Back when my oldest child started kindergarten, I thought I'd get a little break from having to plan fun things for him to do on a regular basis. Don't get me wrong, I've always enjoyed planning activities and crafts for my kids, but everybody needs a break sometimes.
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The reality is though, I still have a preschooler at home who gets antsy after a while, and between holiday breaks, early dismissals and snow days, my older child has been home a lot more over the past few years than I expected. And now, that many kids are spending so much more time at home thanks to virtual learning and canceled sports seasons, there's even more time to fill.
I find that I'm often searching for boredom busters for both my 5-year-old and my 8-year-old. We usually end up doing simple at-home crafts, so having a stockpile of fun craft ideas is really helpful. Check out our gallery to see cool crafts for kids in every age group.
Preschool: These are a different kind of stick people.
Most kids learn how to draw stick people at a young age, but that's not the kind of stick people we're talking about here. Kids can create their own little craft stick people with a few basic materials like craft sticks, markers, and washi tape or stickers. These also double as adorable little homemade dolls for imaginative play.
Get the full instructions from Kid Simple on Instagram.
Preschool: DIY playdough is the perfect craft for toddlers.
DIY playdough is an ideal toddler craft, because it's a complete sensory experience. It involves cooking, dyeing and tactical manipulation which are all excellent experiences for young toddlers. Plus, they'll get hours of creative play out of the dough itself.
Find the full instructions at MamásLatinas.
Preschool: Paper plate flowers are ideal for practicing gluing and cutting skills.
Though toddlers may still do more scribbling than actual coloring, this simple craft is ideal for practicing gluing and cutting skills, which will help prepare them for preschool and even kindergarten. Plus, they'll be thrilled when they see they've created a pretty flower.
Get the full instructions at The Resourceful Mama.
Preschool: Fireworks painting can be done with used toilet paper rolls.
I'm not sure why, but my kids seem to get really excited when we repurpose toilet paper and paper towel rolls. Use them as paintbrushes to make fireworks with and we're blowing little minds over here.
Get the full instructions at Happiness is Homemade.
Preschool: Macaroni necklaces are a classic preschool craft.
Little kids love the novelty of playing with their food and stringing the necklace is an excellent fine motor exercise. Add a little food coloring to create rainbow necklaces for an instant upgrade.
Find the full instructions at MamásLatinas.
Preschool: Make your own rain clouds.
What better rainy day activity than making your own rain clouds? This simple toddler glue craft uses paper streamers, construction paper and cotton balls to create adorable little rain clouds that your toddler will be so proud of.
Get the full instructions at My Bored Toddler.
Preschool: Toddler wands are great crafts when your kids are feeling magical.
My 2-year-old recently went through a stage in which every stick-like thing became a wand. These adorable toddler star wands would be perfect for her! It's a super-simple craft that involves gluing the star cutout to a craft stick and letting your toddler decorate it with stickers. So fun!
Get the full instructions at Learning and Exploring Through Play.
Preschool: Baby wipes tie-dye art is so creative.
Making tie-dye flags out of baby wipes and magic markers–who would've thought. This is such a creative and unique idea and I can't imagine any two-, three- or four-year-old not going completely crazy for it.
Get the full instructions at I Can Teach My Child.
Preschool: These paper bag jellyfish are so fun to make.
I love that you can make these fun paper bag jellyfish out of stuff you probably already have at home. Creating the tentacles provides great cutting practice and toddlers will have plenty of freedom to get creative with color and texture.
Get the full instructions at No Time for Flash Cards.
Preschool: DIY toy binoculars let them be little explorers.
I bet you remember making binoculars out of toilet paper rolls when you were little! Kids love playing make-believe and homemade toys like these usually play center stage. Let your child get creative with decorating the tubes and then simply fasten them together with string.
Get the full instructions at Pop Sugar.
Preschool: A paper plate pizza craft that's almost (almost!) good enough to eat.
My kids love pizza. Don't your kids love pizza? My kids also love playing with tiny bits of paper, and this paper plate pizza craft combines the two in the most fun way and creative way.
Get the full instructions at All Because She Saved.
Lower Elementary: Paper bag monsters are a scarily cute craft.
Your kids can make the silliest, most colorful and creative monsters with this simple paper craft. Just cut and glue out simple shapes to create monster eyes, teeth and ears to make these unique little creatures.
Get the full instructions at I Heart Crafty Things.
Lower Elementary: Homemade sidewalk chalk will give them endless hours of fun.
I had no idea you could make your own sidewalk chalk, but apparently you can and I'm betting my 5-year-old would love it. It's like two activities in one: you get to do the craft and then use what you made to play some more!
Get the full instuctions at Oh My Handmade.
Lower Elementary: A name mosaic is fun and educational.
Did you know that many kids enter kindergarten not knowing how to spell their own names or recognize the lowercase letters in their names? I found it surprising, but it's true. Name crafts are a great way to help your incoming or early kindergartner get their name down pat.
Get the full instructions at Splish Splash Splatter.
