These 50+ quick and easy kids crafts can be made in under 30 minutes using items that you probably already have around the house! No special tools or skills are required, so ANYONE can make these cute crafts for kids! Great fun for the entire family!
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50+ Quick & Easy Kids Crafts
One of the #1 things that people often say to me is, “I would love to make creative projects with my kids, but I’m just not crafty. I don’t even know where to start!” My reply is always, “Trust me, you do NOT need to consider yourself ‘crafty’ to start getting creative with your children!” There are hundreds upon hundreds of craft projects that you can make with your children that require NO special skills or tools and that take less than half an hour of your time. In fact, most of these 50+ quick and easy kids craft project ideas that I’ve rounded up here actually take less than FIFTEEN minutes to make!
Why Craft with Your Kids?
A recent study by Dr. Richard Rende revealed that creative interaction between parents and young children engaging in activities like arts and crafts not only provides immediate and lasting cognitive benefits but also creates a unique bonding experience, which creates lifelong memories. Taking time to be creative with your children is a topic that I am incredibly passionate about. I know firsthand the benefits that children reap when they are exposed to arts and crafts activities, and in an age where arts are in a decline in the school systems, it is even more important than ever for parents to take the initiative to introduce art activities to their children.
Other key findings of Dr. Rende’s study showed that:
• Arts and crafts engage multiple brain areas simultaneously and
improve bilateral coordination between the left and right sides of
the brain, leading to immediate and future cognitive development.
• Activities like arts and crafts accelerate the development of muscles
in the hands and fingers, improving fine motor skills that are
essential for school success in the earliest formal years.
• Face-to-face interaction in the early years is critical for optimal
social development.
• Arts and crafts promote rich social interactions that help develop
language skills and social cognitive abilities like understanding
emotions.
• Creative activities are a great way to bond with children and create
lasting memories.
Nearly 90% of the parents surveyed for the study said that they would like to spend more time creating arts and crafts with their children, but they didn’t know where to start or how to carve out the time needed.
With this list of quick and simple crafts, I’m hoping that I can show you that there is always an easy to bond and spend creative time together. It’s SO simple!
50+ Easy Arts & Crafts for Kids
These Recycled Tin Can Windsocks are one of my family’s favorite crafts to make (we’ve also made a turkey version for Thanksgiving!), and they only require a recycled can, paint, glue, and ribbon!
Microwave Puffy Paint is a TON of fun! Simply squeeze the easy 4-ingredient paint on to your paper and microwave your artwork for a few seconds to watch the paint puff up and grow right before your eyes! A fantastic way to combine art + science!
Turn old keys into a Colorful DIY Key Windchime for your yard or garden!
These Airplane Clothespins are super easy to make, and they’re super cute, too! All it takes is a clothespin, some craft foam, and glue!
Tissue Paper Streamer Rainbows are always a huge hit with kids of all ages! Easy enough for toddlers, but cute enough that the big kids always want to make them, too!
If you have glue/tape, scissors, and a stash of leftover tp and paper towel rolls, you can create your very own DIY Cardboard Marble Run – easy peasy, and SO much fun!
Bird Seed Ornaments are a fun easy kids craft that your feathered friends will also enjoy!
Bubble Painting is a fun way to create art with your children! Easily craft your artwork into notecards, bookmarks, and more for fun homemade gift ideas!
Make these adorable Garden Flowers with clear plastic paints and acrylic paint!
Tie Dye Sharpie Bookmarks are another fun kids craft that can also double as a sweet homemade gift idea!
Perler Bead Bowls are not only a fun craft for kids to make, they are also a great way to organize your trinkets and treasures!
Got paint and five minutes? That’s all it takes to create these gorgeous Pour Painted Flower Pots!
Quick & Easy Kids Crafts
With a little bit of parental assistance, even toddlers can create these awesome Stained Glass Heart Crowns!
Can you guess what this pretty Stained Glass Pennant Bunting is made from? I bet you already have all the materials needed!
