First day of summer crafts are such a sweet way to make the season feel special for kids. It does not need to be anything complicated. Sometimes a little paint, paper, glue, and a sunny idea are enough to turn an ordinary day into a small summer memory.
These first day of summer crafts are easy enough for home, preschool, daycare, classroom activities, or summer camp. Some are more playful, some are more like keepsakes, and some can even become cute summer decorations.
1. First Day of Summer Crafts for kids Paper Sun Visor
A paper sun visor is a cute way to start summer because kids can actually wear it after making it. You can use cardstock, foam paper, or thick construction paper and let each child decorate the front with suns, flowers, fruit, waves, or little summer stickers.
This is a fun craft for a summer party, classroom celebration, or first day of summer photo.
Materials needed:
- Yellow or white cardstock
- Markers or crayons
- Stickers
- Glue stick
- Child-safe scissors
- Elastic string or ribbon
- Hole punch
How to make it:
Cut a visor shape from cardstock. Let kids decorate it with summer drawings, stickers, and paper shapes. Punch one hole on each side, tie elastic or ribbon, and adjust it so it fits comfortably.
2. First day of summer crafts Beach Day Paper Collage
A beach day collage is perfect for kids who love sand, waves, umbrellas, and seashells. They can build a whole summer scene on paper using torn paper, real sand, cotton clouds, paper waves, and little cutout details.
It is simple, but it looks really cute when finished.
Materials needed:
- Blue, tan, yellow, and white paper
- Glue stick
- Cotton balls
- Markers
- Child-safe scissors
- Stickers, optional
How to make it:
Give each child a sheet of cardstock. Help them tear or cut blue paper for the ocean and tan paper for the sand. Add a paper sun, clouds, beach umbrella, flip-flops, or shells. Let them draw extra details with markers.
3. Summer Reading Bookmark Craft
This first day of summer craft is a good one if you want to connect the season with reading. Kids can make their own bookmarks for summer books, library days, or bedtime stories.
They can decorate them with lemons, suns, flowers, popsicles, waves, or little phrases like “summer reading.”
Materials needed:
- Cardstock strips
- Markers or crayons
- Stickers
- Hole punch
- Ribbon or yarn
- Laminating sheet, optional
How to make it:
Cut long bookmark strips from cardstock. Let kids decorate each one with summer drawings. Punch a hole at the top and tie ribbon or yarn through it. If you want them to last longer, laminate them or cover them with clear contact paper.
4. First day of summer crafts Paper Cup Lemonade
A lemonade cup craft feels so summer and works beautifully for younger kids. They can make a pretend lemonade cup using paper, tissue paper, stickers, and a straw.
It is bright, easy, and cute for preschool or daycare.
Materials needed:
- White or yellow cardstock
- Yellow tissue paper
- Paper straw
- Glue stick
- Markers
- Child-safe scissors
How to make it:
Cut out a cup shape from cardstock. Let kids glue small yellow tissue paper pieces onto the cup to look like lemonade. Add a paper lemon slice and a straw. They can decorate the cup with dots, flowers, or little sun shapes.
5. First day of summer crafts Painted Seashell
This is a sweet summer craft even if you do not have real seashells. Kids can paint paper shell shapes or glue cutouts onto a paper plate to make a beach-inspired design.
It feels coastal, but still easy and safe.
Materials needed:
- Paper plate
- Seashell-shaped paper cutouts
- Washable paint
- Paintbrushes
- Glue stick
- Sand-colored paper
- Blue paper
How to make it:
Paint the paper plate in soft beach colors. Add blue paper waves and tan paper sand. Let kids glue shell shapes around the plate and decorate them with paint, dots, or crayon lines.
6. First day of summer crafts Memory Jar Drawing
Instead of using a real jar, kids can make a paper memory jar. This is cute because they can draw what they want to do during summer inside the jar shape.
It becomes part craft, part summer wish list.
Materials needed:
- White cardstock
- Jar template or hand-drawn jar shape
- Markers or crayons
- Stickers
- Glue stick
- Small paper shapes
How to make it:
Draw or print a large jar shape on cardstock. Let kids fill the inside with drawings of summer memories they want to make: swimming, reading, ice cream, flowers, picnics, beach days, or family time.
7. First day of summer crafts Paper Popsicle Name
A paper popsicle name craft is simple and very cute for classrooms. Each child can decorate one popsicle with their name, favorite colors, and summer details.
You can hang them together on a bulletin board or wall.
Materials needed:
- Colored cardstock
- Popsicle stick
- Glue
- Markers
- Stickers
- Child-safe scissors
How to make it:
Cut popsicle shapes from cardstock. Glue a craft stick behind each one. Let kids write their names and decorate with stripes, sprinkles, fruit shapes, or tiny suns.
