Melt Away the Summertime Blues with Kid-Friendly Crafts
Now that school is out, most kids are looking for something to do with their down time. Simple summer crafts are a great way to entertain children and spend quality time with them. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
- Kids can create sand art without the mess of sand. Wash and peel the labels off of empty glass jars, any shape or size. Purchase packs of Kool-Aid in several different flavors. Use a small funnel to layer in the Kool-Aid colors one at a time. When the jar is full, glue the top in place. Kids can leave the jar plain or decorate the outside of it. One idea is to use household items such as buttons or beans to glue a face on the jar.
- For a simple day of fun, pick up sidewalk chalk for the kids and their friends. Supervise them drawing on the driveway or sidewalk. To get them really active, suggest making a hopscotch board with the chalk. Be sure to have snacks and drinks on hand for when they come out of the hot sun.
- Develop your child’s green-thumb by letting them plant a flower to take care of over the summer. Let them plant a few seeds in a pot or give them a designated area in a flower bed. If using a pot, make it more fun by encouraging the kids to personalize their pots with paint, markers, or crayons. Potting soil, pots, seeds and gardening accessories are in season at Dollar General.
- Teach your youngster responsibility and economics by having him or her make a piggy bank. Use an empty coffee can as the bank and cut a slit in the lid. Children can decorate the can any way they like using felt, markers, glue or another favorite material. To help them earn money, assign them a simple, age-appropriate household chore, such as making their bed or rinsing the dishes. At the end of the summer, the kids can purchase a back-to-school treat with the money they saved.
- Purchase a couple of disposable cameras for your children. They can take pictures throughout the summer of barbecues, fun with friends, vacations, etc. Buy a scrapbook and accessories such as stickers, paper and photo corners. These inexpensive items can be found at any Dollar General. Have your child design and create their own simple scrapbook throughout the summer. When school starts, they will have the perfect show and tell item.
