# data[].attributes.body
https://www.mkewithkids.com/post/top-25-classic-novels-your-kids-will-love/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
George Bernard Shaw said "Make it a rule never to give a child a book you would not read yourself."

One of the best and truest ways to inspire a deep love of reading in your child is to provide them with a great read that you genuinely love.

Once they've graduated from fairy tales (Hans Christian Andersen, perhaps?) and picture books, young readers can move into chapter books and novels that have stood the test of time.

A great book can truly change a child's life forever. So here is our list of the best children's books and novels of all time.

Charlotte's Web is an charming book for kids and adults alike, with lessons about friendship and death that are timeless in their themes.

The story follows a curious little girl named Fern who lives on a farm with her parents and siblings. She becomes friends with Wilbur, the runt of the litter from one of the local pig farms nearby.

As time goes by, the pig named Wilbur grows bigger, and Fern realizes that he will soon be slaughtered if no one buys him. The brave spider tries to save Wilbur from being killed.

Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author and poet who wrote over 150 fairy tales. His stories are known for their realism, wit, and psychological insight.

He is best-known worldwide as the writer of "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina," and "The Ugly Duckling." The Complete Hans Christian Andersen Fairy Tales is an English translation of his complete works.

These classic stories are captivating for kids of all ages, and this edition is perfect for them because it has lots of pictures. They teach valuable lessons like dealing with bullying, what it means to have a good heart, and how to overcome obstacles.

The iconic book Where The Wild Things Are follows young Max, who spends his time exploring in the forest, imagining wild animals, and being creative.

When Max dresses in his wolf suit and causes chaos in the house, his mother sends him to bed. From there, Max sets sail to an island inhabited by the Wild Things, who name him king and share a wild rumpus with him.

This book teaches lessons about friendship, imagination, and creativity.

The Velveteen Rabbit is a story of a toy rabbit who gets worn out and shabby. He's been loved so much by his owner that he becomes real. But when the boy decides to take him to the woods, where all old things go, it looks like this might be the end for our little velveteen bunny.

This book is great for children because it teaches them the power of love and the importance of letting go.

This classic novel tells a timeless story of Tom's adventures with his friends in St Petersburg, Missouri, on the banks of the Mississippi River.

The book's chapters are called "adventures" because they cover an assortment of different escapades that are typical to boys' lives as they grow up along the river: such as playing pirates, going fishing, or hunting waterfowl with their guns, getting into fights, and running off from school to go swimming or attend picnics down by the riverbank.

The book offers lessons about the power of friendship, loyalty, and honesty. With all the amazing characters in this novel, you'll be laughing out loud one moment and crying tears of sorrow or joy the next.

Phantom Tollbooth is a children's novel published in 1961. The story tells of a bored little boy named Milo who finds a mysterious tollbooth in his room that transports him to adventures beyond his wildest imagination.

Milo visits the Island of Conclusions (you get there by jumping), learns about time from a ticking watchdog named Tock, and even embarks on a quest to rescue Rhyme and Reason. Along the way, Milo realizes life is far from boring!

The Tale of Peter Rabbit (Beatrix Potter) is considered one of the best books for kids. It has been in print since 1902, and its popularity has never waned. The story revolves around a mischievous rabbit that gets into all sorts of trouble with his family, friends, and neighbors.

The book was written to entertain children, but it also teaches valuable lessons about life, such as dealing with authority figures like Mr. McGregor and Mrs. Tiggy Winkle, who are both trying to get Peter back home after he escapes from Mr. McGregor's garden.

It will teach your child the importance of telling the truth, taking responsibility for their actions, dealing with difficult people, and forgiving others when they make mistakes.

The Little Prince is a small but mighty book that tells the story of a little prince who leaves his home to explore the world.

He meets people from many different planets and learns about their lifestyles, but he never finds what he's looking for: someone who understands him as much as he understands them.

The book was initially published in 1943 and has been translated into over 180 languages since then.

Published in 1964, The Giving Tree has been a favorite among children for over 50 years.

The picture book is about a tree that loves and gives to a little boy; then, as he grows up, the tree has nothing left to give.

This book teaches kids about giving, unconditional love, and may spark discussions about healthy relationships and what they should look like.
Buy "The Giving Tree" >>

The Chronicles of Narnia is an epic fantasy series that has won the hearts and minds of children, adults, and scholars alike. The stories have been translated into over 30 languages and sold over 100 million copies worldwide since 1950 when it was first published in Great Britain.

