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When the heat is too much or everyone needs a break from the sun, creative activities are the answer — and these keep kids busy without screens for long, satisfying stretches. The best part is that most of them result in something kids are genuinely proud of, which means they’re more likely to stay engaged and come back to the project on their own.

One tip that makes a real difference: don’t put out all the supplies at once. Introduce a new project or material every week or two so there’s always something fresh to look forward to.

In This Post:
Art Supplies & Drawing · Hands-On Craft Kits · Creative Projects (Free Ideas)

Art Supplies & Drawing

Start with a well-stocked supply of basics — you’d be surprised how much creativity flows when kids have good materials at hand.

A kids art supply kit stocked with watercolors, markers, colored pencils, and sketch pads is one of the best investments you can make for summer — it keeps kids busy for long stretches and gives them something to actually make and be proud of.

Pair the supplies with a free YouTube channel like Art Hub for Kids — they have hundreds of step-by-step drawing tutorials for every age and skill level, and having something to follow along with makes kids actually want to sit down and create.

A paint-by-numbers kit is great for kids who get frustrated freehand — the structure means they end up with a finished piece they’re genuinely proud of, and there are options for every age and skill level.

An origami paper set with a beginner instruction book is one of those quiet activities kids return to over and over. Once they get the hang of a few folds, they’ll be folding cranes and frogs out of every piece of paper in the house.

Hands-On Craft Kits

Craft kits give kids a clear project to work on with everything they need in one box — which makes it easy to actually get started instead of staring at supplies.

A loom bracelet kit is a current favorite for kids who like to work with their hands — once they learn the basics they can make bracelets for everyone they know and they’ll be occupied for days.

A kids tie-dye kit is a classic summer activity that never gets old — let them tie-dye old white t-shirts, socks, or pillowcases and they’ll wear what they made all summer long.

A kids bead kit for making jewelry or keychains is a quiet, focused activity that works well for a range of ages and gives them something tangible to show for their time.

Air-dry or oven-bake clay (like Sculpey or Crayola Air-Dry) is quieter and less messy than paint, and the finished pieces become real keepsakes — kids genuinely love being able to make something they can keep on a shelf.

Perler beads or fuse beads are one of those endless activities — kids will spend hours arranging the tiny beads into patterns, and the finished pieces actually look great as coasters, ornaments, or gifts.

A suncatcher or window art kit gives kids something they can hang up the same day they make it. Watching their finished pieces catch the sunlight on the kitchen window is half the reward.

An embroidery or cross-stitch starter kit is a surprisingly good fit for older kids who like quiet, focused projects. The kits with printed patterns let them dive straight in without needing to know anything ahead of time.

A Spirograph is the kind of classic toy that looks simple but draws kids in for hours — the patterns are mesmerizing and they’ll keep experimenting to see what they can create.

A potholder loom is a quiet, focused project with a real finished product at the end — kids weave colorful loops on a small frame and end up with a potholder they’re genuinely proud to give away as a gift.

Creative Projects (Free Ideas)

Some of the best creative projects don’t require buying anything new — just a little imagination and a few things you already have around the house.

Set up a cardboard box challenge — save boxes from deliveries, hand them a roll of tape and some markers, and challenge them to build a city, a rocket ship, or a house for their toys. This one is free and endlessly entertaining.

Friendship bracelets
Use embroidery floss from the dollar store — YouTube has dozens of beginner patterns and once kids get started they won’t stop until everyone they know has one.

Comic book or short story
Challenge them to write and illustrate one using nothing but paper and whatever drawing supplies you have — it’s a surprisingly absorbing project that can stretch across several days.

Fort building
Inside with blankets and couch cushions, or outside with sticks and a tarp. The building process alone keeps kids busy for hours, and then they want to live in it.

Puppet show
Use old socks or paper bags — let them make the puppets, write the script, and perform it for the family.

Summer scrapbook
Use printed photos, ticket stubs, pressed flowers, and anything else from the summer — it becomes a keepsake they’ll actually want to look through years from now.

Outdoor painting station
Tape paper to a fence or easel and let them work on a big mural together — there’s something about painting outdoors that keeps kids engaged far longer than sitting at the kitchen table.

Rock pets or painted garden stones
Collect rocks on a walk, bring them home, and let kids paint faces, patterns, or scenes on them. They make great gifts and kids love displaying them.

DIY photo project
Give an older kid your phone or an inexpensive camera and challenge them to document the whole summer in photos. At the end of the season, print their favorites and make a little album together.

Leaf printing
Collect leaves with interesting shapes, brush paint on the back, and press them onto paper to make prints. The results always surprise kids and it’s genuinely beautiful.

Stop-motion video
Use LEGO, clay figures, or stuffed animals — older kids will spend a whole day shooting frames with your phone and then editing it together. Free apps like Stop Motion Studio make it easy to get started.

DIY marble run
Build one from paper towel tubes, cardboard, and tape — kids can design, test, and redesign their tracks for hours, and the engineering side of it is surprisingly absorbing.

Time capsule
Write letters, draw pictures, include small items from this summer, then seal it and plan to open it next summer or in a few years.

Family recipe book
Kids interview each family member about their favorite recipe, write them down, and decorate the pages. It becomes a real keepsake.

Dream bedroom or treehouse design
Have them lay it out on graph paper — picking furniture, colors, drawing to scale. Older kids especially get really into this one.

Paper airplane contest
Make a stack and hold a flight competition with categories for distance, time aloft, and accuracy. Try a few different designs and see which performs best.

Press flowers
Press them between the pages of heavy books to save for later craft projects, framing, or simply pulling out to look at on a winter day.

Found-object sculpture
Challenge them to build one from items around the house — buttons, bottle caps, pipe cleaners, paper clips. Let them name it and add it to a “gallery” on a shelf.

For even more summer ideas, head back to the full kids summer activities list — it covers outdoor play, rainy day ideas, active games, and more.

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