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7 Summer Kids Crafts

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It’s getting hotter as the race to lazy days in the sun is on. But what to make? Good, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve done a round-up of the best kids crafts during summer.

1. DIY Slip and Slide

Sure, you can buy a fancy one from the store for $30, but what’s the fun in that? Make your own slip and slide on a summer afternoon and get the whole family involved. Get the tutorial here, at wired.com.

 

2. Tie Dye a T-Shirt

Well, by the end of the summer, you’ll have tie dyed everything – pillowcases, t-shirts, socks, tights, curtains, you name it. You’re probably thinking, “Quick! Move on! No more mess!” But this fun craft is easy to clean up when you’re outside. Show off all your new clothing with a DIY touch! Grab the tutorial here, at parents.com.

 

3. Tricycle Car Wash

I can’t believe how simple and cute this fun project is! Sponge away the blues on a hot summer day with a tricycle car wash, using splash and splosh fun. What’s a better way to get the whole family together? Grab the tutorial here, at designmom.com.

4. Splat Painting

We’ve done heaps of fun painting over at Craftbits.com, but this one has got to be squeezed onto the summer list. Grab an old pantyhose and get splatting! With this fun (and slightly messy) activity, you’re sure to have splat-work all over your house. Toddler Approved has the splatting down pat, right here!

5. DIY Water Blob

“What is a water blob?” I hear you ask. Well, a water blob is the most fun water activity that you can enjoy wet or dry. Great to keep kids of all ages entertained for hours, the water blob is a simple piece of plastic sheeting folded in half with water inside. Glue it up – and you have a party-perfect water toy. Grab the simple (really) tutorial here at clumsycrafter.com.

6. Scary Shark Container

Proving their point, makefuncreating.com says that Fimo is not just for making key rings and jewelry. I know this amazing shark is not water play, but it is still ocean themed! This scary predator can sit by the poolside waiting for the perfect fish. Perfect for holding everything, this FIMO shark is sure to get your friends wow-ing. Grab the tutorial here, at makefuncreating.com.

7. Coke and Mentos Explosion

KA-POW! This fun experiment is certainly not craft, but it’s a Do-It-Yourself science experiment perfect for summer, so I thought I’d better put it in anyway! Once all the kids are well away, slide in the Mentos for a explosive surprise! (Just make sure it’s outside!) Head on over to frugalfamily.co.uk and get exploding!

 

Well, that’s the end! Enjoy making these fun summer crafts and make sure you sign up to Craftbits  and Craftgossip’s  newsletter for more excitement!

 

By Arabella

(Shellie’s 9 year old daughter)

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Learn about China for Kids

China is such a big country with such a long history we can’t possibly cover it all in one blog post, but let’s get to the basics of the People’s Republic of China for kids.

China Basics

  • China is a country in East Asia and is the second-most populous nation in the world, with a population of more than 1.4 billion people. That’s 17.4 percent of the world’s population.
  • Its area is 3.7 million square miles, or almost 9.6 million square kilometers, which makes it the third largest nation by land area. It borders 14 countries: North Korea, Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. It also borders Hong Kong and Macao, which are considered special administrative regions. Its land border is the longest of any country at 13,954 miles, or 22,457 km. It also has a 9,000 mile/14,500 km border on the Pacific Ocean. 
  • China has been inhabited by humans since the Paleolithic Era and is considered one of the cradles of civilization.
  • Gunpowder and paper, among many other things, were invented in China.
  • The country has been the People’s Republic of China since 1949 when Communists took control of the country. It is a one party socialist republic, where the leader of the Communist Party is the president.
  • Beijing is the capital but Shanghai is the largest city by population (and Chongqing is the largest by physical size).
  • The nation is 91 percent ethnically Han Chinese, and about 33 percent of the people are Buddhist.
  • Because it is so large it has many different climates, including deserts, subtropical forests, mountains, coastal and river environments, grasslands and plateaus.

Chinese National Symbols

The Chinese flag is red with a large gold star and four smaller gold stars in the upper left corner. The flag was adopted in 1949. Red represents the revolution, and the large star stands for the Chinese Communist Party. The smaller starts are for the unity of different classes of Chinese people.

The national anthem, “March of the Volunteers,” became the official national anthem in 1978. The lyrics were part of a poem written in 1934 about armies that opposed the Japanese invasion of Manchuria.

There are many symbols of Chinese heritage including the Great Wall of China, Tiananmen Square and the terracotta warriors.

Chinese dragons and pandas are also considered symbols of the country, and the panda is the national animal. Plum blossoms and chrysanthemums are popular flowers. Unofficially, the red-crowned crane or Manchurian crane is the national bird.

Chinese Learning Activities for Kids

There are so many options for activities related to China, but here are a few things to get you started.

Pack More into Life has a great China unit study broken down into three days that includes crafts, food, music, folktales and more.

Mr. Donn has a great set of informative pages about ancient China, including an introduction to Confucius, Taoism, Buddhism, the major dynasties, oracle bones, cultural achievenemts and more.

Learn more about the Great Wall of China, the terracotta soldiers, and the giant panda. You can even throw a panda party with help from Red Ted Art. Or have kids build their own Great Wall of China with this activity from How Wee Learn.

Play Mahjong online or learn the basic rules of mahjong (not very basic!).

Learn about the lunar new year, make dragon crafts and snake crafts for the year of the snake (2025).

Check out more activities at Activity Village and Teachers Pay Teachers.

It’s hard to say what the national dish of China might be because it’s so large and diverse, but one you can make at home is Hot Pot. Check out the recipe from The Woks of Life. Listen to some traditional Chinese music while you eat!