The whole series, published in six years, includes "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," "Prince Caspian," "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader," "The Silver Chair," "The Horse and His Boy and The Last Battle."

All the stories follow the adventures and struggles that four kids have in an enchanted world while they go on a quest to free themselves from the evil White Witch who has cast them there. Along their journey, they learn about courage, friendship, loyalty, and bravery which help shape their character for years to come.

11. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing (Judy Blume)

Published 1972, the book is about a fourth-grade boy named Peter. Set in New York City, the story follows Peter's life with his younger brother Fudge, who makes life difficult for him in every way possible. The two siblings have very different personalities but share a love for their family and each other that keeps them together even when things get rough.

It is an excellent read for children who are looking to be entertained. With a humorous tone and some great lessons on growing up, this book is sure to keep kids engaged throughout the story.

12. Black Beauty (Anna Sewell)

This book is a great read for kids. It has an exciting plot and teaches children about horses. Set in England during the 1800s, the story follows the life of a horse named Black Beauty from his birth to his death. The book is narrated from the point of view of the horse himself. He recounts his life from his birth to his old age, telling how he was passed from person to person as an unwanted pet.

Black Beauty is a story that offers hope. It also teaches readers about work ethic, manners, responsibility, and the power of kindness.

13. A Bear Called Paddington (Michael Bond)

A Bear Called Paddington is a great children's book about the adventures of a bear from Darkest Peru. The bear was found in an old hatbox on Christmas Eve and adopted as a present for an English family that had just lost their pet. Kids have loved this story all over the world for decades. The book teaches children great lessons on being polite and kind to others and taking responsibility for their actions.

14. Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)

If you want to introduce your kids to the world of literature, then one of the books that is a classic and will set them on their way is Little Women. If you are looking for a book with strong female characters who deal with real-life problems, this book has it all. The story follows Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy as they grow up during the American Civil War while trying to find their own identities outside of what society expects from women.

15. Magic Treehouse (Mary Pope Osborne)

First published in 1992, The Magic Treehouse is one of America's most popular children's books. Based on a series of novels, kids get to explore all sorts of different adventures with Jack and Annie from their backyard. From deep-sea diving to exploring space, this book has it all. Kids can learn many things from these adventures, including how to overcome fears, how to be a good friend when someone is feeling sad or hurt, and what it means to have gratitude in your heart, and why you should not judge someone based on appearances alone.

16. Charlie & The Chocolate Factory (Roald Dahl)

Roald Dahl is a well-known and beloved children's author. His books are famous for their wacky plots, interesting characters, and hilarious dialogue. One of his most popular novels is "Charlie & The Chocolate Factory." The book tells the story of young Charlie Bucket, who lives with his mother and four grandparents in poverty. He dreams about what it would be like to visit Willy Wonka's chocolate factory but believes he'll never get the chance because they're so poor. But when one day he finds a golden ticket inside a chocolate bar while searching through trash, everything changes for him! The book teaches kids great lessons about greed, morality, and the true meaning of being happy.

17. A Wrinkle in Time (Madeleine L'Engle)

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle is a great read for kids. This book explores the idea of good and evil, as well as trusting your intuition. The story follows three children named Meg, her younger brother Charles Wallace, and friend Calvin who are on an adventure to find Meg's father through time and space after missing for four years. The book tells how these three children use their intelligence and love to combat evil forces on their rescue mission.

18. Winnie The Pooh (A.A. Milne)

Published in 1962, this collection is a great read for kids. The protagonist, Winnie the bear, goes on various adventures with his friends Piglet, a small toy pig; Tigger, a bouncing tiger; Kanga and Roo, two kangaroos; Owl, an old wise bird. Every child should read this book because it teaches them about a friendship that is so pure and unbreakable. The story is one of the most famous children's stories globally, has been translated into many languages, and can be found on shelves in every bookstore. This classic tale will make you laugh and teach you how to love unconditionally.

