Let’s MAKE THE SUMMER CRAFTING for preschoolers the MOST FUN, with these NEW summer craft activities. I had to choose the most engaging and enjoyable, still easier craft, so I ended up with:
paper headbands, handprint stamp and cutout activities, a SURPRISING salt painting science experiment, an animal puppet game, sandpaper models, and similar AMAZINGLY AWESOME CRAFTS. These are the core ideas behind these crafts, to name a few.
As for themes, I chose the shark, shark fin, flamingo, fish, ocean, jellyfish, castle, campfire, and palm tree – all things summer, I meant.
There are a few recycling or upcycling crafts this time, such as the tissue paper roll and the paper plate. Since paper and cardstock will be used mostly, kids get the benefit of FREE printable templates!
Suggestion #1: Shark Headband Paper Craft
This fin-tastic kawaii shark headband craft is the cutest add-on to a Shark Week costume. Feels difficult? Nope! There is a FREE printable template for the base hat, which you can use to make many NEW headbands, as well as the shark mouth, teeth, and muzzle to trace onto cardstock.
You can make the activity even more fun by printing a black-and-white version to let the kids paint later on. Be sure to scale the template based on the head circumference before printing.
Suggestion #2: Paper Plate Flamingo Craft for Preschool
From “Simple Summer Crafts,” I recommend this paper plate flamingo as a birthday greeting card or fruit juice stall menu card. Guide the kids to cut a painted plate in half to make the body, and cut following the curve of the ridges to make the neck from the other half. Then, black paper strips for the legs and color in black the corner for the beak.
Suggestion #3: Shark Hat Craft for Kids
Basic and really COOL is this 3D shark fin hat craft that only requires grey cardstock and a simple printable template. Help them cut strips of paper to make a custom-fit headband and then decorate their fins with sparkly glitter or stickers. Be sure to cut two fins per headband to make it look 3D.
Suggestion #4: Handprint Fish Drawing Craft
This clownfish in the sea painting will be the MOST FUN activity for preschoolers. Kids can paint their hands to stamp the fish, and then use brushes to add seaweed and blue water all around.
Finish drawing a cute eye and mouth on the handprint fish. Be sure to draw two white stripes, one on the wrist and one along the bottommost sections of the fingers for making clownfish stripes.
Suggestion #5: Ice Cream Stamp Art that Kids Will Love
A UNIQUE and EASY ice cream art activity? Learn how to use circle stencils of juice glass and watercolor paint to stamp ” perfect ice cream scoops” with this method.
Also, find out how to draw a cone waffle texture by dipping the fork in brown paint and stamping it onto. Let the kids draw as many scoops in different colors (or should I say, the flavours).
Suggestion #6: Jellyfish Dye Painting Activity from Science Experiments
By using table salt, school glue, and liquid watercolors, you can lead this jellyfish salt painting activity. This is a science experiment that shows how the paint travels and mixes along salt-covered glue lines.
Draw your favorite sea creature, such as the jellyfish in our case, and fill it with the Mod Podge to stick the salt with.
Suggestion #7: Toilet Paper Roll Frog Craft
So far, this is MY favorite toilet paper roll craft activity! The idea is to craft a “catch-the-fly” game with a funny paper roll frog, string, and a flat housefly cutout.
Features a wide-open mouth in which the kids can try to toss the fly and catch it inside the frog’s body. No need to color, just attach the cardstock cutouts.
Suggestion #8: Sand Paper Sand Castle Craft
Just by cutting and gluing basic geometric castle shapes from brown sandpaper, kids can craft this faux sand castle craft. It is a “no-mess” sandy fortress crafted above the blue tissue paper as a sky background.
The shapes need not be perfect – circle, half oval, rectangle, squares. Kids can also make small paper flags on toothpicks and draw seagulls or crabs to complete their seaside scene.
Suggestion #9: Handprint Bald Eagle Craft For Kids
Last time for the 4th of July, I shared a pom pom bald eagle plushie guide. Now, let’s craft this flying eagle cardstock craft with handprint wings and a FREE printable template for assembling the other parts. It is the perfect and cutest Independence Day card and a momento!
Suggestion #10: Sponge Stamped Camping Art for Kids
This CAMPING AT HOME craft requires a triangle sponge to stamp red and orange paint for a purr-fect flickering fire. Below are the jumbo popsicle sticks for the fire sticks.
Finally, a small ribbon is attached to the back so the colorful art can be easily hung and displayed over a white background. This is the easiest scrape painting craft, too!
Suggestion #11: Easy to Make Shark Suncatcher Craft for Kids
With a FREE printable template, this is another CUTE and EASY shark week craft! To make this suncatcher, use a dinner plate to trace perfect circles onto contact paper and fill them with blue tissue paper and sparkly glitter.
After placing a shark silhouette in the center, a second layer of contact paper is added to seal everything together like a mess-free “sandwich.”
Suggestion #12: Summer Paper Weaving Craft for Kids
Let’s assemble colorful paper strips to make patterened design for this summer palm tree beach scene craft. A unique part of this project is using the woven paper to make the leafy top of a palm tree and adding real sand for a textured beach. Learn it now!
About "Talha"
Hey, I’m Talha, the Crafter on Craftstive.com. I love to share guides on folding cute origami models and paper crafts, and I am always ready to inspire your next craft project with my weekly craft discussions.