Next time it's raining outside or it is a school holiday and you need something quick to do with the kids try a kids craft idea from this list. We have not provided step by step instructions for these simple projects as this is a "Quick list" that is easy to follow.
What you need
Various items
Instructions
We asked our readers for their go to “Quick Crafts” for activities with small children, here are the end results.
Crafting is an essential activity for children, as it offers numerous benefits for their physical, mental, and emotional development. Here are some reasons why crafting is important for children:
Develops fine motor skills: Crafting activities involve using small muscles, such as those in the hands and fingers, which help develop fine motor skills in children.
Enhances creativity: Crafting provides a platform for children to express their creativity and imagination. It allows them to explore different materials, colors, and shapes, and encourages them to think outside the box.
Builds self-esteem: Crafting activities provide children with a sense of accomplishment and pride in their creations. It can boost their self-esteem and confidence, which is important for their overall development.
Improves focus and concentration: Crafting requires attention to detail, focus, and concentration, which can help improve a child’s cognitive abilities.
Reduces stress and anxiety: Crafting can be a calming and relaxing activity that helps reduce stress and anxiety in children. It provides an outlet for their emotions and can be a therapeutic activity.
Promotes social skills: Crafting can be a social activity that promotes teamwork, communication, and sharing. It can help children develop social skills and build friendships.
Below is a list of quick kids craft ideas that were contributed by some of our members to help invoke some imagination. If you need help with a project try searching our kids craft area for step-by-step instructions for that project.
Quick and inexpensive?–
Definitely the egg carton caterpillar. You only need egg cartons, pipe cleaners and paint. Another one is Chinese Lanterns, you only need colored cardboard, scissors and some string to hang them up.
By Anne
Beach Collage– We collect all sorts of things from the beach – shells/feathers/coral etc. and make beach pictures.
By Kim Felt
Puppets– Making hand puppets out of felt, no sew, all done with glue, very easy project for kids.
By Marilynne Collage
I use ribbons, rice and other tactile material as well as pictures. Add glitter to glue so you can see something where the little ones miss sticking something on.
By Sharmaine Kids
Jewelry– I think it is fun for kids to make jewelry with beads and ornaments with beads, they love it and it keeps them entertained.
By Tammy
Fun foam door hangers – Pre-cut out shapes that even young children can make, takes about 5 to 10 minutes max and their finished.
By Shannon
Laminated Place mats – Cut out pictures from Sunday paper (whatever theme is of interest to my toddler at the time). Make up a batch of finger paint. Allow him to create a collage with finger paint, cut out images. Finally, laminate artwork and you have a custom placemat.
By Deborah
Salt Dough – A fun activity for kids is to make the salt dough – lots of things can be made from salt dough and it is so easy and cheap and it is easily painted! A good idea is brooches!
By Alison
Family Portraits – Take an old newspaper, sheets of card, some glue, and some child-safe scissors. Ask the children to look through the paper and cut out pictures to glue on the card to create a picture of their family.
By Rosie
Binoculars – Take two toilet paper empty rolls and staple them inside each end stapling them together to look like binoculars. The child can decorate them with crayons or paints or stickers and you can even add a string around them so they are just like dads! My 5-year-old insists she saw a fox through her binocular.
By Cindi
Sewing – Children love to sew using plastic canvas. Embroidery thread or wool can be tied to a large needle and random patterns can be created.
By Jackie
Photo Frames – Find your favorite photo or even a picture in a magazine cut it out and make a frame in the shape you want out of cardboard. Cover this by gluing material over it and a bit of lace around the edges. Insert your picture and you have an instant photo frame and also a cute gift.
By Sue
Foot Prints – Wide rolls of paper on the ground and ice cream lids with paint let the child do foot print hand print whatever prints. Cut the paper once dry and use it for gift wrap.
By Leighanne
Drinking Straws Garland – Save all your drink straws in many colors and cut them into small pieces. Thread onto wool which makes a great garland for the Christmas tree. It is inexpensive but colorful.
By Marina
Make a wizzer – Take a 2-hole button and some string. Thread the string through the hole and again through the hole in the other direction. Tie the ends together, wind up, and move hands in and out and it makes a whizzy sound and is fun.
By Katrina
Painting flowerpots – Washable paints (of course) so the kids can use their fingers, toes, etc.
By Dawn
Fun Foam Clock– My kids love playing with Fun Foam, so to teach them to tell time, we made a clock out of fun Foam around the numbers they glued shapes and cars. This was a fun and easy project to do.
By Alena
Silhouettes – Have the children lay down on a long piece of construction paper and you trace their bodies. After this is finished let the kids color and draw on the paper what they think they look like. I do this with my daycare kids and they love it.
By Cynthia
Food Animals – With small children make “bugs” from gumdrops and pretzels. – Buy fat gumdrops – slit the middles – stuff in pretzels (small ones) for wings!
By D Kinkhead
Clay Figures – Let them make their own little men/ dolls (action figures) out of clay.
By Brett
Coupons – Let the kids make coupons for gift giving eg. Helping mum around house, being good for 3 hours, etc.
By Jan Brooks