19. Stuart Little (E.B. White)

Stuart Little by E. B White is a children's book about the adventures of an anthropomorphic mouse named Stuart. The story is set in New York City and begins with the birth of Stuart to human parents, George and Margret Little. The story follows the life of Stuart as he explores his surroundings, gets into trouble, has fun with his family and friends. After growing up, he eventually leaves home to seek out new experiences. Stuart goes to school with his friends and learns lessons about being kind, having empathy for others, and making good decisions. Stuart also must deal with sibling rivalry when he visits his cousin's house.

20. Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone (J.K. Rowling)

Published in 1997, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is an excellent book for kids because it has magic, suspenseful moments, and fantastic characters that every kid can relate to in some way or another. The book tells how a young wizard named Harry Potter finds out he is a famous wizard. He will be attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry this year with his faithful friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Harry Potter is a story of overcoming obstacles and facing the unknown.

21. The Secret Garden (Frances Burnett)

The Secret Garden was written in 1911. The main character is the selfish and not-so-agreeable 10-year-old Mary Lennox who lives in India with her wealthy British family. She's been spoiled by the family help and neglected by her parents. Mary is orphaned when a cholera epidemic takes the lives of her parents and servants, and the story becomes one of self-healing.

22. Brown Girl Dreaming (Jacqueline Woodson)

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson is made up of vibrant poems where the author shares her experience growing up as a Black girl in the 1960's and 1970's amid lingering Jim Crow laws and an emerging Civil Rights movement. Each poem depicts a child who is searching for her identity and place in the world.

23. James & The Giant Peach (Roald Dahl)

The poor orphan James lives seaside with his evil aunts and doesn't have a friend in the world until he meets the Old Green Grasshopper and other insect friends who live on a magical giant peach. His surreal adventures are sometimes frightening, but they're peppered with unforgettable characters and classic literary excitement.

24. The Wind in the Willows (Kenneth Grahame)

The Wind in the Willows is a book of animal tales that takes place in the English countryside . The stories are primarily having to do with Mole, Rat, Badger, and the rich and generous Toad, who talk among themselves and act like humans, but also have some distinctive animal features. They work together to save Toad Hall from weasels, finding adventures and obstacles along the way.

25. The Boxcar Children (Gertrude Warner)

The Boxcar Children is an accessible series about that tells the story of four orphaned siblings who create a home for themselves in an abandoned boxcar. They eventually begin living with their grandfather, and use the boxcar as a playhouse in his backyard. Throughout the series, they embark on a number of adventures, experience plenty of mishaps, and encounter exciting mysteries to solve. The Boxcar Children is best for ages 4th grade and up.

A heartwarming novel from 1908 based on an old-fashioned farm in town called Avonlea.

An unforgettable novel inspired by the true story of a captive gorilla, told from his viewpoint.

A historical fiction book about the escape of a family of Jews from Copenhagen, Denmark.

A historical fiction novel about Esperanza, a girl from a wealthy family who suddenly has everything taken away from her.

A 1965 children's novel about Ralph S. Mouse, a mouse who can speak to humans.

A story about coping with change, told from young Anna's point of view, set in the late nineteenth century.

A wacky chapter book focused on Beatrice Quimby, 9, and her 4 year old sister Ramona.

33. Prairie Lotus (Linda Sue Park)

A powerful and touching book about half-Asian girl in middle America determined to fit in and realize her dreams of getting an education and making friends.

Set in Mississippi during the Great Depression, this book is an unflinching portrait of family and self-worth.

Published in 1972, this classic novel is part of the Fudge series, and follows relatable Sheila Tubman.

36. Ramona (Beverly Cleary)

Another wacky chapter book focused on Beatrice Quimby, 9, and her 4 year old sister Ramona.

37. Mary Poppins (Pamela Lyndon Travers)

A classic tale about a magical nanny.

38. Peter Pan (James Matthew Barrie)

An enchanting 1911 book about a mischievous boy who refuses to grow up

39. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Lewis Carroll)

An 1865 English children's novel about a young girl named Alice who falls through a rabbit hole and into a whimsical fantasy world.

Matilda was the last long kids' book that Roald Dahl wrote before he passed away in 1990.

41. Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)

A coming-of-age novel about four sisters.

42 The Hobbit (J.R.R Tolkien)

A children's fantasy novel published in 1937.

43. The Never Ending Story (Michael Ende)

A classic tale about one boy and a book that magically comes to life.

44. The Babysitter's Club

A beloved series that follows a group of girlfriends and their homegrown babysitting business.

