School is out, and summer is filled with promises of good times with our favorite people. We’ve got three hot summer crafts to help add a bit of flair to your festive get-togethers or as activities for casual craft nights.
Before we get into those ideas, though, why engage in summer crafts for kids?
For starters, many parents find that playing around with glitter, paints and watercolours is fun, but it offers a lot of additional benefits for your child, aside from getting a pretty paper butterfly at the end.
Child Focused Engagement
It may seem strange to put so much emphasis on this, but when you engage with crafts with your kids or a group of children, you are helping them stay focused and even have a say in their own autonomy.
By laying out a table full of items for them to choose from, such as glitter, paint, and felts, you can help your kid(s) learn what they like. It is also the perfect opportunity to teach them about creative expression, while boosting their confidence and helping them develop their decision-making skills. Do they want to paint their butterfly red, blue, or a mixture of both? By putting such decisions before them, your kids will learn to focus and stay on task, which will assist them in their school life.
Educational or Developmental Benefits
Depending on the age of your child or the children you are looking after, they may need some help developing their hand-eye coordination, alongside other areas such as learning how to follow instructions or improving their social skills.
When you have a set of tasks to do with children, such as painting pine cones or making paper crafts, this helps your child to improve their fine motor skills. Simple tasks, such as cutting, folding, and painting, help train the small muscles in the hand and arm, which will be beneficial for writing and using tools. Learning each step of a craft, like cutting a paper butterfly, drawing the design, and then painting it, helps to teach children about step-by-step processes, and logic. Of course, the social skills involved in engaging in crafts come from sharing materials with other kids, talking to you and the other children, as well as helping with communication skills.
Creative Variety
Colouring books are fine, as are playing with Lego, but when you get your kids to engage in arts and summer crafts, you are creating a new experience for them, with new skills and materials, which will create variety in their summer break. It will prevent them from getting bored (hopefully!) and will provide them with an artistic outlet.
Outdoor/Nature Interaction
Many parents worry that their children spend too much time staring at screens or watching TV. When you engage in summer crafts, you are getting them away from the TV schedule, and getting them outside into a green space. Interestingly, the average garden is a treasure trove of materials that kids can use in arts and crafts, such as leaves, twigs, and even stones. By moving the arts outside, you are helping to expand your child's imagination and providing them with sensory experiences that they wouldn't get indoors.
Upcycled or Household Materials
You may be worried that setting up a craft experience will be expensive. Of course, that is not true. All you need are some household items and a bit of imagination! For instance, toilet roll holders can be turned into toilet roll owls, or snakes by cutting the toilet rolls into segments and then painting them. Or, why not use some rope or string to make a crepe paper garland?
Engaging in crafts doesn't have to break the bank and can create hours of fun. So, here are some simple ideas that your kids (and you) will love.
Light Up the Night Jars
Oh, those glorious summer nights! Campouts, cookouts, outdoor movies, sleepovers, firefly catching…summer nights are full of fun with family and friends. Themed jar lights are a festive way to add a little extra lighting to any party or nighttime activity.
Supplies:
- Clear containers (glass or plastic jars-as many as desired)
- Safari Ltd. TOOB figures (So many themes to choose from!)
- Twist On/Off Tea Lights or a small battery-powered string of LED lights
- Hot Glue or Gorilla Glue (To secure light and figurines)
- Various decorative items (rocks, moss, acrylic jewels, mini trees, streamers – depends on your theme)
Recommended TOOBs
Instructions:
- Hot glue (twist on and off) tea light to the underside of your jar lid.
- Add decorative items and Safari Ltd. TOOB figurines in the desired configuration at the bottom of the jar. Hot glue into place if desired.
- Turn on the light and set in the desired location.
- See the video tutorial on Safari Ltd. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CUxaK0ZgGxN/
- Enjoy!
Party Garland
Garland adds a finishing touch to any party décor. Choose your theme and create one-of-a-kind decorations for your summer soiree!
Supplies:
- Thick string, ribbon, or even a rod/stick/pole
- Safari Ltd. TOOB figures
- Tassels, pom-poms, and other themed decor item ideas: felt (to make circles or other shapes), faux flowers/leaves, pinecones, mini trees, etc. (optional)
- Small eye hooks (optional)
- Scissors
Instructions:
- Measure out a length of rope/ribbon for your main garland (length depends on how long you want it) and cut it to the desired size.
- Lay out garland rope and place Safari Ltd. figures and other décor items along the length to determine how many are needed.
- Hot glue or loop string around figurines & additional décor items for hanging. Another option is to screw eye hooks into the top of Safari Ltd. figurines for hanging. (See this DIY video for using eye hooks with figures and also for making pom poms: Safari Ltd. DIY Keychains
- Add stringed items to garland rope. Secure each in place by tying or with a drop of hot glue.
Themed Wreaths
Wreaths are a simple way to add a festive touch to your home. The possibilities are endless and aren't limited to summer; they often become a fun option in fall and winter, too. The base of this craft can be done with so many different items, and the add-ons are only limited to your imagination!
Supplies:
- ¾ piece of a thin pool noodle (other options: plastic diving rings, wreath frame, picture frame, or even a heavy-duty paper plate.)
- Duct Tape (to hold pool noodle in a ring shape)
- Safari Ltd. figurines
- Ribbon, yarn, tulle, strings of beads, faux plants, and/or other additional themed decorative items
- Hot glue and/or floral wire
Instructions:
- Decide on a theme for your wreath: patriotic holiday, seasonal holiday, jungle, dino, under the sea, fairy, farm, space, etc.
- If using a pool noodle, cut the noodle in half. Bring ends together and tape with duct tape to form a ring. If using a heavy paper plate, cut the center out of a plate and leave only about a 2-3 inch thick outer ring.
- Add base decorative items, such as tulle, vines, clothe, etc. These can be tied or wrapped around, hot glued, or wired to the frame.
- Hot glue or wire Safari Ltd. figurines and additional decorative items to wreath.
- The wreath can be hung or laid flat as a centerpiece.
