We’ve rounded up over 50+ stunning nature crafts for kids, and each one is a fantastic way to bring a little bit of the outdoors inside. Whether it’s rainy, sunny, or something in between, these crafts provide the perfect excuse to explore and appreciate the natural world a bit more.
Getting Into Nature
One of my favourite things to do before I had kids was to go hiking. When Iived in Japan (yes, I lived in Japan for 2.5 years?!) I would go on long beautiful hikes all over Kyoto and other neighboring cities. When I returned home, I would try and find equally fun and interesting hikes. After having kids, I tried to continue my passion but hiking with little kids is not always easy especially when doing it solo and with twins.
Getting outside and gathering materials like leaves, twigs, flowers, and even rocks turns an ordinary walk into a treasure hunt. The kids get so pumped about finding the “right” leaf or the smoothest stone. It’s like each item they pick up sparks a little burst of imagination about what it could become. Once we get back home and start transforming these finds into art, it’s incredible to see their creativity come to life. Plus, it’s a wonderful break from screens and indoor noise.
Nature Crafts and Kids
Each of these 50+ crafts not only encourages a hands-on connection with nature but also helps develop fine motor skills, color recognition, and even a bit of patience. From leaf painting and rock decorating to creating whimsical fairy houses, there’s something in there for every age and interest.
So, if you’re looking for a way to make the most out of the great outdoors and get those creative juices flowing, these nature crafts are a perfect choice. Let’s grab our adventure hats and see what nature has in store for us today!
Pine Cone Crafts for Kids
1. Pine Cone Owl Craft
2. How to Make a Bug Hotel Craft
Ever thought about creating a cozy space for your garden critters? Making a bug hotel is not only super fun but it’s also a great way to teach kids about nature and the importance of insects in our ecosystem.
3. Pine Cone Felt Turkey Craft
Turkey time is here, and what better way to celebrate than with a charming Pine cone Felt Turkey Craft! This easy and enjoyable project is perfect for getting into the Thanksgiving spirit and is great for crafters of all ages.
Stick Crafts for Kids
1. Twig Boat Craft
Challenge kids to build a raft using sticks and string. It’s a great way to teach buoyancy and engineering basics.
2. DIY Hiking Stick Craft
Is your family ready for a hiking adventure? Customize your journey with DIY hiking sticks that kids can decorate as they explore the great outdoors.
3. Nature Weaving with Sticks
If you’re looking for a fun way to blend art with nature, you’ve got to try out some nature weaving crafts; they’re an awesome way to get creative with the beautiful bits and pieces you find outdoors.
4. Make Your Own Nature Paint Brushes
Swap out traditional paint brushes for ones made from nature! Gather twigs, leaves, and grasses to create unique art tools that bring a touch of the wild to your paintings.
5. Nature Suncatcher
On our last camping trip at Haliburton Forest Reserve, we had no picnic table (just camping chairs and a blanket on the ground!) but that didn’t stop us from making one of the prettiest crafts we’ve ever tried—a Nature Suncatcher. It’s easy, it’s beautiful, and it’s made entirely from things you find outdoors.
6. Nature Structures
One of my favorite things about camping with kids is how much more creative they get when they’re surrounded by nature. You know that magical time in the afternoon when the swimsuits are drying on the line, the s’mores haven’t started yet, and everyone needs something fun but calm to do? That’s when we pull out one of our favorite campsite activities: Nature Structures: Building With Sticks & Clay.
7. Stick Spider Web Craft
Let’s channel our inner web-weaver and create a delightful stick spider web craft that’s perfect for kids and adults alike. With just sticks and string, you’ll have a masterpiece to show off in no time! Let’s get weaving!
8. Stick People Puppets
Stick People Puppets: Craft for Kids is an adorable craft to create anytime of the year. This easy craft is great for your toddlers and preschoolers. Create a craft that they can use in pretend play after finishing!
Leaf Crafts For Kids
1. Nature Fairy Craft
We first made these while camping in the Haliburton Forest Reserve (that same trip where we did Nature Ramps!), but honestly, this craft works just as well at home or in your own backyard.
