If you’ve already heard “I’m bored!” this week, you’re in the right place. This ultimate list of summer crafts and activities for kids gives you instant, low-prep ideas you can pull up anytime. Whether you need a quick indoor craft, an outdoor boredom buster, or a simple learning activity that still feels like fun.
Looking for more seasonal fun? Be sure to visit our Spring Crafts for Kids collection for even more bright and cheerful projects.
Summer Crafts and Activities For Kids
Summer brings long days, warm weather, and endless opportunities for hands-on fun! This collection of summer crafts and activities for kids is packed with easy crafts, printable games, and creative learning ideas to keep children busy all season long.
Whether you’re planning backyard play, classroom centers, summer camp activities, or simply trying to fill hot afternoons indoors, you’ll find plenty of screen-free summer fun here.
From beach and ocean crafts to Father’s Day projects and educational printables, this collection makes it easy to pick an activity and start creating.
Outdoor Summer Fun
Summer is the perfect time to head outside and let kids explore, imagine, and create.
These summer crafts and activities for kids are designed to get children moving, playing, and engaging with the world around them using simple materials you likely already have at home.
From backyard sensory play to camping-inspired crafts, this section focuses on hands-on experiences that encourage creativity, independence, and open-ended fun.
Many of these ideas also work well for summer camps, daycare programs, or playdates when you need easy activities for groups.
Whether kids are pretending they’re at the beach, building a campsite, or making their own summer plans, these outdoor-friendly activities help turn ordinary warm days into memorable adventures.
Mud Kitchen Recipes
Turn ordinary outdoor play into a sensory adventure with these creative mud kitchen recipes. Kids scoop, mix, pour, and pretend-cook using dirt, water, leaves, flowers, and everyday kitchen tools. This open-ended activity encourages imagination and experimentation as children invent their own concoctions, explore different textures, and engage in unstructured outdoor learning. It’s perfect for backyard playtime or summer sensory stations.
📚 Book Pairing: Mud by Mary Lyn Ray is a poetic celebration of outdoor play that mirrors the joy and curiosity children experience while making their own earth-based creations.
Skills Learned: sensory exploration, fine motor coordination, scientific thinking
Torn Paper Popsicle Craft
This bright summer art activity invites kids to tear colorful paper and assemble their own torn paper popsicle masterpiece. Tearing paper strengthens hand muscles while also giving children freedom to design unique patterns and color combinations. It’s a simple, low-prep craft that works well for home, classrooms, or summer programs and instantly feels like summer.
📚 Book Pairing: Mud by Mary Lyn Ray Celebrates outdoor messy play and curiosity just like a mud kitchen experience.
Skills Learned: fine motor skills, creativity, color recognition
Get the torn paper popsicle template here →
Mosaic Kite Craft
This bright and colorful paper mosaic kite project invites kids to fill a printable kite shape with tiny squares of colored paper, creating their own soaring artwork while building essential creative and visual skills.
📚 Book Pairing: Kite Flying by Grace Lin is a warm story about a family building and flying a kite together, which pairs perfectly with this mosaic kite craft and captures the joy of crafting something that can “take flight.”
Skills Learned: fine motor skills, color recognition, pattern awareness, spatial planning
Butterfly Name Craft
This butterfly name craft is a fun and colorful activity for summer! Kids get to decorate their own butterfly and spell their name across the wings, making it a great way to practice letter recognition while getting creative. It’s an easy, low-prep craft that works well at home, in the classroom, or at summer camp.
Flower Suncatcher
Bring a burst of summer sunshine to your windows with this cheerful flower suncatcher! Kids can layer bright tissue paper to make colorful blooms that shimmer in the light. This craft is simple enough for younger children but still engaging for older kids, making it a perfect summer art activity at home or in the classroom.
📚 Book Pairing: Sunflower House by Eve Bunting – This nature‑inspired picture book follows a child who plants a circle of sunflowers that grow into a magical “house.” It’s a warm, garden‑centric story that celebrates growing things, imagination, and outdoor play.
Skills Learned: color recognition & mixing, fine motor coordination, pattern & shape exploration, creative expression and patience
Summer Bucket List Craft
Kids brainstorm and record the activities they want to do during summer, giving them ownership over their break and building excitement for the season. This summer bucket list activity encourages goal-setting and planning skills.
