigs of the same size and shape, then use them to create a picture frame. Glue the twigs onto a piece of cardboard or thick paper, then add a photo to create a beautiful and rustic picture frame.
Nature Collage: Collect natural materials like leaves, flowers, and feathers, then use them to create a nature collage. Glue the materials onto a piece of paper or cardboard to create a beautiful and unique work of art.
Painted rocks: Find smooth rocks outside and let kids paint them with acrylic paint or paint markers. They can create animals, monsters, or even patterns.
Homemade slime: Mix together glue, baking soda, and contact lens solution to create a stretchy and gooey slime. Add food coloring or glitter to make it even more fun.
Popsicle stick puppets: Use popsicle sticks, construction paper, and glue to create fun puppets. Kids can make animals, people, or even monsters.
DIY masks: Use paper plates or cardboard and cut out eye holes and a mouth hole. Then, let kids decorate them with paint, markers, or even feathers and glitter.
Yarn-wrapped letters: Cut out cardboard letters and have kids wrap them with colorful yarn. This is a great way to practice fine motor skills while creating a fun decoration for their room.
Tissue paper flowers: Cut out flower shapes from colored tissue paper and have kids glue them onto a piece of construction paper. Add pipe cleaner stems to complete the flowers.
Crafts to Make with Coffee Filters
Tie-Dye Coffee Filter Art: Use liquid watercolors or food coloring to create a tie-dye effect on coffee filters. Let them dry, then use them to create colorful butterflies, flowers, or even a colorful backdrop for a summer party.
Coffee Filter Snowflakes: Fold coffee filters into triangles, then cut out different shapes to create unique snowflakes. Hang them in the windows for a fun winter decoration.
Coffee Filter Butterflies: Fold a coffee filter in half, then use watercolors or markers to color the filter. Cut out two butterfly wings, then twist a pipe cleaner in the middle to create the body. Attach the wings to the pipe cleaner and add googly eyes to complete the butterfly.
Coffee Filter Sun Catchers: Use markers or watercolors to create designs on coffee filters. Spray them with water to blend the colors, then let them dry. Cut out different shapes and hang them in the window for a colorful sun catcher.
Coffee Filter Wreaths: Cut out the center of a paper plate, then glue coffee filters around the edge to create a wreath. Kids can decorate the coffee filters with markers or stickers to create a festive decoration.
Craft Supplies to Keep on Hand
As a parent, it’s important to provide your children with a variety of creative outlets, and keeping arts and crafts supplies at home is a great way to encourage their artistic development. Not only do arts and crafts activities help children develop fine motor skills and boost their creativity, but they can also provide a fun and engaging way to spend time together as a family. By keeping a well-stocked arts and crafts supply closet at home, you can provide your children with the tools they need to explore their creativity and make fun and unique creations. From simple construction paper and crayons to more complex supplies like modeling clay and glitter, there are endless possibilities for arts and crafts at home.
- Paper: Paper is an essential supply for any arts and crafts project. Whether it’s plain white paper or colorful construction paper, it’s important to have a good supply on hand. Consider storing paper in a designated drawer or shelf, sorted by color or size.
- Paint: Paint is another essential arts and crafts supply for kids. Acrylic, tempera, and watercolor paints are all popular choices. Keep paint bottles or tubes organized in a caddy or tray. Label each section with the type and color of paint to make it easier for kids to find what they need.
- Markers: Markers are a popular choice for drawing and coloring. They come in a wide range of colors and tip sizes, making them versatile for a variety of projects. Consider storing markers in a container or caddy with dividers to keep them organized and easy to access.
- Scissors: Scissors are necessary for many arts and crafts projects, but they can also be dangerous if not used properly. Consider storing them in a locked cabinet or drawer, out of reach of younger children.
- Glue: Glue is an essential supply for many arts and crafts projects. Whether it’s liquid glue or glue sticks, it’s important to have a good supply on hand. Consider storing glue in a caddy or tray, labeled with the type of glue.
- Beads: Beads are a popular choice for jewelry-making and other crafts. Keep them organized in small containers or bags, sorted by color or type.
- Pipe Cleaners: Pipe cleaners are a versatile supply for many arts and crafts projects. Keep them organized in a container or caddy with dividers, labeled by color.
Now that we’ve discussed some essential arts and crafts supplies for kids, let’s talk about how to organize them.
Organizing Your Kids Arts & Crafts Supplies
- Designate a space: Choose a specific area in your home for arts and crafts projects. This can be a desk or table, or even a rolling cart that can be easily moved from room to room.
- Use storage containers: Use storage containers such as caddies, trays, and drawers to keep supplies organized and easy to access. Label each container with the type of supply to make it easier to find what you need.
- Keep it clean: Encourage kids to clean up after themselves by providing a designated space for trash and recycling. This can be a small bin or even a paper bag.
- Teach organization skills: Encourage kids to take ownership of their arts and crafts supplies by teaching them organizational skills. Show them how to sort and store supplies, and encourage them to put everything back in its proper place after each project.
In conclusion, arts and crafts are a great way for kids to express their creativity and have fun. By keeping essential supplies organized and easily accessible, you can make the experience even more enjoyable for everyone involved. Remember to choose a designated space, use storage containers, keep it clean, and teach organization skills to make the most of your arts and crafts supplies.
