Kids indoor ideas
Most of the ideas on this page for preschoolers. Our kids are 2 1/2 years apart but often hey enjoy the same crafts and activities...
For small kids check here, for bigger kids and parents check out craft section and crafts by theme here.
For small kids check here, for bigger kids and parents check out craft section and crafts by theme here.
Finger printing
Fun little activity, we used watercolors. There are many options, my girl's is caterpillars and butterflies stage.
Mixing paint - no mess!
This is such a fun (and yes totally not green) activity for kids....We filled plastic zip log bag (used but with no holes!) with 2 colors of pain and hand soap. We taped it to a paper and then my girl played with it for hours. Even her older brother had fun with it when he came home from school.
Matching game
I found these wooden pieces at a yard sale. Kids and I made matching game - which will be great to bring for a camping trip. We used mod podge to seal the stickers.
Streamers
These simple streamers are easy to make and kids will figure out ways how to use them during their play.
Supplies: chopsticks, curly ribbon, scissors
Time: 5 mins
Supplies: chopsticks, curly ribbon, scissors
Time: 5 mins
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Bead trees
Fun afternoon making beads trees. We needed a few trees for our doll house, but we got a it carried away.
Supplies: branches, beads, pliers, stands - cork, door nobs, piece of wood with holes, furniture legs ...
We made these simple trees with wooden beads.
Supplies: branches, beads, pliers, stands - cork, door nobs, piece of wood with holes, furniture legs ...
We made these simple trees with wooden beads.
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Magical forest
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Balsam reed trees
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Card board box sleepover
I honestly think cardboard boxes are the best toys ever! No you don't have to buy a new tub or appliance to acquire a box, feel free to chase down a appliance deliver truck. Usually they are thrilled to get rid of them (make sure you leave the styrofoam behind ;O).
Here is one idea my kids loved. They filled the box with pillows and sheets and had actually slept in the box overnight.
Here is one idea my kids loved. They filled the box with pillows and sheets and had actually slept in the box overnight.
Using typewriter
Before my friend dropped off a typewriter at a thrift store we used it for about a week.
I was pretty interesting to watch the kids playing with it.
And no kids there is no delete button! ;O)
I was pretty interesting to watch the kids playing with it.
And no kids there is no delete button! ;O)
CatapultI am so happy that my kids are thinking like me...use what you have. To be honest with you often it is the other way around and they inspire me.
My son made this simple catapult using paint sticks. We used it outside but only used natural materials to shoot, because most of them we never found. I prefer not polluting.
Green lanternsWe are little obsessed with candle lanterns in this house. We often have campfires and it looks very inviting when the path is lit with candles. Kids enjoyed making these green lanterns. We just mixed pod podge and food coloring.
Key chainWe have a box of small toys, and parts of small toys and games and sort of kids stuff junk drawer. It is great place to dig in when crafty mood kicks in. Here we made super easy key chain from a bouncy ball.
Snow globesLinda saw this idea somewhere and we decided to make our own snow globes.
Supplies: small jars with lids, small animals, water, glycerin, glue, glitter. Time: 15 mins or less.
Doll house treesWe needed a few trees for our doll house, so we upcycled this wreath.
Carbon paperDo you remember carbon paper? I found it recently in my stash and kids had so much fun with it. It is sort of like a magic.
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Dress ups - googly eyes
Any form of dress up is a fantastic for the kids. Creating the costume and playing with them. Here we upcycled broken ping pong ball into googly eyes. Cut the ball in half, make a hole in the middle (kids can use a drill) and use sharpie to draw pupil. Simon said he felt like a chameleon.
Dress up dolls
Easy home made dress up dolls, we used old cardboard and magazines for clothing.
Nail art
My girl worked on nail art, using nose pliers helps a lot especially if you are using small nails.
For the look of the piece I prefer small heads on the nails, but bigger heads are easier to work with.
Supplies: wooden board (painted if you wish), nails, hammer, nose pliers, yarn, scissors.