📚 Book Pairing: The Night Before Summer Vacation by Natasha Wing Builds excitement for summer adventures while kids plan their own.
Skills Learned: planning, writing readiness, decision making
Get the summer bucket list template here →
Summer Bucket List Printable
A ready-to-use version of the summer bucket list that helps families or classrooms plan memorable experiences together. Children can revisit it throughout the season and track completed activities.
📚 Book Pairing: How to Code a Sandcastle by Josh Funk is a playful problem-solving story that encourages kids to think about how they’ll accomplish their summer goals.
Skills Learned: organization, goal tracking, reflection
Get the summer bucket list template here →
Indoor Summer Crafts (Great for Hot Days)
Even during summer, there are plenty of moments when it’s just too hot, rainy, or humid to play outside. That’s where simple indoor crafts come in!
These low-prep activities keep kids busy, creative, and learning while staying cool indoors. Many of these projects double as name crafts and fine-motor practice, making them especially useful for classrooms, summer learning programs, or keeping skills fresh during school break.
The bright seasonal themes: sunshine, ocean animals, treats, and camping, still capture the spirit of summer while giving kids a relaxing creative break from outdoor play. They’re also great for quiet time, morning table invitations, or calm afternoon activities.
Astronaut Photo Craft
Kids turn their photo into a space explorer in this imaginative craft that blends creativity and pretend play. This astronaut photo craft is a fun way to bring adventure indoors while encouraging storytelling and role-play during quiet summer afternoons.
📚 Book Pairing: There’s No Place Like Space! by Tish Rabe is a playful introduction to space that inspires kids to imagine their own astronaut adventures.
Skills Learned: imagination, self-expression, storytelling
Get the astronaut photo craft template here →
Submarine Photo Craft
Children place themselves underwater in this submarine craft, making this a perfect ocean-themed activity when it’s too hot to go outside. Kids love spotting sea creatures and inventing underwater missions.
📚 Book Pairing: Down, Down, Down: A Journey to the Bottom of the Sea by Steve Jenkins — Explores ocean depths just like kids do in their submarine craft.
Skills Learned: creativity, ocean awareness, narrative thinking
Get the submarine craft template here →
Sailboat Name Craft
Kids build a colorful sailboat while practicing spelling their name, combining literacy and creativity in one engaging activity. This sailboat name craft is perfect for summer classrooms or keeping skills fresh during break.
📚 Book Pairing: Sail Away Dragon by Barbara Joosse is an engaging story about a seaside adventure that pairs perfectly with a sailboat craft.
Skills Learned: letter recognition, sequencing, fine motor skills
Get the sailboat name craft template here →
Crab Name Craft
Children spell their name across a cheerful beach crab, turning literacy practice into a playful ocean activity. This crab name craft works well as a display piece or take-home craft.
📚 Book Pairing: Hello, Crabby! by Jonathan Fenske is a simple reader featuring a crab character kids will recognize while crafting.
Skills Learned: name recognition, cutting, patterning
Get the crab craft template here →
Palm Tree Name Craft
This tropical palm tree name craft lets kids build a palm tree while arranging the letters of their name. The bright summer theme keeps learning playful and seasonal.
📚 Book Pairing: Way Down Deep in the Deep Blue Sea by Jan Peck is a rhythmic ocean adventure that fits perfectly with tropical summer themes.
Skills Learned: spelling practice, fine motor control, sequencing
Get the palm tree craft template here →
Sand Bucket Name Craft
A beach bucket becomes a literacy tool as kids assemble their name letter by letter. This sand bucket name craft is simple, colorful, and ideal for summer centers.
📚 Book Pairing: Llama Llama Sand and Sun by Anna Dewdney is a cute beach day story that matches the summer sand theme.
Skills Learned: name building, letter order, gluing skills
Get the sand bucket craft template here →
Jellyfish Name Craft
Kids build a jellyfish name craft while practicing spelling, combining ocean learning with early literacy. The dangling tentacles add a fun sensory element.
