Keeping their kids away from gadgets is a major task for parents these days. What is all the more challenging is to keep them occupied with something else if not the gadgets. Every parent breaks their head around this especially during the summer and winter vacations when kids are at home throughout. On that note, we have brought to you the Best DIY Art And Craft Ideas For Kids To Keep Them Away From Gadgets. These are sure to keep them engaged while also entertaining them.
[ NOTE: Parent assistance is necessary for cutting. It is best suggested that you sit with them while they indulge in the crafting even though these are DIY Art And Craft Ideas For Kids. ]
Bird House From Juice/ Milk Cartons
Things you need:
- Recycled Milk/ Juice Carton
- Paper cutter
- White Paint
- Paint brush
- Small squares cut out of colour paper (preferably colour tissues)
- Glue
- Old wooden spatula
- Cardboard
- Thick thread
Steps to follow:
1) Fold the cardboard in half width size, like the roof of a house.
2) Paint the whole milk carton and the roof with a base coat and then a proper coat of white paint and let both dry.
3) Apply glue all over the painted carton and start sticking the colour paper covering the whole surface of the carton.
4) Repeat the above step for the outer surface of the roof too.
5) Remove the pouring spout on top of the carton with the cutter (Parent only).
6) Cut a large rectangular opening for the door on one face of the carton.
7) Below the door, make a slit marking an ‘X’ just enough to insert the handle of the wooden spatula. Stick the end of the spatula to the interior of the carton using glue.
8) On the roof piece, make two very tiny slits, about 2” apart about the centre point of the ridge. Pass the thread through both these slits and knot it underneath the roof.
9) Stick the roof on top of the carton using glue. There you go, the birdhouse is ready!
Source: https://www.happinessishomemade.net/collage-birdhouses/
DIY Caterpillar Craft
Things you need:
- 9” × 12” Construction/ Sugar papers - One each of green, red, white and black colour sheets
- Black marker
- A pair of scissors
- Glue
- Stapler
Steps to follow:
1) Make your little one cut 6 or more strips of green construction paper based on how long they want their caterpillar to be along with one red strip. Make sure the strips are approximately of the same width.
2) Cut out two little ovals for the eyes from the white sheet. Draw the goggly eyes on these ovals.
3) Cut out two antennae and a mouth using the black construction paper.
4) Making the caterpillar is very similar to making a paper chain. Make a circle out of one of the green strips and staple the ends together. Thread the next green strip through this circle we just created and staple its ends together again, making a circle. Repeat this for all the strips. Make sure the last circle in the chain is made out of the red strip.
5) Using glue, stick the eyes, mouth and antennae on the red circle. Pinch the red circle a little at the top to make it easy to stick the antennae and to create the head.
Source: https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/diy-caterpillar-craft-for-kids-4125131
DIY Windsocks Using Cans
Things you need:
- Recycled can(s) with the base cut off carefully (make sure that the edges are not sharp)
- Ribbons – different colors, patterns, shapes
- Yarns
- Strips of colour paper
- Beads, sequins, glitter, etc. as you like
- Acrylic paints
- Paint brush
- Glue
- Scissors
Steps to follow:
1) Using the acrylic paints paint the can however you desire. Keep it for drying.
2) You can use glitters to further decorate the can.
3) After the paint has dried, use the thickest and widest of the ribbons as the handle to hang the windsock. Stick the ribbon to the top, inner surface of the can using glue.
4) Take a few coloured yarns and cut them in different lengths. Knot the end of the threads and add different beads and sequins, as you wish.
5) Take the paper strips and at the end of them, add stickers if you like.
6) At the bottom end of the can, on the inner side, apply glue and start sticking these assorted ribbons, the threads and paper strips we prepared.
7) Now your wind sock is ready and you can hang it somewhere in your terrace or balcony.
Source: https://www.happinessishomemade.net/kids-craft-recycled-tin-can-windsocks/
Paper Plate Hand Fan
Things you need:
- Paper plate
- Scissors
- Icecream sticks
- Glue
- Acrylic Paints
- Paint brush
Steps to follow:
1) Cut the paper plate into two equal halves. One half is used to make one fan.
2) Using the paints, add some colour on to your fan. Keep it for drying.
3) Meanwhile, take four icecream sticks. Using glue, stick two ice cream sticks together to make the handles of the fan sturdy. We will have two pairs now.
4) Glue together these two, forming a wide ‘V’ shape. In case you have craft sticks, you can skip step 3 and jump to step 4 directly.
5) You may paint the handles if you want.
6) Now, again use glue to stick the handle to the fan that was painted. That’s it, there is your hand fan!
This is one of the simplest DIY Art And Craft Ideas For Kids.
Source: https://thepinterestedparent.com/2017/04/spring-and-summer-hand-fans/
Paper Lanterns
Things you need:
- Toilet paper roll ( one per lantern)
- Craft papers cut to 12” × 12” – two contrasting colours or patters.
- Glue
- Scissors
- Stapler
- Ribbon
Steps to follow:
1) Fold the base craft paper in half (if the size is 12” × 12”) and cut into two halves. The size of craft paper to be cut is based on the length of the tissue roll.
2) Wrap the craft paper around the toilet roll to measure how much is needed and then cut off the excess.
3) Apply glue all over the outer surface of the roll and secure the craft paper over it.
4) Lay the covered roll over the outer craft paper. Measure how much you would need for one wrap around the roll and cut accordingly.
5) Fold this in half along the length and cut slits across the folds with equal distancing along the whole length.
6) Wrap the outer paper now around the base covered roll. Pinch at the folds of the outer cover and once done, staple it to the tissue roll on top and bottom.
7) Take a suitable length of ribbon for acting as the handle. Glue it to the lantern at the inner side of the head. You have your paper lantern now, all ready to hang!
Source: https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/easy-paper-lanterns-1250238
Spider Hand Puppet
Things you need:
- Black and white craft foam sheets (one each)
- Scissors
- Paper Cutter
- Pipe cleaners – One red and two black ones
- Glue
- Round plastic lid
- Round pen cap
- Pencil
Steps to follow:
1) Press the round plastic lid on the black foam paper to leave an impression. Now cut out this circle using the scissors.
2) At a little below the centre of the circle (approximately), make four equally spaced impressions along a line horizontally using the pen cap. Cut them out with the cutter. These are holes for the fingers.
3) Using a pen or pencil make two holes one above the other on the left and right side. Pull one pipe cleaner each through the two sets of holes. These are the spiders legs.
4) For the eyes, draw two equal ovals on the white foam and two circles from the left over black foam (such that these fit into these ovals). Cut all four of these. Glue the black circles over the two respective white ovals.
5) Stick the eyes on the spider and the red foam shaped as the mouth, using glue. Now all that’s left is your puppet show!
Source: https://lalymom.com/itsy-bitsy-spider-finger-puppet
Hope you liked these DIY Art And Craft Ideas! If you like, you can also read about Best Summer Camps In Chennai 2020.