Outdoor Kids Lounge

sidewalk paint cupcake tin dark closeup swirls

Credit: Courtesy of Alice + Lois

Keep your littles busy with these easy summer crafts for kids. These easy arts and crafts for kids will keep them engaged and entertained. Create DIY plant markers, tie-dye shirts, or try making homemade rainbow foam. No matter what you choose, you'll enjoy spending time making things together!

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Build-Your-Own Boat Races

Boys sitting poolside with boats

Credit: Sabrina Helas

Make the most of your backyard inflatable pool (if you don't already have one, these are our favorite options!) by hosting a DIY boat race! Cut pool noodles into several 13-inch sections with angled ends; make a boat by attaching two or three noodle pieces together and securing with electrical tape. Add a wooden skewer with a triangle of washi tape to form the mast and sail, then pop the boats in the water to prepare for the race! Line up each child with their boat, and see which boat makes it the farthest.

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DIY Sidewalk Paint

sidewalk paint cupcake tin dark hands painting

Credit: Courtesy of Alice + Lois

Help your kids make washable sidewalk chalk paint with just a few ingredients from the kitchen! Mix cornstarch, water, and food coloring for a paint set that will create hours of summer fun. Set the kids loose on the driveway or neighborhood sidewalks with a tin of paints and inexpensive foam paintbrushes ($2 for a 3-pack, Target). Plus, cleanup is easy! Simply wash the paint away with the garden hose—after admiring your mini Picassos' creations, of course!

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DIY Pool Art

Girl tilting plastic pool with painted balls and paper

Credit: Kim Lowe

Making art is a great way to get the kids involved in a creative project, but making it inside can be messy! Take the art projects outside this summer with our easy craft for kids. Place a large sheet of poster paper in the bottom of a plastic kid's pool ($10, Target), then let each little artist dip plastic balls into tempera paint and drop them in the pool on top of the paper. Have the child swirl the plastic pool around to create their own colorful design, then let the art dry in the sun while the kids wash off with the hose.

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DIY Bubble Wands

girl in summer dress blowing bubbles

Credit: David Tsay

This budget-friendly summer craft for kids will keep the kids entertained for days. Help the kids straighten out wire hangers, then form a shape at one end to make a homemade bubble wand. Stars, hearts, squares—the possibilities are endless! Once the kids have created their DIY bubble wands, fill shallow baking dishes with bubble solution (or water mixed with dish soap) and start blowing bubbles.

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DIY Ice Pop Sidewalk Chalk

ice pop sidewalk chalk dry chalk in orange mold

Credit: Courtesy of Alice + Lois

Did you know you can make your own sidewalk chalk? Keep the kids entertained all day with this two-part project. First, have them help make the chalk; the recipe is simple, and it's easy to pour the brightly colored mixtures into silicone ice pop molds ($11, Walmart). When the chalk molds are ready (allow 3 to 4 hours for the chalk pops to dry completely), let the kids decorate the driveway and sidewalks with their chalk creations.

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DIY Rainbow Foam

Child playing with rainbow foam

Credit: Sabrina Helas

A tub of homemade rainbow foam is one of our favorite sensory activities for kids. To make the foam, place 2 tablespoons of clear dish soap, 1 tablespoon of tempera paint ($7 for a 6-pack, Michaels), and 1/4 cup water in a bowl. Blend with an electric mixer for 1-2 minutes until stiff peaks form.

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Shell Rainbows

Rainbow shell craft project

Credit: Ryan Liebe

A bag of flat mosaic sea shells ($4, Michaels) puts a beachy twist on this kid's rainbow craft. To make, cut an arch from cardboard. We like to use leftover cereal boxes! Paint rainbow stripes on the arch using acrylic crafts paint. If desired, paint shells in corresponding colors. Once the paint is dry, hot-glue the shells to the rainbow.

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DIY Tie-Dye

girl with pink dye

Credit: Allison Cottrill

Cue the nostalgia! Grab the kiddos and get to work creating groovy tie-dye designs. We'll show you how to tie-dye in just four simple steps. Use this technique to create colorful summer shirts or tote bags. Once you've mastered classic tie-dye, try this clever ice-dyeing trick!

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Fun to Paint Garden Rocks

various patterned colorful napkins

Credit: Jacob Fox

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Ice-Dye Projects

dyed fabric and ice cubes in white laundry basket

Credit: Gretchen Easton

Once you've mastered tie-dye, try this fun outdoor craft for kids. DIY Ice-dyeing is a fun project idea for older kids. To create the pattern, top a crumbled t-shirt with ice and powdered dye. As the ice melts, the dye is distributed to create pretty watercolor designs.

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Kids' Garden Plant Markers

orange painted rock carrots plant marker

Credit: Barbara Peacock

Personalize painted rocks to decorate your garden. Look for rocks shaped like veggies (think round for onions or oblong for zucchini). Paint them with acrylic crafts paint. Once dry, add the plant name with a paint marker. Use them to mark your garden rows.

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Pool Noodle Donut Art

pink, red, and yellow donuts drawn on white paper

Credit: Matthew Clark

Inexpensive foam pool noodles ($3, Walmart) are the key to creating this colorful donut artwork. Set up a painting station outside and let the kiddos stamp "donuts" using cut pool noodles. Finish this summer craft for kids with plenty of bright sprinkles!

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Outdoor Kids Lounge

Source: https://www.bhg.com/crafts/kids/outdoor-projects/outdoor-summer-kids-crafts/

Outdoor Kids Lounge