📚 Book Pairing: Peanut Butter and Jellyfish by Jarrett J. Krosoczka is a funny ocean-themed story about two best friends that keeps the jellyfish theme going.
Skills Learned: letter identification, creativity, hand strength
Get the jellyfish craft template here →
Camper Name Craft
Perfect for camping themes, kids design a cute camper name craft while mastering name recognition. This makes a great summer bulletin board craft.
📚 Book Pairing: Maisy Goes Camping by Lucy Cousins is the hysterical story of Maisy’s camping lessons and adventures.
Skills Learned: sequencing, spatial awareness, literacy skills
Get the camper name craft template here →
Flamingo Name Craft
Bright and cheerful, this flamingo bird name craft turns name practice into a fun art project kids love displaying.
📚 Book Pairing: Sylvie by Jennifer Sattler is about a flamingo who tries new colors before realizing being herself is best, making it a perfect match for kids creating their own unique flamingo.
Skills Learned: name recognition, creativity, fine motor skills
Get the flamingo name craft template here →
Beach Ball Name Craft
Children decorate a beach ball while assembling their name across colorful panels, making learning playful and visual. This beach ball name craft is loads of fun for children in preschool up to early elementary school.
📚 Book Pairing: Pete the Cat: Pete at the Beach by James Dean is a summer beach story about Pete’s adventures at the beach with his mom and brother.
Skills Learned: letter placement, color recognition, coordination
Get the beach ball craft template here →
Sun Name Craft
A smiling sun becomes a literacy activity as kids build rays using the letters of their name. This sun name craft is perfect for bright summer displays.
📚 Book Pairing: The Sun Is My Favorite Star by Frank Asch by is a gentle story that helps children understand how the sun affects their daily life, from light and warmth to plants growing, making it a meaningful companion while they create their own bright sun craft.
Skills Learned: spelling practice, fine motor skills, sequencing
Get the sun name craft template here →
Lemonade Name Craft
Kids create a refreshing lemonade name craft while arranging their name letters. It’s a sweet and simple summer learning activity.
📚 Book Pairing: Should I Share My Ice Cream? by Mo Willems is a funny story about enjoying a favorite summer treat, making it a playful companion while kids create their own refreshing lemonade craft.
Skills Learned: letter recognition, creativity, early literacy
Get lemonade name craft template here →
Handprint Pineapple Name Craft
A handprint becomes the leaves of a pineapple in this bright pineapple keepsake craft that doubles as name practice.
📚 Book Pairing: All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold is a warm story about friendship and belonging that pairs perfectly with a cheerful pineapple keepsake kids can personalize.
Skills Learned: sensory awareness, name recognition, creativity
Get the pineapple craft template here →
Sandcastle Name Craft
This sand castle name activity lets kids construct their own paper sandcastle while building letter recognition at the same time. Children cut and arrange the letters of their name onto the castle base, then decorate it with towers, flags, and seaside details to make a one-of-a-kind creation.
📚 Book Pairing: Sandcastle by Einat Tsarfati is a creative story that celebrates the imaginative possibilities of sandcastle building.
Skills Learned: sequencing, spatial awareness, literacy skills
Get the sandcastle name craft template here →
Surfboard Name Craft
This bright summer craft turns a surfboard into a literacy activity kids enjoy decorating and personalizing. Children love experimenting with colors as they create their very own surfboard name craft.
📚 Book Pairing: Surfer Chick by Kristy Dempsey is a rhythmic beach adventure that captures the excitement of riding waves, making it a fun match while kids design and personalize their own surfboard name craft.
Skills Learned: name spelling, creativity, design thinking
Get the surfboard craft template here →
Campfire Name Craft
A cozy camping scene becomes a hands-on spelling activity as kids build their names with marshmallows. A fun and easy campfire name craft that works on name recognition and letter awareness.
📚 Book Pairing: Flashlight Night by Matt Forest Esenwine is a gentle rhyming story about children exploring the outdoors after dark, sharing adventure, imagination, and togetherness.
Skills Learned: letter sequencing, cutting, imaginative play
Get the campfire craft template here →
Camera Photo Name Craft
Kids turn their picture into a pretend summer snapshot while spelling their name across the camera. This camera name craft encourages storytelling as children describe the “photo” they captured.