2. Nature Faces
If your little ones are natural foragers, you’re going to love this simple and silly outdoor craft: Nature Faces!
3. Nature Mandala
There’s something magical about crafting at the campsite—especially when the supplies come straight from the forest floor. We’ve made plenty of fun projects while camping, but this Nature Mandala craft just hits differently.
4. Nature Turtle Sticky Wall
Create a sticky wall that’s full of nature and turtles! It’s an engaging activity that lets kids stick natural materials onto a surface to form turtle shapes and more.
5. How to Make A DIY Nature Journal
Encourage your little explorers to keep a nature journal. It’s a fantastic way to document all the cool leaves, flowers, and bugs they find!
6. How to Make Sun Prints
Harness the power of the sun to make stunning prints! This craft is perfect for capturing the silhouettes of your favorite leaves and flowers.
Stone Crafts For Kids
1. Painted Rock Fish Craft
Have you tried turning simple stones into a colourful painted rock fish craft?!
2. Bee Watering Station
Creating a bee watering station is an easy and educational garden project for kids. Not only does it help our most important pollinators stay hydrated it’s also a wonderful opportunity to teach kids about why bees are so vital to our ecosystem.
3. Mess Free Rock Painting
Rock Painting with water is an easy art project that promises endless fun without the need for messy paints!
Flower Crafts for Kids
1. Nature Butterfly Sticky Wall Craft
Create a beautiful butterfly craft using items found in nature! This nature butterfly sticky wall craft is a fun and easy summer and spring craft for kids!
2. Nature Weaving
Get those little hands working with some beautiful outdoor weaving! Nature weaving is a creative way to blend art and natural elements, perfect for a day spent in the garden or a park.
3. Dandelion Turtle Craft
Turn those plentiful yard dandelions into adorable turtle crafts! It’s a simple and delightful way to engage kids with nature right in your backyard.
4. Nature Crown and Bracelets Craft
This Easy Nature Crown Craft for Kidsis one of those magical activities that requires zero prep, uses materials you probably already have (hello, paper tape!), and gets your kids outside and engaged with the world around them.
5. Dandelion Snail Threading Board
Snail crafts using dandelions? Yes, please! Create a snail threading board that’s not only cute but also great for developing fine motor skills.
6. Straw Flower Vase Craft
We tried this Straw Flower Vase Craft on our last camping trip, and it was such a lovely mix of art, nature, and sweet downtime. My daughter loved it so much, she insisted we make a second one to give to her grandma when we got home!
7. Nature Walk Cardboard Vase Craft
After a nature walk, why not create a lovely vase from cardboard to display your found treasures? It’s an eco-friendly craft that brings the beauty of nature indoors.
8. Dandelion Bee Craft
Have you ever thought about turning those bright dandelions in your yard into something super cute? Make an adorable dandelion bee craft—it’s easier than you think and loads of fun!
Other Nature Craft for Kids
1. Grass Seed Head
This grass seed head craft is such a fun idea, perfect for small and bigs kids to make this spring or summer! Its one of those crafts that they can observe daily to see if there are any changes.
2. Dinosaur Herb Garden
Have you ever made a dinosaur herb garden with your kids? Well neither had we until recently and I have to say that it was great fun!
3. Cardboard Nature Puzzle
Transform pieces of cardboard into a nature-inspired puzzle that challenges and delights. This craft combines creativity with problem-solving in a uniquely natural way.
4. How to Make Seed Bombs
Ready for a little guerrilla gardening with the kids? Making seed bombs is a blast, and it’s a hands-on way to help more flowers bloom wherever you toss them!
5. Popsicle Stick Bird Feeder
Creating a popsicle stick bird feeder is a fun and simple project that brings joy to both kids and birds alike, turn ordinary craft sticks into a cute backyard haven for feathered friends.
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.
These craft ideas are so cute! I would love to do some of these with my kids next week. They have pediatric dentist appointments this week so maybe we will do one of these after as a reward haha. Thanks so much for sharing!