A 1993 American young adult dystopian novel, set in a society which at first appears to be utopian.

46. Nancy Drew (Carolyn Keene)

This classic master series follows a fictional sleuth character on a series of adventures.

47. The Hardy Boys (Franklin W. Dixon)

Another classic mystery and adventure series with a group of boys as the main characters.

48. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (L Frank Baum)

The classic children's novel published in 1900 that started it all.

49. A Series of Unfortunate Events (Lemony Snicket)

This catchy series takes readers on, you guessed it, a series of unfortunate events for three recently orphaned siblings.

50. The War of the Worlds (H.G. Wells)

A science fictions novel published in 1897.

51. Amelia Bedelia (Peggy Parish)

Follow this beloved fictional character in blunder after blunder, that only make her more lovable.

52. Pippi Longstocking (Astrid Lindgren)

The beloved story of a spunky young girl and her hilarious escapades.

53. The Incredible Journey (Sheila Branford)

This heartwarming story follows a cat and two dogs who journey hundreds of miles to find their human family.

54. The Diary of a Young Girl (Anne Frank)

This classic book is the actual diary of Anne Frank, a young Jewish girl in hiding from the Nazis during World War II.

55. The Great Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (Arthur Conan Doyle)

Follow the adventures of the world's most well-known sleuth.

56. A Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens)

The classic story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an elderly miser who is visited by ghosts of his past.

57. Animal Farm (George Orwell)

Even young adults love this satirical novel about group of farm animals who rebel against their human farmer, hoping to create a world where the animals can be more free and happy.

58. To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee)

This classic 1961 novel is about a child's view of race and justice in the Depression-era South.

59. The Story of Dr. Dolittle (Hugh Lofting)

A magical story about John Dolittle and the crew of animals he befriends.

60. A Wrinkle in Time (Madline L'Engle)

A young adult science fiction novel about the fifth dimension and time travel.

A powerful story about a boy with a disfigured face.

More Classic Books (Young Kids)

62. Guess How Much I Love You (Sam McBratney)

63. The Original Mother Goose

64. Madeline (Ludwig Bemelmans)

65. Goodnight, Moon (Margaret Wise Brown

66. The Very Hungry Caterpillar (Eric Carle)

67. The Book With No Pictures

68. The Cat in the Hat (Dr. Seuss)

69. Corduroy (Don Freeman)

70. Eloise (Kay Thompson)

71. The Lorax (Dr. Seuss)

72. The Snowy Day (Ezra Jack Keats)

73. Make Way For Ducklings (Robert McClosky)

74. Olivia (Ian Falconer)

75. The Story of Ferdinand (Munro Leaf)

76. Don't let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (Mo Wiliams)

77. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day (Judith Violist)

78. Press Here (Herve Tullet)

79. The Day The Crayons Quit (Drew Daywalt)

80. Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel (Virginia Lee Burton)

81. Love You Forever (Robert Munsch)

82. Diary of a Wombat (Jacky French)

83. Tikki Tikki Tempo (Arlene Mosel)

84. The Red Balloon (Albert Lamorisse)

85. A Sick Day for Amos McGee (Philip C. Stead)

86. The Little Engine That Could (Watty Piper)

87. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (Laura Numeroff)

88. Everyone Poops (Taro Gomi)

89. Harry the Dirty Dog (Gene Zion)

90. Last Stop on Market Street (Matt de la Peña & Christian Robinson)

91. Whose Knees Are These? (Jabari Asim)

92. Grimm's Fairy Tales (The Brothers Grimm)

93. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (Eric Carle)

94. Where the Sidewalk Ends (Shel Silverstein)

95. The Light in the Attic (Shel Silverstein)

96. The Oxford Illustrated Book of American Children's Poems (Donald Hall)

97. Poems to Learn by Heart (Caroline Kennedy)

98. Words With Wings: A Treasury of African-American Poetry and Art (Nikki Grimes)

99. Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back: A Native American Year of Moons (Joseph Bruchac)

100. Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymed (Roald Dahl)
Reading classic children's books together is a great way to spend quality time with your kids. The benefits of reading with them are endless, and we hope that you will take the opportunity to find some good reads for all ages in our list above. What other classic chapter books for kids should we add to this list? Email us at hello@mkewithkids.com. 25 Best Science Books for Your First Grader 50 Best Fourth Grade Science Experiments 25 Simple Shape Activities for Preschoolers 23 Super-Easy Science Experiments For Your Kids 20 BEST Water Balloon Games For Kids 25 Best Big Sister Gift Ideas for 2 Year Olds & Up 31 Best Educational Websites You Didn't Know About 5 Ways To Play Hopscotch (+ Fun Variations!)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
100 Classic Children's Books To Read With Your Kids (2023) - Milwaukee with Kids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
George Bernard Shaw said "Make it a rule never to give a child a book you would not read yourself." One of the best and truest ways to inspire a deep love of reading in your child is to provide them with a great read that you genuinely love.

