Spring has sprung! Crafting is one of my favorite spring activities. A wonderful aspect of crafting is the free expression that it allows. Projects don’t need to be guided, structured, or have a “perfect outcome.” What I most enjoy is the process of creating itself. If you are in need of some open-ended crafting ideas, you are in luck! Below are some craft ideas for kids this spring.
1. Paint with new tools:
Has your child painted with a fork before? What about a cotton ball, a stick, or even a potato masher? There are so many unique tools that can make painting a whole new experience for your child. Set the stage so your little one has natural inspiration: near a window with a view of the yard, trees, and sky—or why not paint outdoors if you can? Provide a variety of colors and let your child release their inner artist!
2. Coffee filter flower art:
Looking to add some STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) to your child’s day? Coffee filter flower art is a fun and easy way to incorporate some science into the day. All you need are coffee filters (cut in a design if you would like), liquid water colors, containers to hold the watercolors, eyedroppers or syringes, and wax paper. Place a sheet of wax paper on the table, and let you child drip water colors onto coffee filter papers. This is a great lesson in color mixing, cause and effect, and absorption, and the results are beautiful to display!
3. Engineer a bird feeder:
If you are like me, you have a bin full of recyclables in your kitchen just itching to be turned into a masterpiece! Set out a table with tape, glue, paints, and lots of recycled materials and let your child go to town. The resulting bird feeder can proudly hang up for those springtime feathered friends to enjoy. This is another great activity that can double as a lesson in engineering and problem solving – a great opportunity to ask questions and solve problems such as “What will you need to make the feeder hang? Is there a place for the birds to land? What will hold the bird seed?” Even if a bird feeder isn’t the end product, giving your child the tools to be creative will bring out the sunshine in everyone’s day!
4. Decorate with nature:
Find a small tree branch and set it out with a variety of crafting materials: pompoms, tissue paper, paint, colorful tape, flowers etc. This is a great project for a group of kids to work on over time. I have seen these branches displayed in many a classroom and the result is always stunning. When children are given the opportunity to create, it is amazing to see what they come up with. These branches make a unique and vibrant springtime display your kiddos will surely be proud of!
5. Create a sun catcher:
Spring is all about the outdoors, so what better way to welcome spring than with a home-made natural sun catcher? All you need is contact paper, a frame of some sort (twigs, a paper plate with the center cut out, or popsicle sticks work well), string for hanging, and some natural items to fill it in. Starting this activity with a nature walk or roaming the yard for some flowers, leaves and other materials will give your child the chance to get some fresh air while being creative! Let your child place what they find directly onto the contact paper, allow them to pick a type of frame, and then hang it up in the window for them to see.
Don’t forget to join us at San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum for more creative crafting in the Maker’s Studio and the chance to tinker with all kinds of fun materials. Thanks for reading, friends, and keep on creating this spring!
About the blogger:
Hi there! My name is Gigi and I am an educator here at San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum. As an early childhood Educator with a passion for art, one of my favorite ways to engage children is through open-ended art. Art is so important as a form of emotional expression, but it also serves as a calming and educational experience. Having the chance to create is a gift that every child should receive, and I am thrilled to provide creative experiences for kiddos here at the Museum!