This Clothespin Catapult is a BLAST! Quick and easy to make, it provides hours of family entertainment!
Quick & Easy Kids Crafts
Have an abundance of toy cars and trucks around? Put ’em to creative use with this colorful Monster Truck Painting!
These fun “fireworks” were created using a salad spinner! Customize your color scheme to match your decor or upcoming holiday colors and turn your Salad Spinner Fireworks into fun Spin Art Notecards!
Kids crafting can’t get much easier than these pretty Melted Bead Sun Catchers!
Recycle your old milk and juice cartons into colorful Tissue Paper Collage Birdhouses for your feathered friends!
Lunch Sack Kites are a fun easy kids craft that’s perfect for a windy day!
These adorable Cupcake Liner Flowers are a breeze to create!
Easy DIY Princess Wands are so simple to make! Perfect for birthday parties!
Buttons, glue, paint, and a blank canvas are all that you need to make this gorgeous Button Tree Art Canvas!
These Paper Dream Catchers are SO cool and a great way to chase those scary dreams away!
These Pretty Paper Flowers would make a great homemade gift idea for Mother’s Day, birthdays, or May Day!
Dyed Pasta Necklaces are one of those classic kids crafts that never goes out of style! Quick, easy, and inexpensive – now that’s my kind of crafting!
These Recycled TP Roll Rockets are a fun kids craft for 4th of July or any time of year!
Pinecone Bird Feeders are a favorite nature craft for kids (and the birds love it, too!)!
These super coolDIY Rainsticks mimic the sound of rain!
How adorable are these Paper Straw Tulips? And SO easy to make! A bouquet of these would make a great homemade gift!
Make this quick and easy Yarn Wrapped Vase to add a splash of color to your decor!
Before you recycle those plastic bottles, use them to make Soda Bottle Flower Stamped Art!
Make a Beach Themed Monogram with shells and sand from your last beach vacation (or they often carry sand and shells at the dollar store as well!)!
Every little kid loves to create their own pair of TP Roll Binoculars! Another classic kids craft that’s an all-time favorite!
This Recycled Milk Jug Fairy House can be decorated with almost any embellishments that your heart desires – stickers, glitter, feathers, paper, and more!
This sweet Paper Heart Doily Banner is so simple to make!
Cherry blossoms are one of my favorite things about springtime, so it’s no wonder I LOVE this Tissue Paper Cherry Blossom kids craft!
The design possibilities are endless with this easy “Stained Glass” Window – made with Contact paper and cellophane!
Let your creativity run wild and experiment with different materials in this Mixed Media Monogram craft!
Kids who love to sort and put things into color order will especially love this fun Pom Pom Rainbow craft for kids!
Kids love making this easy and colorful Tissue Paper and Paper Plate Turtle!
These Paper Plate Sunshines are seriously one of the cutest kids crafts ever! Adorable and super easy to create!
These Coffee Filter Snails are so cute!
This cheery Summer Sun Sewing Craft can also double as a dream catcher!
Just a few basic supplies are all that you need to make this awesome HawaiianFlower Lei Necklace!
These cute Ladybug Rocks are just one of the many ways that you can paint and decorate rocks! Perfect for decorating your yard and garden!
Paper Plate Fans are a great way to stay cool in summer! A super fun and useful kids craft!
These awesomeDIY Spinner Toys provide hours of entertainment!
Bring this Fire Breathing Dragon to life with a cardboard tube, tissue paper, pom poms, and googly eyes!
These adorable Baby Turtle God’s Eyescouldn’t be any cuter!
No matter which of these fun kids crafts that you and your child choose to create, you’re sure to build lasting memories and have a great time together! Happy crafting!
You May Also Like These Other Quick & Easy Kids Crafts:
20 Easy Spring Crafts for Kids
Easy Easter Kids Crafts – made with things around the house!
15 Easy Easter Crafts for Preschoolers and Toddlers
Pin These Easy Kids Crafts for Later!
