Looking for some fun summer themed crafts to do with your preschoolers? You’re in the right place. Whether you’re a teacher planning summer activities or a parent hoping to keep little hands busy during the warm months, these preschool crafts are just what you need.
From fruity art projects to ocean animals and sunny scenes, there’s a wide variety of simple ideas to try. These crafts are fun and cute and help build fine motor skills, spark creativity, and create sweet summer memories. Best of all, most of them use materials you already have at home or in the classroom.
This roundup is full of easy, hands-on activities perfect for summertime fun. Let’s take a look at some preschool crafts your little ones will love.
More Preschool Craft Ideas
Looking for more craft ideas for your kiddos? We have a lot of ideas here on Homeschool Preschool that are so much fun for your little ones.
Craft time isn’t just about having fun—it’s also a wonderful way for preschoolers to learn and grow. When little ones get busy with their hands, they’re building important skills that help them in so many areas of development.
Emotional Expression: Art gives children a chance to show how they’re feeling. It’s a safe and creative way to express themselves.
Fine Motor Skills: Using scissors, glue, and small craft pieces helps strengthen the tiny muscles in their hands and fingers. These muscles are important for things like writing, buttoning clothes, and using utensils.
Cognitive Development: Doing crafts helps kids learn how to follow steps in order, remember instructions, and think through a project from beginning to end.
Language Skills: Talking about the craft—what they’re doing, the colors they see, the shapes they use—helps build vocabulary and conversation skills.
Tips for a Successful Crafting Session
Craft time can be a lot more fun (and a little less messy) with just a bit of planning. Here are a few simple tips to help your crafting sessions go smoothly and keep everyone smiling:
Get materials ready ahead of time – Having everything prepped before you start helps the activity move along without too many pauses. It also keeps little ones from getting antsy while you search for supplies.
Set up a kid-friendly space – Pick a spot that’s easy to clean, like a table with a plastic tablecloth or even outside. This helps make cleanup a breeze.
Let them make choices – Give kids some freedom to pick colors or add their own twist. It’s okay if their craft doesn’t look exactly like the example. That’s part of the fun!
Celebrate their creations – Hang their art on the wall or display it proudly. It helps boost their confidence and shows them their work is valued.
Summer Themed Crafts
Now that you’re all set, it’s time to dive into the fun part—the crafts! Below is a list of simple, hands-on pre k summer crafts that are just right for preschoolers. These ideas are easy to prep, use materials you likely already have, and are perfect for keeping little ones busy during the warmer months.
Whether you’re crafting at home or in the classroom, there’s something here for everyone. Let’s get started!
Bald Eagle Toilet Paper Roll Craft
This adorable bald eagle craft is made with a simple toilet paper roll and felt pieces. It’s a fun and easy activity that’s perfect for celebrating patriotic holidays like the 4th of July. Kids will love adding the wings, beak, and googly eyes!
This colorful beach ball craft uses a paper plate and is great for practicing color recognition. Kids can paint each section of the ball and even work on simple cutting skills. It’s a bright and cheerful project that feels just like summer!
This popsicle craft is a sweet way to help little ones build fine motor skills. Kids get to decorate their own popsicle using paper and small craft pieces, which is great for little fingers. It’s a fun summertime activity that also sneaks in a bit of learning!
This easy watermelon craft uses craft foam to make a bright and cheerful summer treat. Kids can practice cutting and gluing while creating their own watermelon slice. It’s a simple, mess-free project that’s perfect for hot days.
When it's done, this sunny paper plate craft turns into a fun little puppet. Kids will love painting the plate and adding sun rays to create a cheerful summer face. It’s a playful activity that’s great for crafting and pretend play.
This colorful seahorse craft is a fun mix of ocean-themed art and simple paper weaving. Kids can practice their cutting and fine motor skills while creating a bright and friendly sea creature. It’s a great summer craft that also adds a little learning along the way.
This pufferfish craft uses paper loops to give it a fun, 3D look that kids will love. It’s an excellent way for little hands to practice folding, gluing, and creating texture. The finished fish is full of personality and perfect for an ocean-themed craft day.
This sweet ice cream cone craft uses your child’s handprint to make the scoops. It’s a simple, keepsake-friendly project that’s fun and easy to make. Kids will love choosing their “flavors” and seeing their hand become part of the art!
This jellyfish craft is bright, fun, and easy for little ones to make. Kids can practice gluing and cutting as they create wiggling jellyfish tentacles. It’s a great craft for summer or an ocean-themed unit in the classroom.
This nature heart craft is a sweet way to explore the outdoors and get creative. Kids collect leaves, flowers, and other natural items to fill a heart-shaped frame. It’s a calm, hands-on activity that beautifully combines art and nature.