📚 Book Pairing: Flotsam by David Wiesner is a mostly wordless story about a boy finds who finds an old underwater camera washed up on the beach and discovers mysterious photographs that spark his imagination, making it a natural companion to a craft about cameras and capturing memories.
Skills Learned: self-expression, sequencing, early literacy
Get the camera name craft template here →
Popsicle Name Craft
This colorful popsicle craft lets kids build a pretend frozen treat while practicing letter order. It’s a cheerful activity that instantly feels like summer.
📚 Book Pairing: Ice Cream Summer by Peter Sís is a bright, playful story celebrating all the joys of summer and sweet treats, making it a perfect companion while kids design their own colorful popsicle name craft.
Skills Learned: letter recognition, fine motor control, color sorting
Get the popsicle craft template here →
Cloud Name Craft
Children create a fluffy cloud name craft while arranging the letters of their name as rain drops, combining seasonal weather themes with literacy practice.
📚 Book Pairing: It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G. Shaw is a gentle story invites children to look closely at clouds and imagine what they see, making it a natural companion as they decorate their own personalized cloud name craft.
Skills Learned: name building, creativity, observation
Get the cloud craft template here →
Graduation Cap Name Craft
A celebratory grad cap name craft marking the end of the school year while reinforcing name spelling and pride in accomplishments.
📚 Book Pairing: Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss — A classic celebration of growth that fits graduation season perfectly.
Skills Learned: confidence building, spelling practice, fine motor skills
Get the graduation cap craft template here →
Torn Paper Watermelon Craft
Kids tear and layer paper pieces to create a bright watermelon slice, strengthening hand muscles while making summery art.
📚 Book Pairing: The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli — A humorous story about a crocodile loving watermelon that pairs naturally with the craft.
Skills Learned: hand strength, texture awareness, creativity
Get the watermelon craft template here →
Ice Cream Cone Name Craft
A sweet literacy activity where kids stack scoops labeled with their name letters. Their finished ice cream cone name crafts are a bright and cheerful summer display that builds name recognition, letter order awareness, and fine motor skills all at once.
📚 Book Pairing: Should I Share My Ice Cream? by Mo Willems – As Gerald debates whether to share his treat, kids naturally connect the excitement of ice cream to their own playful ice cream cone name craft activity.
Skills Learned: sequencing, name recognition, counting
Get the ice cream craft template here →
Watermelon Name Craft
Children assemble watermelon slices labeled with letters to build their name in a playful, visual way. This watermelon name craft focuses on letter order awareness and name recognition.
Skills Learned: letter order, pattern recognition, coordination
Get the watermelon craft template here →
Torn Paper Sun Craft
Kids create a glowing torn paper sun using torn paper rays, encouraging creativity while building hand strength.
📚 Book Pairing: What Makes Day and Night by Franklyn Branley- Introduces the sun’s role in our day as kids create their own.
Skills Learned: fine motor skills, science awareness, creativity
Get the torn paper sun craft template here →
Ice Cream Cone Craft
A classic open-ended ice cream cone art project where kids decorate their favorite ice cream flavors.
📚 Book Pairing: The Ice Cream King by Steve Metzger – A playful story about choosing favorite flavors, just like in the craft.
Skills Learned: imaginative thinking, decision making, artistic expression
Get the ice cream cone craft template here →
Patriotic Paper Plate Wreath Craft
Kids design a festive paper plate wreath perfect for summer celebrations while practicing cutting and arranging shapes.
📚 Book Pairing: Red, White, and Boom! by Lee Wardlaw is a rhyming celebration story that matches the festive theme of this patriotic wreath craft.
Skills Learned: cutting skills, patterning, creativity
Get the wreath craft template here →
Patriotic Pom Pom Flag Craft
A textured art activity where children build a flag pom pom craft, strengthening finger muscles and precision.
📚 Book Pairing: F Is for Flag by Wendy Cheyette Lewison -Introduces flag symbolism while kids create their own.
Skills Learned: pincer grasp, sorting, coordination
Get the flag craft instructions here →
Father’s Day Crafts & Cards
Homemade gifts are often the most meaningful ones kids can give. This collection of Father’s Day crafts and cards helps children create something personal and memorable while practicing cutting, coloring, building, and writing skills. Many of these projects allow kids to add their own messages or artwork, making each creation unique and special.