# data[].attributes.body
https://artfulparent.com/top-10-art-activities-for-kids/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Artful Parent's favorite kids' art projects! These art ideas are easy, fun and work for a wide age range of children. Updated December 2023
For years now, we've had this list of favorite art ideas for kids. Every time we try a new art activity, or even revisit an old favorite, it gets measured against this list in our head.
To get included on our list of best art ideas, it needs to fit the following criteria:

The process is fun and open-ended.

It's easy to do.

It's the kind of activity that kids want to do over and over again.

Plus, the end result looks pretty great, too.

Who wouldn't want to do those art projects?!?

Here are our top 10 favorite kids' art ideas. If you're looking to kick the new year off in a creative way, try one of these!

Art Ideas for 2024

This is an all-time favorite that is loved by kids of all ages. Plus, it uses materials you already have! Glue, salt, and either liquid watercolor paint or food coloring. This activity is so fun for seasonal variations too!

Watercolor resist techniques are so fun for kids to explore! The simplest version is to draw with crayons on watercolor paper, then paint with watercolors to see how the wax resists the paint!
If your kids love this, be sure to try salt resist painting, tape resist art and alcohol resist painting.

Make beautiful tissue paper suncatchers to hang in the window! Or try a nature suncatcher by using flowers and leaves and a paper plate as the frame for a lovely spring or summer decoration.

This twist on watercolor painting uses Q-tips instead of paintbrushes, and is one of our standby, super-easy-yet-interesting activities. Kids love making dots with paint, and then connecting them and seeing how the colors blend. You'll find even more fun ways to make art with dots HERE!

The best, easiest, and cheapest DIY marbled paper is done with shaving cream marbling. It's fun and mesmerizing to watch paint swirl and transfer from the shaving cream to paper!
If your kids love this, be sure to try one of our 6 Easy Paper Marbling Techniques including Marbling with Oil + Food Coloring.

Blow painting with straws is simple and yet lots of fun for kids of all ages! Use a straw to blow liquid paint around on paper, creating interesting designs.

Here are some of our favorite creative playdough ideas for kids, including making fantastical creatures, using poke-ins, trying playdough mats, forming letters, and pretend play.
Here are our favorite recipes for no cook playdough and cooked playdough.
This is also known as symmetry painting, blotto painting, smush art, squish painting, and more.

Regardless of the name, kids of all ages love it. It's easy, fun, and the result is unique every time. Create butterflies, hearts, or just fold a piece of paper, drop a few blobs of paint and fold over the paper!

Spin painting is a favorite kids art activity that can be done with a salad spinner or with a kids spin art machine.

Splatter painting is exactly what it sounds like! This action art activity is a big-time favorite with all the kids we've known. Super easy, super fun, and super messy, you've got to try it!
How about you? What's on your list of top 10 all-time favorite art activities for kids?
By the way, if there are some art activities on the list above that you haven't tried yet, we promise you they are good ones that are worth exploring with your kiddos. And if there's something on that list that you have done, perhaps it's time to revisit it?

More Ideas for Creative Families
Want even more creative ideas? Pin It for Later

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Our list of our favorite kids art projects! These art ideas are easy, fun and work for a wide age range of children.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
We love all things simple in this house, which might be why paper plate crafts are such a hit. No need for anything too fancy, complicated, or expensive for my kids to get creative with.

We like things like paint, paper, glue, yarn, tape, and paper plates. We really like paper plates. So much so that I challenged myself to find for kids to keep in my back pocket for a rainy day (or 75).

