If you’re on the hunt for the ultimate way to keep the kiddos entertained this summer, look no further. I’ve put together the Ultimate Summer Craft Bucket List packed with a fantastic mix of crafts and activities perfect for the season. From breezy sun catchers that light up any room to homemade kites that soar high in the summer sky, this list has something for every age.
We all know that summer is the perfect time to dive into creative projects that not only fill the time but also build lasting memories. That’s why I’ve included DIY water toys that promise hours of fun in the backyard or pool. These projects are not just about keeping busy; they’re about making every day a bit more special and a lot more fun. And to help you keep track of all these cool activities, I’ve got handy printable checklists ready for you to download and tick off as you go.
So, grab your glue sticks, pull out the paint, and get ready to make this summer one for the books with these engaging and hands-on crafts. Whether you’re planning a craft day, looking for something to do on a lazy afternoon, or needing an activity for a summer party, this bucket list is your go-to resource for all things creative and fun. Let’s make this summer unforgettable with crafts that everyone will love to create and share!
Ultimate Summer Craft Bucket List (with free printable!)
- Create a colorful suncatcher.
- Fly a handmade kite.
- Assemble a DIY water blaster.
- Make a sand castle.
- Paint decorative seashells.
- Make an ocean-themed sensory bottle.
- Make custom bubble wands.
- Design ice cream stick photo frames.
- Build bird feeders from recycled materials.
- Make garden stepping stones with mosaics.
- Plant mini fairy gardens.
- Tie-dye bright summer t-shirts.
- Press wildflowers for art projects.
- Mix homemade playdough with summer scents.
- Draw with DIY sidewalk chalk paint.
- Decorate rocks with vibrant designs.
- Hang homemade wind chimes.
- Go fruit picking at a local orchard.
- Construct a fort from sheets and pillows.
- Operate a lemonade stand.
- Race handcrafted paper boats.
- Conduct a nature scavenger hunt.
- Toss water balloons in a target game.
- Create a backyard mini golf course.
- Camp out in the backyard.
- Craft DIY lava lamps with oil and water.
- Host an outdoor movie night.
- Bake solar oven s’mores.
- Craft colorful garden markers.
- Churn homemade ice cream.
- Play in DIY sprinkler systems.
- Throw frisbees made from paper plates.
- Make sock puppets for a puppet show.
- Make tin can lanterns.
- Assemble paper mache sculptures.
- Paint clay pots with bright patterns.
- Organize a backyard treasure hunt.
- Create jellyfish windsocks with ribbons.
- Host a watermelon seed spitting contest.
- Craft pinecone bird feeders.
- Do a rainbow in a jar experiment.
- Make seashell wind chimes.
- Make bubble snakes.
- Weave a rug with hula hoops and t-shirts.
- Bury a DIY time capsule.
- Build a marshmallow catapult.
- Make a simple DIY thermometer.
- Create leaf rubbing art.
- Build a DIY kaleidoscope.
More Summer Craft Bucket List Ideas
- Launch a balloon rocket experiment.
- Play beach ball bowling.
- Set up a DIY tic tac toe game.
- Paint flower pot music makers.
- Make sponge water bombs.
- Construct pool noodle race tracks.
- Make DIY animal planters.
- Play outdoor Twister.
- Experiment with water gun painting.
- Create a DIY bug hotel.
- Create ice block treasure hunts.
- Brew sun tea.
- Craft nature bracelets.
- Make parachute toys.
- Build mason jar terrariums.
- Float sponge sailboats.
- Design a dinosaur garden.
- Stamp fruit and veggie art.
- Sew DIY superhero capes.
- Stage a puppet show theater.
- Play DIY ring toss.
- Host make your own pizza night.
- Navigate a driveway or backyard obstacle course.
- Weave friendship bracelets.
- Bake salt dough ornaments.
- Make paper plate fans.
- Explore underwater with a DIY viewer.
- Gaze at night sky stars.
- Create comic books.
