End of Summer Crafts for Preschoolers are exactly what you need when the weather is warm but the kids are restless. I put this list together because finding activities that hold a toddler’s attention without causing a massive mess is a daily struggle.
If you need quick ways to keep little ones busy before school starts, these simple projects use basic supplies. You get a few quiet moments while they practice fine motor skills safely.
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1. Paper Plate Watermelon Slices 🍉
When your fridge is full of leftover summer fruits, this familiar shape makes for a great painting activity. Kids love painting, and paper plates are cheap canvases that hold up well to heavy brushstrokes. You can easily turn this into a counting game by adding the seeds later.
How to Make
- Cut a sturdy white paper plate in half for your base.
- Have your child paint the outer rim green and the inner section pink or red.
- Once dry, let them dip a cotton swab in black paint to dot the watermelon seeds.
Materials Needed
- Sturdy white paper plates
- Washable green, red, and black paints
- Child-safe paintbrushes and cotton swabs
2. Beach Treasure Memory Jars 🏖️
If you brought home a bucket full of sand from your last trip, giving those shells a permanent home saves your floors. Building a memory jar is a fantastic beach art project that works their grip strength. It keeps the mess contained while letting them proudly display their summer finds.
Assembly Steps
- Wash and thoroughly dry a clear plastic jar.
- Help your child scoop play sand into the bottom quarter of the jar.
- Let them drop in small shells, smooth sea glass, and maybe a tiny paper umbrella.
Crafting Supplies
- Small clear plastic jars with tight lids
- Clean play sand or beach sand
- Assorted small seashells and smooth pebbles
3. Sun Melted Crayon Suncatchers ☀️
Trying to find a quick and easy way to use up broken crayons before the school year starts usually leads me to this classic craft. Using the hot August sun to melt wax is basically magic to a toddler preschool aged child. They get to practice sorting colors, and you get a pretty window decoration.
Creation Process
- Peel the paper off old, broken crayons and place them in a zip-top bag.
- Let your preschooler gently smash the crayons into smaller bits using a wooden spoon.
- Sprinkle the bits between two pieces of wax paper and leave them in the hot sun to melt together.
Supply Checklist
- Old, broken crayons in various colors
- Wax paper sheets
- A warm, sunny spot outdoors
4. Printable Ice Cream Color-by-Number 🍦
For those extremely hot afternoons where you just need ten minutes of quiet, relying on free printables is a total lifesaver. This simple matching game disguises number recognition as a fun art preschool activity. They can use markers, crayons, or even watercolor paints to fill in the scoops.
Activity Instructions
- Print out a large, simple drawing of an ice cream cone with numbered sections.
- Set up a matching color key using their favorite crayons.
- Let them color the scoops according to the numbers while you enjoy a quick break.
Required Items
- Printed ice cream cone coloring sheets
- Jumbo crayons or washable markers
- A quiet, flat workspace
5. Taste-Safe Lemonade Playdough 🍋
Keeping safety preschool standards in mind, this edible dough means you do not have to panic if they take a quick nibble. Making sensory dough at home is surprisingly simple, and adding lemonade powder gives it an amazing, summery scent. It feels incredibly soft and lasts for weeks in an airtight container.
Mixing Guide
- Mix flour, salt, cream of tartar, and a packet of powdered lemonade mix in a bowl.
- Stir in warm water and a little vegetable oil until a dough forms.
- Knead the mixture on a clean counter until it feels smooth and stretchy.
Ingredients List
- Basic pantry baking supplies (flour, salt, oil, cream of tartar)
- One packet of yellow lemonade drink mix
- Warm water
6. Popsicle Stick Sunflower Frames 🌻
Capturing those sunny memories needs a good display, and making a frame together turns a simple photo into a proud mantle piece. Sunflowers are an iconic late-season flower, making them a natural fit for warm weather crafting. The repetition of gluing the sticks is surprisingly calming for little hands.
Assembly Steps
- Glue four craft sticks together to form a square frame base.
- Have your child paint several more sticks a bright, cheerful yellow.
- Once dry, glue the yellow sticks around the back of the frame like flower petals.
Materials Needed
- Standard wooden craft sticks
- Yellow washable acrylic paint
- Child-safe school glue
7. Bubble Wrap Starfish Stamping ⭐
Instead of throwing away your packaging materials, reusing them for texture painting is a brilliant way to recycle. The bumpy texture of bubble wrap mimics the rough skin of a sea star perfectly. It is a slightly messy but incredibly fun way to explore different printing techniques.
How to Make
- Cut pieces of leftover bubble wrap into simple, five-point starfish shapes.
- Help your toddler brush orange and pink paint over the bumpy side.
- Press the painted shape firmly onto thick construction paper to reveal the dotted pattern.
Setup Guide
- Leftover bubble wrap
- Scissors and thick construction paper
- Orange and pink tempera paint
8. Tissue Paper Sunset Collages 🌅
If drawing straight lines frustrates your little one, tearing up paper for a collage removes all the pressure of being precise. Layering different shades of warm colors creates a beautiful evening sky effect. This method naturally builds finger strength without feeling like a chore.
Crafting Instructions
- Tear sheets of red, orange, yellow, and purple tissue paper into rough strips.
- Spread a thin layer of glue stick over a heavy piece of cardstock.
- Layer the torn tissue strips horizontally to build a colorful sunset background.
Required Materials
- Warm-colored tissue paper sheets
- Heavy white cardstock
- Purple washable glue sticks
9. Cardboard Tube Fireflies 🐛
Knowing how many paper towel rolls we go through in a week, turning them into glowing bugs just makes sense. Catching lightning bugs is a classic evening activity, and this indoor version lets them keep the magic going all day. Tucking a fake tea light inside makes it double as a fun nightlight.
Building Steps
- Paint a clean toilet paper tube black or dark blue and let it dry completely.
- Tape two wax paper ovals to the back to act as translucent wings.
- Slide a battery-operated tea light into the bottom of the tube so it glows.
Supply Checklist
- Empty cardboard toilet paper rolls
- Wax paper and clear tape
- Small battery-operated LED tea lights
10. Sponge Painted Kites 🪁
When the August breeze starts picking up, making bright paper kites is a fun way to talk about the changing weather. Sponges are much easier for small toddlers to grip than skinny paintbrushes. They can easily stamp colorful shapes onto their paper kite before attaching a long tail.
Assembly Process
- Cut a large diamond shape out of sturdy poster board.
- Dip small square sponges into different paint colors and stamp them all over the diamond.
- Staple a long piece of yarn to the bottom and tie on small ribbon bows for a tail.
Materials Needed
- White poster board
- Kitchen sponges cut into small squares
- Yarn, ribbons, and washable paints
These simple projects are a great way to soak up the last few weeks of warm weather while keeping your kids actively engaged. They require very little setup, making your afternoons much smoother as you transition back into a regular routine.
Grab your supplies, clear off a table, and let them get a little messy. If you found these ideas helpful, be sure to pin this post to your favorite Pinterest board so you can easily find it later!