Time: 30 mins
For the look of the piece I prefer small heads on the nails, but bigger heads are easier to work with.
Supplies: wooden board (painted if you wish), nails, hammer, nose pliers, yarn, scissors.
Time: 30 mins
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Here are different nails we used, the left picture shows roofing nails that were much easier to work with.
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Animal key chains
Kids (we all) love making stuff we can use and show off, right?
This is one simple idea and easy project. All you need is small animals, eye hooks and key rings. We also used small drill.
This is one simple idea and easy project. All you need is small animals, eye hooks and key rings. We also used small drill.
Making music instruments
There are many options how to make music instruments. Just give the kids some boxes and other containers, duct tape, strings elastic etc... We made a string instrument and shakers (we filled bottles with rice and pasta). Maybe they can put a concert for you.
Wooden pieces fun
Wooden pieces displayed in wooden box is fun for all ages.
We love to build new sets, and play around with them.
Supplies: wooden box (2" are the best), wooden pieces (we prefer not finished wood).
I use wooden boxes from stamps and kids puzzles, small drawers etc...
We love to build new sets, and play around with them.
Supplies: wooden box (2" are the best), wooden pieces (we prefer not finished wood).
I use wooden boxes from stamps and kids puzzles, small drawers etc...
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Play food
Fun afternoon making doll play food. We used play dough that will dry out eventually and will last for a long time.
if you want to go green you can make salt dough. Unfortunately if you have pets at home, they may munch on it.
Supplies: play dough, rolling pin, cookie cutters.
if you want to go green you can make salt dough. Unfortunately if you have pets at home, they may munch on it.
Supplies: play dough, rolling pin, cookie cutters.
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Collage - people
Fun afternoon making collage. We cut out magazine photos - especially people and mixed it up a bit.
Supplies: construction paper, magazines, scissors, glue.
Time: 15 mins to hours
Supplies: construction paper, magazines, scissors, glue.
Time: 15 mins to hours
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Balancing cairns
We can't resist collecting pretty rocks. From each trip to the beach we bring some. We wash them and eventually find many uses for them.
We had a few weeks of making balancing cairns over and over again.
We had a few weeks of making balancing cairns over and over again.
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Wooden key chains
We turned wooden pieces into key chains.
Kids wanted to make something for each of their friends for Valentine. This is easy project but requires adult supervision and little prep talk.
It is wise to draw a few designs on piece of paper before using the burner. Dots and straight lines are much easy then curved letters.
Supplies: Wooden pieces, wood burner, eye hooks and key chain rings.
Kids wanted to make something for each of their friends for Valentine. This is easy project but requires adult supervision and little prep talk.
It is wise to draw a few designs on piece of paper before using the burner. Dots and straight lines are much easy then curved letters.
Supplies: Wooden pieces, wood burner, eye hooks and key chain rings.
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Cork people
Do you need an excuse to drink more wine? Ha ha.
We never throw out cork and have decent stash handy. One afternoon we made these cute little guys.
Supplies: cork, pom poms, googly eyes, glue etc....
We never throw out cork and have decent stash handy. One afternoon we made these cute little guys.
Supplies: cork, pom poms, googly eyes, glue etc....
Clothespin toys
We had great time making these clothespin toys.
Supplies: paper, glue clothespin, markers and little bit of imagination.
Time: 15 mins to hours
Supplies: paper, glue clothespin, markers and little bit of imagination.
Time: 15 mins to hours
Little gift
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Baby dinosaur being born
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Laughing fish ;O)
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Creeper
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Hand puppets
These hand puppets are easy to make and fun to play with.
Supplies: paper (card stock), scissors, pencil, makers, colored pencils and a few volunteer fingers ;O)..
Supplies: paper (card stock), scissors, pencil, makers, colored pencils and a few volunteer fingers ;O)..
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Piggy bank
All kids love saving their change, they love making their own piggy bank. We used:
- recycled plastic container
- foam sticker
- googly eyes
- sharpie
- scissors
- utility knife (adults only)
- glue
Unfortunately the legs did not last long as our money was too heavy. But it was still fun to make.