Perfect for classrooms, daycare, or home, these crafts make celebrating Dad (or any special grown-up) easy and fun. And, they double as wonderful keepsakes families will want to save for years.
Dino-Mite Father’s Day Card
Kids create a playful dinosaur themed card filled with personality and color. It’s a fun way for children to share a message while practicing drawing and writing skills.
📚 Book Pairing: How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You? by Jane Yolen is a sweet story about showing love that pairs perfectly with a handmade card for Dad.
Skills Learned: writing practice, creativity, emotional expression
Get the dinosaur father’s day craft template here →
Fin-Tastic Father’s Day Card
This ocean-themed fish card lets kids decorate and personalize a special message for Dad. The bright sea life theme makes it especially engaging for younger children.
📚 Book Pairing: Clark the Shark by Bruce Hale is a fun sea creature story that connects to the underwater theme of the card.
Skills Learned: coloring control, message writing, creativity
Get the fin-tastic card template here →
Father’s Day Astronaut Card
Children design a space-inspired card that feels adventurous and unique. It encourages imaginative thinking while celebrating someone special.
📚 Book Pairing: Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle is a wonderful loving parent-child story that fits beautifully with a space themed gift.
Skills Learned: cutting, design planning, storytelling
Get the astronaut card template here →
Father’s Day Lacing Card
A hands-on Father’s day lacing card that includes threading and weaving, making it both a craft and a fine motor activity.
📚 Book Pairing: I Love Dad with the Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle is a gentle celebration of dads that complements the keepsake card.
Skills Learned: hand-eye coordination, pincer grasp, patience
Get the Father’s day lacing card template here →
Torn Paper Father’s Day Award
Kids create a special torn paper award certificate using torn paper textures, making Dad feel celebrated and appreciated.
📚 Book Pairing: My Dad Is Amazing! by Sabrina Moyle is a fun reminder of all the reasons kids admire their dad.
Skills Learned: tearing technique, descriptive language, creativity
Get the award craft template here →
Father’s Day Grill Card
Perfect for BBQ-loving dads, this playful BBQ Father’s day card lets kids decorate a pretend grill for dad!.
Skills Learned: imaginative play, drawing details, writing
Get the summer bucket list template here →
Dad You Rock Card
A music-inspired card kids love personalizing with drawings and messages.
📚 Book Pairing: Because I’m Your Dad by Ahmet Zappa is a heartfelt story about the bond between parent and child.
Skills Learned: emotional expression, creativity, writing skills
Get the dad you rock craft here →
Father’s Day Rocket Craft
Kids build a rocket card to celebrate Dad, combining crafting with imaginative play.
Skills Learned: assembling, spatial awareness, creativity
Get the Father’s Day rocket craft here →
Father’s Day Trophy Craft
Children design a trophy card to show appreciation, making it a memorable keepsake for Father’s Day.
📚 Book Pairing: Made for Me by Zack Bush is a touching parent-child story that adds meaning to the handmade gift.
Skills Learned: fine motor skills, gratitude expression, design thinking
Get the Father’s day trophy craft here →
Father’s Day Card Craft
A simple printable coloring card option for Father’s Day that still allows kids to add their own artwork and message.
📚 Book Pairing: Just Me and My Dad by Mercer Mayer celebrates everyday adventures between a child and dad.
Skills Learned: writing readiness, creativity, personalization
Get printable father’s day card here→
Father’s Day Toolbox Craft
Kids assemble a pretend toolbox filled with love and creativity — this Father’s Day Toolbox card is a favorite hands-on gift.
📚 Book Pairing: Tool School by Joan Holub introduces tools in a playful way that connects to the craft.
Skills Learned: assembling, fine motor coordination, pretend play
Get the Father’s day toolbox craft →
Father’s Day Bingo
A Father’s day bingo game that encourages family interaction and laughter.
Skills Learned: turn taking, matching, social skills
Get the Father’s Day bingo game here →
Father’s Day Tie Card
A classic keepsake Father’s day tie craft where kids decorate a tie and add a personal message to celebrate Dad!
