40 Fun Crafts for Kids – Easy DIY Paper and Hand Crafts for Kids – Good Housekeeping

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Creative and engaging DIY projects to keep their boredom at bay.
As a parent, you’re always looking for opportunities to expand your child’s creativity. At-home crafts, games and learning projects are great ideas when it comes to DIY activities for kids. And as the weather gets warmer, backyard games and indoor tasks can only keep them engaged for a certain amount of time. If you’re looking for more fun ways to entertain your children, try one of these easy crafts for kids.
These ideas are perfect for different age groups, ranging from curious toddlers to older children. Some require more time and effort, while others are as simple as grabbing some paint and paper plates. We’re sharing a roundup full of recycled crafts, summer crafts and those you can work on with your kid all season long. From toilet paper frogs they can hop around with in the garden to crunchy slime they won’t want to stop pulling, these DIYs will keep everyone amused and boredom-free (even your 1-year-old will want to join in).
They’ll enjoy making these colorful paper flowers to decorate their bedrooms. They’ll first fold dyed cupcake liners in half and cut out petal and fringe shapes. Have them fold a piece of floral wire in half and twist around the faux flower stamen. Poke the wire through the center of three to four paper liners. Finish it off by wrapping floral tape around the base of the liners and bringing it all the way down the stem.
SHOP CUPCAKE LINERS
They’ll need pom poms, construction paper and straws to turn their discarded water bottles into vibrant flowers.
Get the tutorial at Kid Friendly Things To Do »

SHOP POM POMS
Celebrate warm weather with large and mini cardboard suns they can scatter in the backyard.
Get the tutorial at The House That Lars Built »
Purchase or gather discarded tissue paper for them to make into suncatchers. They’ll also need laminating sheets, tape and an Earth-shaped template.
Get the tutorial and template at The Best Ideas for Kids »
SHOP TISSUE PAPER
If your kids are obsessed with sea creatures, they’ll love making and wearing their very own crab necklace.
Get the tutorial at Hello Wonderful »
Use toilet paper rolls to make frogs and turn paper plates into lily pads.

Get the tutorial at The Best Ideas for Kids »
This is a great group project for the kids, especially if Halloween is their favorite holiday. Luckily, monsters aren’t seasonal.
Get the tutorial at Crafts by Amanda »
Kids six-years-old and up can DIY a space scene using paint pad sheets, acrylic paint, construction paper and colorful markers.
Transform mason jars into terrariums fit for mini plastic dinosaurs. It also makes a creative nightlight for kids who are still scared of the dark.
Get the tutorial at Crafts by Amanda»
Bring a popular amusement park attraction to their room (or a mini version of it) using popsicle sticks and wooden blocks.

Get the tutorial at Studio DIY »
Grab some pom poms and floral wire and have them DIY goggle-eyed monsters to hang on walls.
Get the tutorial at Persia Lou »
Other than needing cardboard, scissors and glue, kids can make their own heart collages using any materials you have in your art bin (from glitter hearts and felt to buttons, beads and ribbons).
Get the tutorial at No Time for Flashcards »
Is ice cream their favorite dessert? If so, DIYing their own with paper plates might just satisfy their sugar cravings. Plus, they can make as many scoops as they like.
Get the tutorial at The Simple Parent »
Coffee filters are great for crafts because you’re sure to have some around the house. Plus, they can be used for an array of DIYs —including turning them into wings for a clothespin butterfly.
Get the tutorial at The Simple Parent »
They’ll enjoy every step of this craft, from glueing on the googley-eyes to coloring the corks.
Get the tutorial at No Time for Flashcards »
It can take less than 10 minutes to make these mini banjos. While the sound won’t be as loud as they’d hope, the process and result is adorably creative.
Get the tutorial at The Craft Train »
After making these eye-catching boats, have your kids set them afloat in the tub or swimming pool.
Get the tutorial at The Best Ideas for Kids »
Before throwing away your milk carton, use tissue paper to turn it into a birdhouse.

Get the tutorial at Happiness is Homemade »
Use colorful felt pieces to make a Matisse-inspired masterpiece for their room.

Get the tutorial at The House That Lars Built »
Kids love glitter. After making these bottles, they’ll be mesmerized with how the glitter flows in the water.
Get the tutorial at See Vanessa Craft »
Use cookie cutters to make heart shapes with salt dough. Then layer on Mod Podge and add glitter for a complete look.

Get the tutorial at Emma Owl »
Trace their hands on green cardstock to make the cacti. Use brown cardstock for the pots, add goggle eyes and draw on a cute smile.
Get the tutorial at The Best Ideas for Kids »
This clutch is perfect to make and use for spring and summer. It’ll hold all their go-to essentials (pens and pencils included).
Get the tutorial at Club Crafted »
The variety of things you can do with glue is unbelievable. Need proof? These decorations are made using dried glue, pipe cleaners and beads.
Get the tutorial at Hands On As We Grow »
Michaels gives you and your child step-by-step instructions to make beaded butterflies to display on the tables.
This DIY hand drum is a great sensory activity and will teach them to love music at a young age.

Get the tutorial at Hands On As We Grow »
Forget the tantrums that come when you try styling your daughter’s hair in the morning. She can DIY her very own hair tie to add personality to a basic ponytail look.
Get the tutorial at See Vanessa Craft »
These robots are made using cardboard, tissue paper rolls, canisters and containers. Add these materials to a pile and have the kids pick out their preferred robot parts.

Get the tutorial at My Mommy Style »
Don’t throw away their yogurt cups just yet! Kids can easily turn them into their favorite zoo animals (from elephants and monkeys to giraffes and bears).
Get the tutorial at Craft Project Ideas »
Kids six-years-old and up can enjoy making woven turtles from paper. You’ll have to download a template before cutting out the turtle’s shape and adding the slits.
This might be one of your kid’s favorite crafts, especially since the sails of the windmill actually turn.
Get the tutorial at Emma Owl »
This treat box is topped with a three-dimensional flower. After making their own, kids can use it to store their favorite candy.
Get the tutorial at Persia Lou »
This crafts is preschooler-friendly and requires mini cupcake liners and a paper plate.
Get the tutorial at The Simple Parent »
These toilet paper crayons make adorable pencil and pen holders. Displaying them in their study room might motivate them to focus on work.

Get the tutorial at The Best Ideas for Kids »
Slime is almost every kid’s favorite thing to play with. You’ll be amazed by how many hours they’ll spend pulling and squeezing this crunchy one.

Get the tutorial at A Sparkle of Genius »
While they’ll enjoy decorating and painting their cardboard wands, younger kids may need help sticking everything together.
Get the tutorial at Emma Owl »
This is an upcycled craft that turns an old tin can into a drum. It’s super easy to make and requires minimal materials.
Get the tutorial at Hands On As We Grow »
Make a mini magical garden with your kids and watch their imagination soar.

Get the tutorial »
Only a few materials, including craft sticks for the tentacles and foam for the faces, are needed to make these cute octopi.
Get the tutorial at Craft Project Ideas »
Calling all Harry Potter fans. Have them DIY a baby mandrake using clay, while using a toothpick to sculpt its face.
Get the tutorial at See Vanessa Craft »

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