As a parent, finding fun arts and crafts for kids can be a challenge. So many projects are too complicated, too simple, or downright boring for children to complete. Many crafts require expensive supplies that parents never have on hand. These five fun craft ideas will engage your children for hours and require no special supplies or tools to complete.
Paper bag puppets: Paper bag puppets are nearly the prefect craft. As long as you have paper bags, you don’t need any special supplies to create fun, silly puppets that your children will play with for hours. Make the craft more fun by introducing a theme element to your craft, such as knights and princesses, animals, or scary monsters.
Supplies for this project:
- Paper bags
- Markers
- Yarn
- Glue
- Buttons
- Construction paper
- Scissors
• Your paper bag puppets can be as simple or as complicated as you like. Use marker to draw a face onto your character.
• Add embellishments, such as yarn for hair, or ears made from paper to transform the puppets into works of art. Allow any glue to dry completely before playing with the puppets.
• Use your puppets to create fun stories and entertain your children without TV or video games.
Homemade play dough: Nothing is more satisfying then creating your own personalized play dough. Children are amazed that just a few household ingredients transform into the sticky dough they love. This recipe should last for 6 months, but if your dough gets too sticky, or develops black or brown spots, throw it away and make a new batch.
Supplies for this project:
- Flour
- Vegetable oil
- Salt
- Cream of tartar
- Water
- Food coloring
- Flavor oil
• Mix 1 tablespoon of oil, ½ a cup of salt, and 1 cup of water in a saucepan. Heat the mixture on medium heat until warm. Add food coloring and your choice of scent.
• Remove from heat and add 1 cup of flour. Knead the dough mixture until thoroughly blended. Allow the dough to cool before letting children play.
• When you are finished with the dough, store it in an airtight container.
Name art: This craft allows children to express their creativity while creating something they can actually use in their room as a decoration. Children will love creating a masterpiece based around their name and parents will love having a piece of their children’s art that will last much longer than most paper crafts.
Supplies for this project:
- Small canvases (one for each letter of your child’s name)
- Acrylic paint
- Paintbrushes
- Acrylic sealer
• Have children paint the canvases in whatever art style they like. Instruct them to keep the designs as big and bold as possible, and to cover the entire canvas. Allow the canvas to dry overnight.
• When the canvas is dry, paint one letter from your child’s name onto each canvas. Older children can do this step themselves, but younger children will need the help of an adult. Allow the canvas to dry.
• Coat each canvas in a coat of acrylic sealer to protect the paint from sun exposure and chipping. Allow to dry. Hang the art in your child’s room when finished.
Edible cupcake art: Children love playing with food, and what better way to play with food than to create edible cupcake art? Stock a variety of candies, frosting colors, and tools on hand to allow your children’s creativity to fly.
Supplies for this craft:
- Cupcakes
- Frosting
- Various candies and toppings
- Frosting piping tools
• Instruct children to apply a base coat of frosting to their cupcakes.
• Let the children decorate the cupcakes any way they want. Suggest a theme, such as animals, landscapes, people, or monsters to spark the children’s creativity.
• When the cupcakes are finished, take a picture of everyone’s creation before devouring the art.
Sun catchers: Sun catchers are easy to make and brighten any window. Children will love creating different shaped sun catchers that they can hang from every window in the house.
Supplies for this project:
- Foam sheets
- Clear contact paper
- Tissue paper
- Scissors
- Hole punch
- String
• Cut out two outlines of a shape, such as a circle, heart, or animal. Cut out the inside of the shape, leaving a ½ inch to 1 inch border on all edges.
• Lay a piece of clear contact paper sticky side up onto the table. Tear tissue paper into tiny sections and stick them on the paper. Layer a second piece of contact paper over the top of the tissue paper.
• Place the contact paper sandwich between the two foam pieces. Glue the paper in place. Cut out any extra paper sticking out from around the outline.
• Punch a hole into the top of the shape with a hole punch. Thread a piece of string through the hole to make a hanger.