📚 Book Pairing: My Dad Loves Me! by Marianne Richmond is a heartfelt book that pairs beautifully with a handmade gift.
Skills Learned: patterning, writing practice, creativity
Get the Father’s Day tie craft here →
Summer Games & Learning Printables
Learning doesn’t have to stop when school ends, and it definitely doesn’t have to feel like schoolwork.
These printable games and activities keep kids practicing important skills through play. You’ll find word searches, matching games, weather learning, early literacy worksheets, and math practice designed to feel fun instead of formal.
They’re perfect for quiet time, travel days, morning work, learning centers, or preventing the “summer slide.” Whether children are reviewing concepts or simply enjoying a brain challenge, these activities make learning a natural part of summer routines.
Weather Wheel Craft
Kids create a rotating weather wheel to track daily weather, turning observation into a fun routine. It encourages children to notice patterns and talk about seasonal changes.
📚 Book Pairing: What Will the Weather Be? by Lynda DeWitt introduces basic weather concepts children can observe using their wheel.
Skills Learned: observation, science vocabulary, daily routines
Get the weather wheel craft template →
Weather Worksheets
These printable weather pages help children practice identifying different types of weather through simple activities and visuals. Great for quiet time or learning centers.
📚 Book Pairing: Weather by Jill McDonald is a bright nonfiction introduction that reinforces weather vocabulary.
Skills Learned: classification, vocabulary building, comprehension
Get the weather worksheets here →
Weather Memory Game
A weather matching game that strengthens memory while reviewing weather images and concepts. Perfect for small groups or independent play.
📚 Book Pairing: The Cloud Book by Tomie dePaola — Helps children recognize weather images they match in the game.
Skills Learned: memory, visual discrimination, focus
Get the weather memory game here →
Summer Word Search
Kids hunt for seasonal vocabulary words in this summer word search, building reading confidence in a playful way.
📚 Book Pairing: And Then Comes Summer by Tom Brenner is a celebration of summer activities that introduces many of the words they’ll find.
Skills Learned: spelling recognition, concentration, persistence
Get the summer wordsearch here →
Summer Bingo Printable
An interactive summer bingo game that encourages observation and discussion about summer activities and objects.
📚 Book Pairing: Summer Color! by Diana Murray highlights summer sights kids may spot on their bingo board.
Skills Learned: listening, matching, social interaction
Get the summer bingo game here →
Camping Word Search Printable
A camping themed word search activity that introduces outdoor vocabulary connected to camping and nature.
📚 Book Pairing: S Is for S’mores by Helen Foster James is a camping alphabet book that reinforces the vocabulary.
Skills Learned: reading readiness, vocabulary development, problem solving
Get the summer bucket list template here →
Printable Surfboard Templates
Open-ended templates like this surfboard craft always children to decorate in endless ways, encouraging creativity and design thinking.
📚 Book Pairing: Surfer Chick by Kristy Dempsey is a fun beach adventure that inspires creative surfboard designs.
Skills Learned: creativity, planning, artistic expression
Get the surfboard template here →
Writing Number Practice
Simple number tracing pages that help maintain math skills during summer break.
📚 Book Pairing: Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin reinforces counting concepts children practice while tracing numbers.
Skills Learned: number formation, counting, pencil control
Get the number practice worksheets here →
Letter Recognition Worksheets
Children identify and match letters in a clear, visual format ideal for early readers. These letter recognition worksheets are a great learning tool for children in pre-k to 1st grade.
📚 Book Pairing: LMNO Peas by Keith Baker is a playful alphabet book that supports letter familiarity.
Skills Learned: alphabet awareness, matching, early reading skills
Get the letter recognition worksheets here →
End of Year Memory Book
Kids reflect on their school year through drawing and writing prompts, creating a meaningful end of year memory book keepsake.
📚 Book Pairing: Last Day Blues by Julie Danneberg helps children process the transition into summer while completing their memory book.
Skills Learned: reflection, writing skills, emotional awareness
Get the end of year memory book here →
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Tag us or send us a photo so we can celebrate their hard work and creativity. It truly makes our day to see your crafts in action! 🍦✨
