Summer is a great time for fun, hands-on learning. Days are longer and schedules are more relaxed, setting the stage for creative endeavors that usually aren’t part of the traditional classroom routine. Try these DIY ideas to get kids interested in everything from science to art and music.
Bubble Blast
Making your own bubble solution is 10 times more fun than buying the store-bought stuff. Bend and twist pipe cleaners into different configurations to make the bubble wands. Check out more creative ideas on Pinterest.
For older kids who enjoy an early childhood pastime, throw a little history and science into the mix. Bubble-blowing can be traced as far back as the sixteenth century, when Sir Isaac Newton studied the thickness of soap suds. Adding different ingredients, like sugar and glycerin, affects the thickness and durability of the foamy spheres. Experiment with different recipes to see who can make the highest-floating, longest-lasting bubbles.
Play-Dough Party
DIY play-dough requires just a few ingredients and is incredibly inexpensive to make. For elementary-aged kids, you can make a math lesson out of it by having them double the recipe and measure the ingredients. Add a few tools like a rolling pin and cookie cutters, so kids can stylize their creations.
For a tasty twist, try these edible play-dough recipes, perfect for combining crafting time and snack time.
Music Mania
Encourage kids to “think outside the box” by making musical instruments out of items you already have on hand.
Get out the craft supplies and have kids decorate their instruments. Make noisemakers with paper plates, beans, and popsicle sticks. Drums can be fashioned from tin cans or cardboard boxes. Add bells for more sound variety.
Make a xylophone by filling glasses of the same size with varying levels of water, lining them up, and tapping them with a wooden spoon to hear the different notes.
Do you have any other DIY project ideas that help kids find creative ways to beat summer boredom and learn new skills? We’d love to hear them!