- Engineer marshmallow structures.
- Bowl with recycled bottle pins.
- Compile a family cookbook.
- Experiment with color changing flowers.
- Make homemade bath bombs.
- Craft dream catchers.
- Draw maps.
- Make popsicle stick jewelry boxes.
- Measure rain with a DIY gauge.
- Paint leaf art.
- Build a birdhouse.
- Make homemade snow globes.
- Create button art.
- Make story stones.
- Construct a DIY aquarium.
- Race cardboard box cars.
- Mold clay leaf bowls.
- Craft bead wind catchers.
- Make fairy glow jars.
- Make suncatcher mobiles.
- Have a paper airplane contest.
- Eat a snow cone.
Play2Learn Toddler & Preschool Programs for Curious Toddlers
There is no limit to your toddler’s energy and curiosity. That energy and curiosity although a joy can be challenging at times. Their interest in just about everything around them is what makes them great learners. One and two year olds can soak up so much just from their senses!
But as a teacher or parent that thirst for learning can be exhausting. That is why I created this toddler and preschooler program. To help you get the most out of this time with your curious toddler without having to come up with creative ways to play and interact with them.
Play2Learn for Toddlers includes 20 Units for toddlers. Each 2-week toddler unit has 20 super easy to set up and engaging activities for toddlers 18 months to 3 years.
Play2Learn Preschool which includes 20 Units for preschoolers. Each 2-week preschoolers unit has 20 unique and easy to set up and engaging activities for preschoolers 3 years to 5 years. That’s over 800 learning activities for your toddler and preschooler at your fingertips! So many ideas you and your child will never be bored again!
These toddler and preschool lesson plans and activities will definitely keep you and your toddler and preschooler busy playing and learning!
Click here for more information: Play2Learn
Book: Exciting Sensory Bins for Curious Kids
Did you know I wrote a book of sensory bins? Click here for more information Exciting Sensory Bin for Curious Kids. Or grab your copy at Amazon.
Boring afternoons are made exciting with awesome animal-based bins, like Salty Shark Bay or Yarn Farm. Pretend play bins like Birthday Cake Sensory Play or Bubble Tea Party encourage creativity and imagination. And your kids will have so much fun they won’t even know they’re getting smarter with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities like Sink or Float Soup, Magnetic Letter Hunt or Ice Cream Scoop and Count.
Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.
Book: Super STEAM Activity Book for Kids
Learning all about science, technology, engineering, art, and math sets kids up for scholastic success―and it can be so much fun! Watch kids enjoy building STEAM skills as they color friendly fish, help water find its way to tree roots, solve math problems with mazes, and more.
Find out more and grab your copy here.
Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.
Book: Big Book of Riddles for Kids
Riddle me this: What’s an exciting way to practice critical thinking while having a blast? The Big Riddle Book for Kids, of course! From hilarious puns to tough brain teasers, kids can build problem-solving skills with hundreds of riddles tha. t show them how to think outside the box.
- 350 riddles for kids—Have hours of fun with riddles, puns and jokes, and math and logic puzzles that’ll get their wheels turning!
- Level up their skills—Riddles get trickier as kids progress through the book, challenging them as they get better at solving puzzles!
- Double-check their work—Kids can check their answers in the back of the book with a handy answer key.
Help children expand their minds while having fun with this puzzle book for kids!
Designed for kids ages 6 years old and up.
TV Show: Curious Crafting
I’m so excited to share my crafting TV show Curious Crafting which launched in July 2022 on TVOkids and TVOkids YouTube! Season 2 aired in August 2023! My show was also nominated in 2023 for Best Live Action Preschool Series by the Youth Media Alliance Awards of Excellence.
Curious Crafting Season 1 is also now airing in Australia on ABC! Watch it here!
Set in the ultimate crafting space, Curious Crafting is a short form pre-school age series about the joy of making crafts. I lead a rotating cast of adorable little preschoolers (including my own) making magic out of common household objects.
