15 Easy Summer Crafts for Preschoolers

Summer crafts for preschoolers are the kind of activities that need to feel fun right away. At this age, kids usually want to paint, glue, tear paper, stick things, stamp with their hands, and make something they can proudly show everyone five minutes later. So the best summer crafts are simple, colorful, and full of things little hands can actually do.

I kept the crafts easy and preschool-friendly, but still cute enough to make a sweet display on the wall, fridge, classroom board, or summer activity table.

1. Summer Crafts for Preschoolers Lemonade Stand

A lemonade stand craft feels so summery and cute for preschoolers. It also gives you a chance to talk about yellow, circles, pretend play, and summer drinks.

Kids can make a little paper cup of lemonade, add a straw, glue on lemon slices, and decorate it with tiny ice cubes made from white paper.

Materials needed:

• White cardstock
• Yellow construction paper
• Yellow tissue paper
• Paper straw or colored paper strip
• Glue stick
• Crayons
• Child-safe scissors

How to make it:

1. Cut a simple cup shape from white cardstock.
2. Let kids glue yellow tissue paper inside the cup.
3. Add a paper straw.
4. Cut small yellow circles for lemon slices.
5. Glue the lemons onto the cup.
6. Let kids draw ice cubes, bubbles, or a little lemonade stand sign.
7. Display the cups together for a cheerful summer craft wall.

2. Summer Crafts for Preschoolers Sidewalk Chalk Popsicle

This craft has that classic summer feeling because it looks like sidewalk chalk and popsicles at the same time. Preschoolers can decorate paper popsicles with bright colors, stripes, dots, and crayon “chalk” lines.

It is easy, colorful, and perfect for a summer camp or sunny day theme.

Materials needed:

• Colored construction paper
• Craft sticks
• Crayons
• Stickers
• Glue stick
• Child-safe scissors

How to make it:

1. Cut popsicle shapes from colored paper.
2. Glue a craft stick behind each popsicle.
3. Let kids decorate with crayons, stickers, dots, and stripes.
4. Add pretend sprinkles or smiley faces.
5. Let the glue dry.
6. Arrange all the popsicles together like a little summer display.

3. Summer Crafts for Preschoolers Paper Plate Sun

A paper plate sun is already cute, but adding sunglasses makes it feel more fun and very summer. Preschoolers can paint the plate yellow, glue paper rays around it, and add a silly face.

This is great for a classroom board with the phrase “Hello Summer.”

Materials needed:

• Paper plates
• Yellow washable paint
• Orange or yellow construction paper
• Black construction paper
• Glue
• Marker
• Paintbrush
• Child-safe scissors

How to make it:

1. Paint the paper plate yellow.
2. Let it dry.
3. Cut triangle rays from yellow or orange paper.
4. Glue the rays around the plate.
5. Cut simple sunglasses from black paper.
6. Glue the sunglasses onto the sun.
7. Draw a smile and rosy cheeks.

4. Ice Cream Scoop Name Summer Crafts for Preschoolers

This craft is perfect for preschoolers because it can be both a summer craft and a name activity. Each scoop can have one letter of the child’s name, or kids can simply stack colorful scoops for fun.

It looks adorable on a preschool wall or summer bulletin board.

Materials needed:

• Brown construction paper
• Colored construction paper
• Glue stick
• Marker
• Stickers
• Crayons
• Child-safe scissors

How to make it:

1. Cut one cone shape from brown paper.
2. Cut several scoop shapes from colored paper.
3. Write one letter on each scoop if using it as a name craft.
4. Let kids decorate the scoops with sprinkles, dots, or stickers.
5. Glue the cone to cardstock.
6. Stack the scoops above the cone.
7. Let it dry flat.

5. Bubble Wrap Ocean Summer Crafts for Preschoolers

Bubble wrap makes the cutest ocean texture, and preschoolers usually love stamping with it. This craft feels messy in a fun way, but still simple enough for little kids.

It works beautifully for a beach, ocean, or summer animals theme.