- recycled plastic container
- foam sticker
- googly eyes
- sharpie
- scissors
- utility knife (adults only)
- glue
Unfortunately the legs did not last long as our money was too heavy. But it was still fun to make.
Making funny faces with magnets
We recycled old tins (washed and I made sure the edges are not sharp) and any magnets we found. This fun lasted quite a few days...
Bookmarks - yarn and a bead
Simple little project. You need a wooden bead, yarn and scissors. Draw a face on the beads, let it dry. Make a knot on 3 same length pieces of yarn, put the bead on and then make a braid. Make a knot on the end. These make lovely gifts.
Painting fabric
Kids love making clothing their own. My girl decided to make a little design on her T shirt.
We used embroidery loop and fabric markers. If you try this make sure you put cardboard between the fabrics.
We used embroidery loop and fabric markers. If you try this make sure you put cardboard between the fabrics.
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Light box
Very simple idea and really fun for kids. I was hoping they will trace some cool pictures, but they spent hours just playing with the box...
You just need see through box and small lights.
If you want to trace pictures (yes I had to try it of course! It was much easier then holding picture on the window...) I recommend taping the paper down so it does not move on you.
You just need see through box and small lights.
If you want to trace pictures (yes I had to try it of course! It was much easier then holding picture on the window...) I recommend taping the paper down so it does not move on you.
Bookmarks Bookmarks
Stained glass windows
Paper garden
For this project we used cardboard boxes, paint swatches, scissors, punchers (flower shapes) and glue.
Paper wreath
For this project we used cardboard boxes, paint swatches, scissors (I used utility knife), punchers (flower shapes) and glue and something to make round shape ( we used 2 different lids).
Marble painting
All you need is a box, paper, paint and marbles...it is short activity but kids really enjoyed it. It will be great to use large box, large paper and use it as wrapping paper.
Upcycled facesAll we needed for this project was leftovers from flooring project (bamboo), garage junk box (all the metal pieces that never found their way home ha ha), strings and glue gun (we used it in the garage with door open). I stay away from using glue gun if I can, but kids enjoy using it and it teaches them a bit about safety. Plus they can admire results of their work right away.
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Stress balloons
Kids had fun filling balloons with flower. It was a challenge to put the flower in, but finding out how was big part of the project itself.
Drawing faces on the balloons make changing their shapes very interesting and funny.
Drawing faces on the balloons make changing their shapes very interesting and funny.
Tracing animals
Tracing animals is easy way to boost any artists confidence. All you need is a sunny day. And paper and pencil and an animal.
My son enjoyed this very much.
My son enjoyed this very much.
Doll house made out of card board box
Simple diorama
Cross stitch
My 8 year old started learning how to do a cross stitch.
Rock painting
Making a heat pad |
Kids will need some assistance with this. But even kids as young as 6 can do the basic stitch (my kids practiced on paper first).
Moving pictures
Kids had fun making these moving pictures...simple and fun. You need 2 pages...you draw similar images but you draw one thing differently...let the kids to have fun with it and choose one...
Moving pictures
Kids had fun making these moving pictures...
Night winter picture
This was fun crayon resist picture. We folded paper in half, drew the skyline with a crayon, then copied it on the bottom and then painted with water colors over.
Grass heads
Basic embroidery
Kids had fun learning very basic embroidery. They drew their designs with chalk first. I picked thick needles with blunt ends.
Glass jarsKids made these simple glass jars. We used them as lanterns during out campfire.
Mod podge is fantastic as it dries clear. You can add any color - we used these window markers and the kids just spread the paint. You can small containers and mix pod podge with different colors then do a real design - let it dry between doing different colors. |
Bubble wands
Kids and I made these bubble wands, very easy and so much fun to use.
Painting
Kids love painting, if you show them step by step they would love it. All you need is canvasses, paint (container for paint and water) and brushes. Easels are great, aprons are practical.