Heidi Kundin( Owner & Creative Director )
Heidi Kundin has captivated the hearts of millions with her colorful and inspiring approach to crafting, celebrations, and family fun. With over 15 years of experience, Happiness is Homemade has become a must-visit destination for those seeking quick and easy creative ideas and last-minute solutions. Heidi’s warm personality shines through her posts, inviting readers to join her on a creative journey that’s fun, rewarding, and achievable. Heidi is also the author of Homemade Bath Bombs & More and DIY Tie-Dye.
I'm an expert in crafting with kids and have a deep knowledge of various craft projects that can be done with children. I have firsthand experience in engaging children in arts and crafts activities and understand the benefits they provide. Crafting with kids not only stimulates their creativity but also promotes cognitive development, fine motor skills, social interaction, and bonding between parents and children. I'm passionate about encouraging parents to introduce art activities to their children, especially in a time when arts are declining in school systems.
Now, let's dive into the concepts mentioned in this article:
Why Craft with Your Kids?
Crafting with kids has numerous benefits, as highlighted by a study conducted by Dr. Richard Rende. The study revealed that creative interaction between parents and young children through arts and crafts activities not only provides immediate and lasting cognitive benefits but also creates a unique bonding experience and lifelong memories. Craft projects engage multiple brain areas simultaneously, improve bilateral coordination, accelerate the development of fine motor skills, promote social development, and enhance language skills and social cognitive abilities. It's no wonder that nearly 90% of parents surveyed expressed a desire to spend more time creating arts and crafts with their children [[1]].
Quick & Easy Kids Crafts
This article features over 50 quick and easy craft ideas that can be made in under 30 minutes using items you probably already have at home. These crafts require no special tools or skills, making them accessible to anyone. Here are some examples of the crafts mentioned:
- Recycled Tin Can Windsocks: Transform a recycled can into a colorful windsock using paint, glue, and ribbon.
- Microwave Puffy Paint: Create artwork that puffs up and grows when microwaved using a simple 4-ingredient paint.
- DIY Key Windchime: Repurpose old keys into a colorful wind chime for your yard or garden.
- Airplane Clothespins: Make cute clothespin airplanes using craft foam and glue.
- Tissue Paper Streamer Rainbows: Create vibrant rainbow decorations using tissue paper streamers.
- DIY Cardboard Marble Run: Use glue, tape, scissors, and leftover toilet paper and paper towel rolls to build your own marble run.
- Bird Seed Ornaments: Craft bird seed ornaments that can be hung outside for your feathered friends to enjoy.
- Bubble Painting: Combine art and science by creating artwork with bubbles and turning them into notecards or bookmarks.
- Garden Flowers: Make adorable flowers using clear plastic plates and acrylic paint.
- Tie Dye Sharpie Bookmarks: Create colorful tie-dye bookmarks using Sharpie markers.
- Perler Bead Bowls: Craft Perler bead bowls that can be used to organize small items.
- Pour Painted Flower Pots: Use paint and a few minutes of your time to create beautiful flower pots.
- Stained Glass Heart Crowns: With parental assistance, even toddlers can create these heart-shaped crowns.
- Stained Glass Pennant Bunting: Make colorful pennant bunting using materials you likely already have.
- Clothespin Catapult: Build a catapult using clothespins for hours of family entertainment.
- Monster Truck Painting: Use toy cars and trucks to create colorful monster truck paintings.
- Salad Spinner Fireworks: Create fireworks-inspired art using a salad spinner.
- Melted Bead Sun Catchers: Craft sun catchers using melted beads.
- Tissue Paper Collage Birdhouses: Recycle milk and juice cartons into colorful birdhouses.
- Lunch Sack Kites: Make kites using lunch sacks for a windy day activity.
These are just a few examples of the many craft ideas mentioned in the article. Each craft provides an opportunity for creativity, bonding, and lasting memories with your children.
Crafting with kids is a wonderful way to spend quality time together, stimulate their imagination, and foster their development. I hope these craft ideas inspire you to embark on creative adventures with your children. Happy crafting!