8. First day of summer crafts Flower Crown Paper
This is different from a sunshine crown because it feels more garden-inspired. Kids can make a simple paper flower crown with daisies, leaves, butterflies, and summer colors.
It is especially sweet for preschool, summer camp, or a garden-themed day.
Materials needed:
- Green cardstock
- Colored paper
- Glue stick
- Stickers
- Markers
- Tape or stapler
- Child-safe scissors
How to make it:
Cut a long strip of green cardstock for the crown band. Cut out flowers and leaves, then let kids glue them around the band. Fit it around the child’s head and secure it with tape or staples using adult help.
9. First day of summer crafts Picnic Basket Paper
A paper picnic basket craft is cute because it brings in all the cozy summer things: fruit, sandwiches, lemonade, cookies, and a checkered blanket.
Kids can fill their basket with paper food shapes.
Materials needed:
- Brown cardstock
- Colored paper
- Glue stick
- Markers
- Child-safe scissors
- Stickers, optional
How to make it:
Cut a basket shape from brown cardstock. Add a paper handle. Then cut fruit, sandwiches, lemonade cups, and little picnic items from colored paper. Let kids glue everything inside the basket.
10. First day of summer crafts Ocean Wave Tissue Paper Art
This craft is easy, but it can look really pretty. Kids use torn tissue paper to create ocean waves, then add a paper sun, birds, shells, or a tiny sailboat.
It works well for a calm summer craft table.
Materials needed:
- White cardstock
- Blue tissue paper
- Yellow paper
- Glue stick
- Markers
- Child-safe scissors
How to make it:
Let kids tear blue tissue paper into small pieces. Glue them in layers to create waves. Add a yellow sun, paper clouds, and simple beach details. Older kids can add a tiny paper sailboat or fish.
11. First day of summer crafts Fruit Stamp Painting
Fruit stamp painting feels fresh and fun for the first day of summer. You can use safe sponge shapes or cut fruit shapes from foam instead of real fruit if you want less mess.
Kids can stamp lemons, oranges, strawberries, watermelon, or peaches onto paper.
Materials needed:
- Washable paint
- Foam fruit shapes or sponge stamps
- White cardstock
- Paper plates for paint
- Wipes for cleanup
How to make it:
Dip the fruit stamps into washable paint and press them onto cardstock. Let kids make patterns, fruit baskets, garlands, or a full summer fruit picture.
12. First day of summer crafts Paper Sunglasses
Paper sunglasses are playful and great for a first day of summer activity. Kids can decorate the frames with flowers, stars, fruit, or beach stickers.
They can also glue the finished sunglasses onto a paper self-portrait.
Materials needed:
- Sunglasses template
- Cardstock
- Markers
- Stickers
- Glue stick
- Child-safe scissors
How to make it:
Cut out a sunglasses shape from cardstock. Let kids color the frames and decorate them. For younger kids, glue the sunglasses onto a face drawing instead of making them wearable.
13. First day of summer crafts Garden Bug Craft
A garden bug craft is perfect if you want something cute, not scary. Kids can make butterflies, bees, ladybugs, or dragonflies with paper, pom-poms, and pipe cleaners.
This works well with a flower or garden theme.
Materials needed:
- Construction paper
- Pom-poms
- Pipe cleaners
- Googly eyes, optional
- Glue
- Markers
- Child-safe scissors
How to make it:
Choose a bug shape and cut wings or body pieces from paper. Let kids glue the parts together and add details with markers. They can place their bugs on a paper flower garden background.
14. First day of summer crafts Mini Banner
A mini banner is a cute decoration craft for a playroom, classroom, or kitchen. Kids can make small paper flags and decorate each one with a different summer symbol.
This is nice because everyone can contribute one flag.
Materials needed:
- Cardstock
- Twine or yarn
- Hole punch
- Markers
- Stickers
- Glue stick
- Child-safe scissors
How to make it:
Cut small triangle or rectangle flags from cardstock. Let kids decorate them with suns, fruit, flowers, beach balls, waves, or ice cream. Punch holes at the top and string them together.
15. First day of summer crafts Handprint Flower
A handprint flower is a sweet keepsake for the first day of summer. It feels more gentle than a big messy craft and can be saved by parents.
Use washable paint and turn each handprint into flower petals.
Materials needed:
- White cardstock
- Washable paint
- Paintbrush
- Green marker or paper stem
- Glue stick
- Wipes for cleanup
How to make it:
Paint the child’s hand with washable paint and press it onto cardstock. Repeat if you want several petals. Add a green stem, leaves, and a small flower center. Write the date on the back as a summer keepsake.
Final Thoughts
First day of summer crafts are a simple way to make the season feel exciting before all the busy summer plans begin. You do not need fancy supplies or complicated projects. Paper, paint, glue, markers, and a few sunny ideas can already make the day feel special.