Materials needed:

• Bubble wrap
• Blue washable paint
• White cardstock
• Paper fish cutouts
• Glue stick
• Crayons
• Paper plate for paint

How to make it:

1. Add blue paint to a paper plate.
2. Let kids press bubble wrap into the paint.
3. Stamp the bubble wrap onto cardstock to make ocean water.
4. Let the paint dry.
5. Glue paper fish onto the ocean.
6. Add bubbles, seaweed, or sunshine with crayons.
7. Display as an ocean scene.

6. Summer Crafts for Preschoolers Pool Float

Pool floats are such a fun summer theme, and this idea feels fresh for preschoolers. Kids can make paper donut floats, flamingo floats, watermelon floats, or rainbow floats using simple circles and bright colors.

Materials needed:

• Colored paper
• White cardstock
• Glue stick
• Markers
• Stickers
• Child-safe scissors

How to make it:

1. Cut a large circle from colored paper.
2. Cut a smaller circle from the middle to make a float shape.
3. Glue it onto blue cardstock.
4. Let kids decorate it with stripes, sprinkles, or fruit designs.
5. Add paper waves around the float.
6. Draw a sunny sky or pool water details.
7. Let it dry.

7. Summer Crafts for Preschoolers Handprint Campfire

This one is perfect for summer camp, backyard camping, or pretend camping nights. The handprints become flames, and the craft feels personal because it uses the child’s own hands.

It is also a sweet keepsake.

Materials needed:

• Black or dark blue cardstock
• Red, orange, and yellow washable paint
• Brown construction paper
• Glue
• Paintbrush
• Wipes for cleanup

How to make it:

1. Paint the child’s hand with yellow, orange, or red paint.
2. Press handprints onto dark cardstock to make flames.
3. Let the paint dry.
4. Cut brown paper strips for logs.
5. Glue the logs under the flames.
6. Add paper stars or a moon if desired.
7. Let kids describe their pretend campfire scene.

8. Summer Crafts for Preschoolers Watermelon Seed

This craft is simple, summery, and can become a counting activity. Preschoolers can paint a watermelon slice and then add black seeds while counting them.

It is great for practicing numbers in a playful way.

Materials needed:

• Paper plates
• Red or pink washable paint
• Green washable paint
• Black paper circles or black beans
• Glue
• Paintbrush
• Child-safe scissors

How to make it:

1. Cut a paper plate in half.
2. Paint the middle red or pink.
3. Paint the curved edge green.
4. Let it dry.
5. Glue on black paper seeds or black beans.
6. Count the seeds together.
7. Write the number on the back if desired.

9. Summer Crafts for Preschoolers Paper Bag

Kites feel like summer, park days, and outdoor fun. A paper bag kite lets preschoolers decorate, glue ribbons, and pretend to fly it around the room or backyard.

This is a cute movement craft because they can play with it after making it.

Materials needed:

• Small paper bags
• Streamers or ribbon
• Crayons
• Stickers
• Glue or tape
• String, optional

How to make it:

1. Give each child a small paper bag.
2. Let them decorate the bag with crayons and stickers.
3. Tape streamers or ribbon to the open end.
4. Add a string handle if desired.
5. Let kids gently wave the kite around.
6. Use it for pretend outdoor play.

10. Summer Crafts for Preschoolers Seashell Paper Collage

This is a great beach-inspired craft even if you do not have real shells. Preschoolers can tear paper, glue shell shapes, and create a sandy beach scene.

It feels cute, simple, and perfect for a summer beach week.

Materials needed:

• Tan cardstock
• Blue construction paper
• Shell cutouts
• Tissue paper
• Glue stick
• Crayons
• Child-safe scissors

How to make it:

1. Tear blue paper into strips for waves.
2. Glue the waves onto tan cardstock.
3. Add shell cutouts across the sand.
4. Let kids decorate the shells with crayons.
5. Add tissue paper texture if desired.
6. Draw sun, birds, or beach toys.
7. Let the collage dry flat.