I have found ALL THE THINGS! There are paper plate hats, holiday paper plates crafts, zoo animals, birds, creepy crawlies, food themed paper plate art projects, and even paper plate games and activities!
(contains affiliate links for your convenience)
If you are here, you must have or work with little ones, so you will LOVE my new book! Learn all about the magic of Quiet Time and transform your days into peaceful bliss! With over 2000 copies sold, A Year of Educational Quiet Bins is a must for Moms and Preschool Teachers.

Finding 75 paper plate crafts for kids was actually easy! I was able to be picky and choose activities that are easy and appropriate for kids to actually make themselves. So - here is our list of ...

The Cat in the Hat Hat by I Can Teach My Child. These are so sweet! Made from only one paper plate. We are going to be making these ones too!

Holiday Paper Plate Crafts

Jack-o-lantern Garland by PinLaVie. This paper plates craft would look great on a kids bedroom door for Halloween!

15 Easy Paper Plate Christmas Crafts. This one is my only cheat on the list - I compiled this list of 15 paper plate crafts over Christmas, so I am counting it as 15 🙂 These paper plate crafts are easy enough for kids to make all on their own - and turn out super cute too!

Zoo Animals

Polar Bear. A fun winter craft that can also strengthen fine motor skills!

Owls [post no longer available] by Cheap, Crafty Mama. Gluing feathers to the paper plates make it a great sensory activity as well.

Peacock [post no longer available] by JDaniel4sMom. This peacock was made as an extension to a story - such a great idea!

Birds in a Nest by Parents. These versions of birds in a nest as paper plate crafts are for a little bit older children. I love the little pom pom birds!

Creepy Crawlies

Snakes [post no longer available] by Click a Craft. My little guys would have a great time with this craft! And it is great for developing cutting skills with scissors in preschoolers too.

Other Animals

Cats [post no longer available] by Creativity Takes Flight. These easy paper plate crafts were done as an extension to a book. These little cats are just adorable! Such a creative idea from Creativity Takes Flight!

Cows [post no longer available] by Squidoo. This is another paper plate craft that could be used in a million different ways!

Oyster by Crafty Crafted. Love the cotton ball as the pearl for these kids crafts with paper plates.

Aquarium [post no longer available] by Xwrapaidiwn. This post is not in English, but the pictures are quite explanatory. What a sweet and simple paper plate craft for kids!

Turtle [post no longer available] by No Time for Flashcards. The learning that could go along with this paper plate craft is wonderful! Shapes, sizes, sorting, counting - anything!

Food Crafts

Paper Plate Apples. My kids and I made these after a fun fall day at the apple orchard. I love the handprint leaves!

Thanksgiving Pies by Mom Trusted. These sweet pies paper plate crafts would be great for any time of year!

Lots of Fruity Fruit by All Free Kids Crafts. These colourful fruits would be great paper plate crafts for kids in the summer, or to brighten up a grey winter day.

Watermelon [post no longer available] by Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails. I love how this paper plate craft is so full of learning!

Paper Plate Activities

The Drawing Chef - this fun make believe play inspires so much creativity in little ones - all you need is paper plates and crayons!

Sun Dial by Preschool Crafts for Kids. This paper plate activity really peaked my interest! It looks as though it would be so cool - we will be giving this a try this summer!

Paper Plate Weather Crafts

Sunshine [post no longer available] by Creativity takes Flight. This would be great practice of shapes for preschoolers!

Paper Plate Musical Instruments

Tambourine by Education.com. Such a simple way to create music and fun!

Banjo [post no longer available] by Crafts for Kids Blog. This paper plate craft is one that we will be doing just as soon as we get some big elastics!!!

Other Cute Paper Plate Things!

Sunflowers by She Knows Parenting. Using real sunflower seeds - such a great learning extension. And great sensory play too!

Animal Masks [post no longer available] by Naturally Educational. These easy paper plate crafts are great for pretend and creative play. The author at Naturally Educational used them in another way as well!

Flying Saucer [post no longer available] by Raising Sparks. This craft is so so creative! What a great activity for a birthday party with a space theme! The gemstones add the perfect touch.

Clowns [post no longer available] by CraftyVille Squidoo. This paper plate activity with pom poms would be great for practicing colors, counting, or patterns.

Pirates by Terrific 2s. Arrrn't these paper plate pirates adorable?! What a great craft for any preschool pirate theme!

There you have it - 75 paper plate crafts for just about every situation imaginable! I hope they have provided you with a bit of inspiration to get creative with simple things. You will never again wonder. "What crafts can I make with a paper plate?"

