Spending time outdoors and away from screens is a great way to promote creativity, imagination and happy kids! Not to mention an easy way to make lasting memories with our children as they grow older.
This summer, I wanted to focus on coming together with the kids and spending more time making memories with fun, creative art. With my oldest going to middle school (WOW! That still sounds CRAZY!), I wanted to find some awesome activities that would be fun for him, my 3-year-old, and even my ten-month-old! Here is a round-up of our top favorites so far. Follow us over at KidsKubby.com and stay tuned as I keep the list going through the summer!
1. Frozen Dinosaur Eggs
Take your kids on an archeological journey with Frozen Dinosaur Eggs! This Sensory Play activity combines science and imagination. Freeze small dinosaur toys in water balloons and let your children excavate them using various tools. Watch their eyes light up as they discover hidden treasures in the melting ice. It’s a cold and engaging experience that will make learning exciting!
2. Water Table Hack
Get ready to make a splash! This incredible water table hack will take your toddler’s fun to the next level. By using a cheap electric water pump, enjoy unlimited outdoor water table fun with this fantastic summertime hack. Make this summer epic for your kids (and yourself) by creating a never-ending fountain oasis with just a quick purchase and a few minutes of setup.
3. Painting with Cars
Rev up the creativity with Painting with Cars! Transform ordinary toy cars into art tools as your kids dip the wheels in paint and race them across paper or canvas. This activity sparks their imagination and introduces them to the concept of creating abstract art through movement. Let their inner speedster shine as they experiment with different colors, patterns, and speeds. It’s an exciting and hands-on adventure that combines play and art. My son absolutely loved this one!
4. DIY Sidewalk Chalk
Let your Children’s creativity spill onto your driveways with the DIY Sidewalk Chalk. This easy and budget-friendly project allows kids to make their own colorful chalk using simple ingredients. Sit back and watch as their imagination comes to life on the sidewalk canvas. It’s a fantastic way to encourage outdoor play, as well as channel their inner artist.
5. DIY Flower Trees
Embrace the beauty of nature with this beautiful craft idea! Using supplies you already have around the house, including those Amazon boxes in the garage, let your children create beautiful DIY flower trees that will inspire them and provide a fun outdoor activity they will love.
6. Toilet Paper Roll Crafts
Unleash your children’s imagination with these Toilet Paper Roll Binoculars. Gather those empty rolls and transform them into colorful paper binoculars. Guide them through cutting, painting, and decorating the rolls, and watch as their creativity takes shape. This recycled craft will spark their artistic abilities and be great for outdoor exploring.
7. Tape Mural
A colorful outdoor activity that lets your kids showcase their artistic talents. Encourage your little artists to let their imaginations run wild as they create their masterpieces on this tape mural canvas. They can use the tape as boundaries or shapes to create unique designs and patterns. Using washable paint, masking tape, and one of the many Amazon boxes you have lying around. This fun and interactive craft allows your little ones to become the next Picasso.
8. Water Gun Painting
Grab your water guns, fill them with paint, and let your children embark on a colorful adventure that will bring laughter and imagination to your outdoor space blasting their creativity and creating unique works of art. Water gun painting will be your kids new favorite art activity!
9. Nature Bracelets
With a little packing tape and imagination, your kids can make the prettiest nature bracelets ever! Take a walk around the neighborhood or head to the park to gather your “supplies”. Think flowers, small sticks, leaves, you can even throw in some dirt for texture. This is the perfect way to get your kids outside and into nature.
10. Cloud Spotting
It’s a bird, it’s a plane… no it’s a cumulus cloud! This easy, budget friendly, learning activity for kids is a great way to learn and play at the same time. Head outside and look to the skies to learn about the different types of clouds. I love this simple science activity for young kids and your little ones will love it too. Just grab some cardboard and our free printable and this adorable cloud spotter is ready to go.
11. Bubble Painting
Bubble painting is a fun twist on canvas painting and what kid doesn’t love bubbles! Add a little paint to bubble solution and blow bubbles onto a canvas or paper to create the most unique and creative art project ever! Make this painting activity even more exciting with an automatic bubble gun. Check out the full tutorial here!
12. Water Gun Tie Dye
Let’s tie dye but in a super new and exciting way! Grab your water guns, fill them with fabric dye, and get to squirting. Kids get to create a fun tie dye shirt by squirting the color on the fabric. Water gun tie dye is so exciting and fun for kids. Make sure to do it outside unless you want your walls tie dye too!
13. Toilet Paper Roll Bird Feeders
Don’t throw away those old toilet paper rolls. Instead recycle them into the easiest bird feeder ever! My kids love making toilet paper roll bird feeders with just some empty rolls, peanut butter, and bird seed. Hang these fun DIY bird feeders in your yard and watch as your trees become party central for every bird in the neighborhood!
14. Nature Boards
If you’re looking for a creative way to get your kids outside and away from the TV and video games, this recycled cardboard project will give your little ones a new love for the great outdoors. Nature Boards are an inexpensive activity for kids that provides a lot of giggles, sunshine, and flowers!
15. Shower Curtain Painting
Shower curtain painting is a mess-friendly outdoor activity that your kids are sure to love. Cheap and easy to set up, shower curtain painting is sure to keep your kids entertained for hours. Plus, easy clean up and reusable supplies means this art project can be used again and again. Try shower curtain painting with your kids this summer!
Need some delicious and healthy snacks to go with your summer activities? Try these Chunky Monkey Banana Bites!