Lower Elementary: Magic want reading pointers help develop your kids' reading skills.
These are basically the big-kid version of the toddler magic wand craft–and the even serve a cool purpose. When kids are first learning to read, they are taught to point at each word as they go. Teachers often use fun pointers in the classroom. These magic wand pointers are a fun way to do the same thing at home.
Get the full instructions at Creative Family Fun.
Lower Elementary: A shapes owl helps them learn forms and patterns.
Your young elementary schooler can create an adorable colorful 2-D owl simply by cutting out various shapes in different colors and gluing them to a construction paper backdrop. This simple craft will help your kiddo remember the names of different shapes and colors and they can even work on patterns.
Get the full instructions at Tiny Art Room.
Lower Elementary: A homemade rainbow abacus is better than a store-bought version.
You could buy your child a store-bought abacus to help them learn to count and simple addition and subtraction, or you could help them make their own awesome rainbow abacus out of colorful beads and pipe cleaners.
Get the full instructions at 123 Homeschool 4 Me.
Lower Elementary: Have your kids do a self-portrait.
Young elementary schoolers usually love to draw from their own imaginations. Guide your kiddo to draw a self-portrait and provide them with some fun accessories to see what unique looks they come up with.
Get the full instructions at Granny Goes to School.
Lower Elementary: These DIY maracas help them be musical.
A great way to spend some time on a day home from school is to have an at-home dance party. But first, help your kids craft their own maracas out of plastic spoons and Easter eggs so they have their own instruments to play.
Get the full instructions at MamásLatinas.
Lower Elementary: Help them visualize some geography with this My Place in the World project.
When I was a kid, my mom gave me projects to do over summer break to prevent the "summer slide." and I plan to do the same for my own children. My son will be an incoming first grade, and I can't wait to do this fun "My Place in the World" geography project with him.
Get the full instructions at Kid World Citizen.
Lower Elementary: This is a cool DIY birdhouse they'll love.
A cool project to do as the weather gets warmer is to create birdhouses out of empty milk or juice cartons. Kids can get super-creative with decorating the houses and then watch each morning as birds and squirrels visit the birdhouses for food.
Get the full instructions at Craft Create Cook.
Upper Elementary: These DIY rainsticks are so cool.
You can help your older kids craft their own rainsticks out of empty paper towel rolls and tin foil, for a fun and educational at-home activity. Plus, they can get creative with how they decorate their rainsticks.
Get the full instructions at Gift of Curiosity.
Upper Elementary: These painted T-shirts let your kids be as messy as they want!
No smocks allowed! Who needs a smock when you're actually painting your own clothes? Let your kids use fabric paint or fabric markers to paint their own designs on white t-shirts that they can wear all summer long.
Find the full instructions at MamásLatinas.
Upper Elementary: This no-sew pillow let them be as creative as they want.
I used to love making these no-sew pillows as a kid. Shapes, sizes, colors and textures are all up to the crafter and can be totally individualized.
Get the full instructions at Krokotak.
Upper Elementary: Paper plate dreamcatchers are easy and fun to make.
I don't know a tween girl that wouldn't love to make her own dreamcatcher to hang up in her bedroom. Heck, I'm sure there are some 9- and 10-year old boys that would love to make one too.
Get the full instructions at Red Ted Art.
Upper Elementary: How cool are these duct tape pencil pouches?
Is it weird if I say I want to make one of these nifty duct tape pencil pouches for myself? I totally do. Kids can construct their own individualized pencil cases and wallets out of patterned and colored duct tape and zip-top bags, and they'll be sturdy enough to last for months.
Get the full instructions at Hip 2 Save.
Upper Elementary: These paper ninja stars will bring you back to your childhood!
I don't know why tweens love folding paper so much, but they really do. These ninja stars are a fun take on a classic kid activity and your kids will probably be obsessed with making them for months.
Get the full instructions at Frugal Fun 4 Boys.
Upper Elementary: These DIY paper spinners are made from cardboard and string.
These cool spinners are made from cardboard circles and string and your kids can use markers, paint, stickers, etc. to decorate them however they like.
Get the full instructions at Make and Takes.
Upper Elementary: These cosmic suncatchers are gorgeous.
Whoa! You can make these beautiful suncatchers out of every day household items, which means you can set your kids up for this cool craft even on those last-minute sick days.
Get the full instructions at Babble Dabble Do.
Upper Elementary: Folded paper bracelets will keep them entertained for hours.
My mom and I used to make these same folded paper bracelets out of gum stick wrappers when I was a kid. The intricate technique is one that will keep your kids busy for hours and they can use the same method to make necklaces and keychains as well.
Get the full instructions at Picklebums.
Upper Elementary: These pony bead earrings are adorable.
You know the colorful little beads you put at the end of braids? apparently you can melt those into pretty circles that can be glued to earring backs. Not only will your tween girl have a fun activity to do, but she'll get a few beautiful sets of earrings out of the deal too.
Get the full instructions at The Life of Jennifer Dawn.
