Fun and Colorful Summer Craft Ideas for Children

When it's too hot to be inside, and the children would rather be inside in the cool air conditioning, then it's time to keep the little one's hands busy too. Children grow bored very easily when they know the sun is shining outside, but sometimes they may not understand the danger of being outside either. Of course, that's where you come in and try to think of something fun and creative for the kids to do that may keep them entertained for a few hours.

The first thing to do when starting anything fun and crafty is to shut off the television! How can anybody focus on the directions and bright colored fun craft accessories in front of them when the TV is blaring with annoying sounds? Instead of the television, try some light music to keep the children's focus. The music just might inspire them to create some magic.

When it comes to crayons, glue, sticker, construction paper, and about any other materials, children love to create with it. Below are some craft ideas that you can give to your children and their friends who might be stuck indoors for a little while. With some music, and plenty of accessories, they are sure to be delighted for some awhile.

1. Fun Colorful Stretchy Bracelets: (for the lil girls in your family)

Supplies that you will need:

Different colors and sizes of beads-One great example o buy is a bag of beads that's called "Bead Party" that can be purchased at Wal-Mart)

Stretchy String (this can be purchased online at artbeads.com, Wal-mart, or Hobby Lobby)

Scissors (to cut the length of the string)

Directions:

Pour a bunch of beads into one big bowl

Measure everyone's wrist, and cut the length desired.

Each person can string beads of their choice, and then leave enough length of string so that the bracelet can be tied into a knot. Cut the remaining string, and tuck the knot into one of the beads. This is an easy and fun craft for anybody to do!

2. Make a Summer Scrapbook Page

Supplies that you will need: -Most of these items can be purchased at Wal-Mart, Hobby Lobby or your local craft store

Different colors of background paper: construction paper, scrapbook sheets, blank sheets, etc)

Summer themed or travel themed stickers

A variety of stampers and an inkpad

Glue sticks

Crayons, pencils, colored pencils, markers, etc

Scissors

A collection of the child's favorite summer or vacation photos.

DIRECTIONS

Give each child its choice of background paper. Then have them arrange their photos however they would like on their page. Once they have decided how they would like to put their photos, and then take a glue-stick and help them glue down their photos onto the page. Then let them add stickers and stamps of their choice. Then they can add wording or anything else with crayons, pencils, markers, etc. Let this be their page, as they are creating their very own summer scrapbook page. When they are finished, they can add it to a scrapbook that they may have or maybe one the family is putting together, or display it in a pretty frame. Affordable frames can be purchased in discount stores such as Dollar General or Family Dollar stores.

3. Create a Summer Fun Portrait

Supplies that you will need:

Blank sheet of paper

Coloring crayons, markers, colored pencils,or watercolor paints

DIRECTIONS

Give children a piece of paper, and tell it to create a picture of what the meaning of summer is to them. Perhaps you might ask them what they think is fun in the summer or what their idea of summer fun is. They can draw, color, or even paint anything to their heart's desire. Put on some music for some fun inspiration to see what they come up with. This is a simple, yet fun thing to do. The child can draw almost anything that they want without all of the added stress of how to do something. When you are finished, you can put it in a frame for them for hanging for the summer season.

With all of these fun and colorful summer projects, your child is sure to be inspired by the season of summer. Children have wild and vivid imaginations, and it's important to keep them active. So if it's too hot to be outside-don't turn on the television for easy entertainment. Get out all of your crafty materials, and see what you and your child or children can come up with. You might just be surprised!