In each episode we transform recycled items into magical crafts like a milk carton school bus, paper bag puppet or cotton pad turtle. The crafters learn and laugh their way through each activity while demonstrating what their young imaginations can create.
Curious Crafting shares the adventure and joy of making art with takeaway lessons for creating crafts at home.
This show designed for toddlers and preschoolers 2.5 years old and up.
Play2Learn Toddler & Preschool Programs for Curious Toddlers
There is no limit to your toddler’s energy and curiosity. That energy and curiosity although a joy can be challenging at times. Their interest in just about everything around them is what makes them great learners. One and two year olds can soak up so much just from their senses!
But as a teacher or parent that thirst for learning can be exhausting. That is why I created this toddler and preschooler program. To help you get the most out of this time with your curious toddler without having to come up with creative ways to play and interact with them.
Play2Learn for Toddlers includes 20 Units for toddlers. Each 2-week toddler unit has 20 super easy to set up and engaging activities for toddlers 18 months to 3 years.
Play2Learn Preschool which includes 20 Units for preschoolers. Each 2-week preschoolers unit has 20 unique and easy to set up and engaging activities for preschoolers 3 years to 5 years. That’s over 800 learning activities for your toddler and preschooler at your fingertips! So many ideas you and your child will never be bored again!
These toddler and preschool lesson plans and activities will definitely keep you and your toddler and preschooler busy playing and learning!
Click here for more information: Play2Learn
Book: Exciting Sensory Bins for Curious Kids
Did you know I wrote a book of sensory bins? Click here for more information Exciting Sensory Bin for Curious Kids. Or grab your copy at Amazon.
Boring afternoons are made exciting with awesome animal-based bins, like Salty Shark Bay or Yarn Farm. Pretend play bins like Birthday Cake Sensory Play or Bubble Tea Party encourage creativity and imagination. And your kids will have so much fun they won’t even know they’re getting smarter with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities like Sink or Float Soup, Magnetic Letter Hunt or Ice Cream Scoop and Count.
Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.
Book: Super STEAM Activity Book for Kids
Learning all about science, technology, engineering, art, and math sets kids up for scholastic success―and it can be so much fun! Watch kids enjoy building STEAM skills as they color friendly fish, help water find its way to tree roots, solve math problems with mazes, and more.
Find out more and grab your copy here.
Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.
Book: Big Book of Riddles for Kids
Riddle me this: What’s an exciting way to practice critical thinking while having a blast? The Big Riddle Book for Kids, of course! From hilarious puns to tough brain teasers, kids can build problem-solving skills with hundreds of riddles tha. t show them how to think outside the box.
- 350 riddles for kids—Have hours of fun with riddles, puns and jokes, and math and logic puzzles that’ll get their wheels turning!
- Level up their skills—Riddles get trickier as kids progress through the book, challenging them as they get better at solving puzzles!
- Double-check their work—Kids can check their answers in the back of the book with a handy answer key.
Help children expand their minds while having fun with this puzzle book for kids!
Designed for kids ages 6 years old and up.
TV Show: Curious Crafting
I’m so excited to share my crafting TV show Curious Crafting which launched in July 2022 on TVOkids and TVOkids YouTube! Season 2 aired in August 2023! My show was also nominated in 2023 for Best Live Action Preschool Series by the Youth Media Alliance Awards of Excellence.
Curious Crafting Season 1 is also now airing in Australia on ABC! Watch it here!
Set in the ultimate crafting space, Curious Crafting is a short form pre-school age series about the joy of making crafts. I lead a rotating cast of adorable little preschoolers (including my own) making magic out of common household objects.
In each episode we transform recycled items into magical crafts like a milk carton school bus, paper bag puppet or cotton pad turtle. The crafters learn and laugh their way through each activity while demonstrating what their young imaginations can create.
Curious Crafting shares the adventure and joy of making art with takeaway lessons for creating crafts at home.
This show designed for toddlers and preschoolers 2.5 years old and up.