11. Summer Crafts for Preschoolers Firefly Jar

This is such a sweet summer night craft, fireflies feel like backyard summer magic. Instead of using glass, make the jar from paper so it stays preschool-friendly.

Kids can glue yellow dots inside the mason jar to make glowing fireflies.

Materials needed:

• Dark blue cardstock
• Yellow paper circles or stickers
• Gray or white paper
• Glue stick
• Marker
• Star stickers
• Child-safe scissors

How to make it:

1. Cut a jar shape from gray or white paper.
2. Glue the jar onto dark blue cardstock.
3. Add yellow dots inside the jar for fireflies.
4. Draw little wings or antennae if desired.
5. Add stars around the jar.
6. Let kids decorate the night sky.
7. Display the jars together for a summer night theme.

12. Summer Crafts for Preschoolers Flip-Flop Paper

A flip-flop craft feels super summer and is easy for preschoolers to decorate. They can use stickers, pom-poms, paper flowers, or crayons to design their own sandals.

It is cute for a beach day, summer camp, or vacation theme.

Materials needed:

• Colored cardstock
• Stickers
• Paper strips
• Pom-poms, optional
• Glue stick
• Crayons
• Child-safe scissors

How to make it:

1. Cut simple flip-flop shapes from cardstock.
2. Cut thin paper strips for the straps.
3. Glue the straps onto the flip-flops.
4. Let kids decorate with stickers, dots, and patterns.
5. Add pom-poms or paper flowers if desired.
6. Let everything dry.
7. Display them like a summer sandal collection.

13. Summer Crafts for Preschoolers Paper Plate Beach Ball

A beach ball craft is colorful, simple, and easy for preschoolers to recognize. The sections are perfect for using different colors, stamping, or sponge painting.

This one works well for a beach, pool, or summer fun theme.

Materials needed:

• Paper plates
• Washable paint
• Markers
• Sponge pieces
• Paper plate for paint
• Child-safe scissors, optional

How to make it:

1. Draw beach ball sections on a paper plate.
2. Add paint colors to a paint tray or paper plate.
3. Let kids sponge paint each section.
4. Let it dry.
5. Outline the sections with a marker if needed.
6. Hang several together for a colorful summer display.

14. Summer Crafts for Preschoolers Flower Market Paper

This one feels a little more creative and very cute for summer. Preschoolers can make a mini paper flower market with flower stems, simple blossoms, and a tiny sign.

It is perfect if you want something different from the usual sun and ocean crafts.

Materials needed:

• Cardstock
• Colored construction paper
• Glue stick
• Crayons
• Marker
• Stickers
• Child-safe scissors

How to make it:

1. Draw or glue a simple flower stand shape onto cardstock.
2. Cut paper stems and flower circles.
3. Let preschoolers glue flowers onto the stand.
4. Add a small “flower market” sign.
5. Decorate the background with grass and sunshine.
6. Let kids add stickers or butterflies.
7. Display as a cute summer market scene.

15. Summer Crafts for Preschoolers Patriotic Star Wand

Summer Crafts for Preschoolers works for Memorial Day, Fourth of July, summer parades, or backyard celebrations. Keep it simple and preschool-safe with paper stars and ribbons.

Kids can wave the wand after making it, which makes the activity more fun.

Materials needed:

• Red, white, and blue cardstock
• Craft sticks
• Ribbon or paper streamers
• Glue or tape
• Star stickers
• Crayons
• Child-safe scissors

How to make it:

1. Cut a large star from cardstock.
2. Let kids decorate the star with stickers and crayons.
3. Tape ribbon or streamers to the back.
4. Tape or glue a craft stick as the handle.
5. Add smaller paper stars if desired.
6. Let it dry.
7. Use it for a summer parade or pretend celebration.

Final Thoughts

Summer crafts for preschoolers should feel colorful, easy, and exciting for little hands. The goal is not perfection. The goal is to let kids explore paint, paper, glue, stickers, and simple shapes while making something that feels fun and seasonal.

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