These ocean animals are made from egg cartons and are perfect for a summer crafting day. Kids can create a whale, an octopus, and a turtle using paint, paper, and googly eyes. It’s a fun way to recycle and let imaginations swim!
This cheerful sun craft uses a paper plate and simple shapes to make a bright summer face. Kids will enjoy painting the plate and adding sun rays around the edge. It’s a quick and easy project that’s perfect for a sunny day theme.
This torn paper watermelon craft is a great way for little ones to practice fine motor skills. Kids tear and glue bits of paper to make a juicy slice of watermelon. It’s simple, colorful, and just right for summer fun.
Love summer crafts for kids? This doily ice cream craft might be our new favourite as it’s just so cute! It only costs pennies to make as well so it’s a great activity for the kids this summer!
This handprint campfire craft is a cozy and creative way to celebrate summer camping fun. Kids use their handprints to make the flames, then add simple shapes for the logs. It’s a great keepsake and a fun way to talk about campfire safety too.
This simple bird feeder is made with a toilet paper roll, peanut butter, and birdseed. Kids can spread, roll, and hang it outside to feed local birds. It’s a fun way to connect with nature and learn about animals during the summer.
This fireworks craft uses cupcake liners to create bright, colorful bursts on paper. Kids can layer, cut, and glue to make their own fireworks display. It’s a fun way to celebrate the 4th of July or any summer celebration.
This pineapple craft is a great way to help preschoolers practice their lacing skills. Kids thread yarn through holes to create the texture of a pineapple, which helps build hand-eye coordination. It’s a fun and fruity craft that’s perfect for summer!
This jellyfish suncatcher craft is bright, colorful, and looks beautiful hanging in a sunny window. Kids use tissue paper to fill in the jellyfish shape, then add long, flowing tentacles. It’s a great mix of art and fine motor practice for summer days.
This handprint crab craft turns your child’s handprints into cute red crab claws. It’s an easy and fun beach-themed activity that doubles as a sweet keepsake. Perfect for summer or an ocean animal unit!
This paper lemonade craft is a fun way to celebrate a favorite summer drink. Kids can cut and glue pieces to build their own glass of lemonade, complete with a straw and lemon slice. It’s a bright, cheerful project that’s perfect for warm-weather crafting.
This campfire nature craft uses real outdoor materials like sticks and leaves to build a pretend campfire. It’s a fun mix of nature play and crafting that encourages creativity and outdoor exploration. Great for summer camp themes or a backyard adventure day!
This firefly suncatcher craft is inspired by Eric Carle’s art and is perfect for summer evenings. Kids use tissue paper and black paper to create a glowing firefly that looks lovely in a sunny window. It’s a simple, creative way to mix storytelling with art.
This paint splat ice cream cone craft is a playful way for kids to explore color and creativity. They’ll love splatting paint to make the ice cream scoops, then adding a cone to finish the treat. It’s messy fun that turns into a cute summer artwork!
This simple sun craft uses a paper plate, paint, and construction paper to make a big, happy sun. Kids can practice cutting and gluing as they add the sun rays all around. It’s a cheerful project that’s great for celebrating sunny summer days.
This beehive craft is made by stacking yellow paper strips to build a hive shape. It’s a great way to work on size order and shape recognition. Add a little bee buzzing nearby for the perfect summer touch.
This buzzing bee craft is made from crumpled tissue paper and has a fun, puffy look. Kids can practice gluing and placing stripes while learning about insects. It’s an easy and adorable summer craft for preschoolers.
This paper turtle craft uses a weaving technique that’s fun and great for fine motor skills. Kids will enjoy creating the turtle’s shell with strips of paper. It’s a fun summer activity that adds a little extra learning too.
Common materials include colored paper, glue, scissors, markers, and any summer-themed decorations like seashells or sand.
How can summer crafts benefit preschoolers?
They enhance fine motor skills, encourage creativity, and provide a great way to explore summer themes and ideas.
Summer is the perfect time to slow down, soak up the sunshine, and get creative with your little ones. These summer theme crafts for preschool are a fun way to keep kids learning, playing, and making memories all season long. Whether working on fine motor skills, exploring colors, or enjoying screen-free time, these simple preschool crafts make it easy and enjoyable.
Try a few (or all!) of these ideas and see which ones your kids love most. And don’t forget—crafting doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful. It’s all about the process, the smiles, and the time spent together.
Tara is the brains behind Homeschool Preschool, where her journey from preschool and public school teacher to homeschooling mom of three fuels her passion for early childhood education. With a blend of expertise and firsthand experience, Tara’s writings offer practical tips and engaging resources to support families in creating meaningful learning adventures at home.
