If you’re looking for some arts and crafts ideas to keep your little ones amused during summer, we’ve got you covered. Here are some amazing arts and crafts that won’t break the bank but will give your children hours of entertainment.
Water Pistol Painting
Water pistol painting is extremely fun, and you probably have most of the materials already.
You Will Need:
- Poster paint
- Water
- Paper
- Water pistols
Method:
- Take everything outside. Fill the water pistols with one colour per pistol. Mix the paint with water at a 50/50 ratio.
- Secure the paper to a wall or fence.
- Let your little ones choose their colours, and just let them shoot at the paper.
- The paint will run, so leave it to dry, and check out your brand-new artwork.
Symmetry Arts
These symmetry arts are so cute but can also help teach your little ones about the concept of symmetry.
You Will Need:
- Paint
- Paintbrush
- Paper
- Googly eyes
- Markers
- Scissors
- Glue
Method:
- Fold a piece of paper in half.
- Paint on one inside half of the paper.
- Fold the paper in half again, so the paint transfers to the plain side.
- When dry cut out animal and insect shapes and add on googly eyes.
- You can make bees, butterflies, or whatever else your little one’s imagination comes up with.
Clay Boats
These clay boats are adorable, so easy to make, and can be used in a multitude of ways.
You Will Need:
- Coloured card
- Blue, green and white poster paint
- Sponge paintbrushes
- Duplo blocks (for stamping with)
- Clay
- Craft sticks
- Double sided sticky tape
- Beads and sequins
Method:
- Take some coloured card and cut out triangles for sails.
- Paint and decorate the sails.
- Glue or use double-sided tape to secure the sail to a craft stick.
- Use the clay to make a boat shape. It doesn’t matter how good it is, or if it’s even boat shaped. For younger children, they’re basically making something bowl shaped.
- Stick the stick sail in the middle. Reinforce it with more clay if you need to.
- Press beads, sequins and any other decorations you have into the boat.
- Leave to dry according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Gelatine Sun-catcher
This sun-catcher is beautiful, and completely plastic free! It’s so creative and will keep your little ones busy for ages.
You Will Need:
- Flowers and petals
- Gelatine
- Tubs, or dishes
- Hole punch
- Ribbon
Method:
- Collect flowers and petals. These can be fresh or dried. Whole flowers would need to be small, as any that are too large could mean that the gelatine tears.
- Mix the gelatine according to the manufacturer instructions. Mix well and make sure there are no lumps.
- Pour a thin layer into your tub or dish.
- Arrange the flowers and petals on top of this layer.
- Carefully pour the rest of the gelatine of the top, making sure everything is covered well.
- Leave to set. It’s hard to say how long exactly the gelatine will take to set, but when it’s ready you will see that it has pulled away slightly from the container.
- Carefully remove the sun-catcher.
- Punch a hole at the top, and thread with ribbon to hang in a window.