Keeping things simple - the way to make kiddos creative and keep a Mama sane too.

You might also like:
Valentine's Day Crafts made with Paper Plates 15 Paper Plate Christmas Crafts 50 Crafts for 2 Year olds 32 Watercolor painting ideas for kids The Ultimate no-cook Playdough Recipe 54 Quiet Time Activities for 3 Year Olds

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
75 Simple Paper Plate Crafts for Every Occasion!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We love all things simple in this house, which might be why paper plate crafts are such a hit. No need for anything too fancy, complicated, or expensive for my kids to get creative with. We like things like paint, paper, glue, yarn, tape, and paper plates. We really like paper plates.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The sun is shining, the bees are buzzing, and the kids are bouncing off the walls! If you've run out of board games to play and you can't stand another Minecraft discussion then these outdoor water games will save your sanity.

We have 33 fun and fabulous water games for kids (or adults!) that will fill the air with laughter and get the whole family smiling (as well as pretty wet). Look no further for water balloons, cup races, and even a DIY person car wash.

Cup to cup

For days when you need a game that doesn't take 45 different resources, cup to cup is your go-to outdoor activity for your kids. All you need are 2 buckets and some plastic cups. Fill a bucket with water and place it down on the ground. The players sit in a straight line, one behind the other, in front of the bucket. The last person in line should be facing the opposite way with their back to the person behind them. In front of them is an empty bucket. The team must work together to fill the empty bucket by filling a cup with water and passing it over their heads down the line. The first team to fill their bucket wins. As Play Party Plan suggests, a fun adult version is to have all the players blindfolded!

Sponge run

Keep hold of your two plastic buckets, and you can play this next game too! Place one full bucket of water at one side of your garden, and an empty one on the other. Each player gets a sponge and must use the sponge to transport the water from the full bucket to the empty one, filling it up from the bucket and carrying it on their head across the garden! You can play as a team and time how long it takes to fill up the bucket, or use several pairs of buckets and run this as a race.

Toe diving

This is a great game for little ones, to get them to cool down in the heat, but it's also a lot of fun for teens and adults if you use smaller items. Start by filling a kiddie pool with water, and throw in lots of fun toys. Rings and rubber ducks are great for smaller children, quarters and smooth pebbles can create a challenge for bigger kids or adults. Put 60 seconds on the clock and players have to fish out as many of the items as possible from the pool - only with their toes!

Duck, duck, splash!

You probably played the classic kid's game "Duck, Duck, Goose" at least once as a child. This a great water-themed twist that is sure to bring soggy fun to your afternoon! As in the original version, players sit in a circle on the floor/grass. Pick one player to be "it" and give them a cup filled with water. This player must walk around the circle, tapping people on the head and saying "Duck". Rather than saying "Goose" when they reach their chosen player, they tip the cup of water over their head! Then this (very wet) player must chase them around the circle to get back to their seat first.

Ice bowling

This game takes a little more preparation, but it's great fun for kids of all ages to play. You can use shop-bought bowling pins from toy sets to make this easier, or you can make your own with Learn Play Imagine's easy instructions. The bowling balls are just water balloons filled with water and frozen overnight. Set up your pins and keep score, seeing who can manage a strike first!

Roll 6 and splash!

A perfectly easy and fun game for little ones, Roll 6 and Splash is quick to set up and lots of fun to play. All you need is a large shallow pan or tray filled with water and a large foam die. Sit all the children in a circle around the tray and have them take turns to roll the die. If someone rolls a 6 then they can slap their hand into the tray and splash everyone!

Water balloon toss

Water balloons are great things to keep in your cupboard for those unexpected hot summer afternoons. This simple game involves a few plastic bowls and some filled water balloons. Line the bowls up, labeling them with different points if you like, and challenge your kids to throw balloons into them. For extra squeals, you can have the other players stand next to the bowls, or even place them on their heads!

Water balloon pinata

Instead of using water balloons for this game (which are made with thin plastic so that they burst more easily), you're better off using regular balloons. Fill them up with water and hang them from a pole or monkey bars. Give your players a bat or a stick and let them loose on the balloons. The first player to pop the balloon (and get drenched!) is the winner!

Water balloon volleyball

Sticking with our water balloon theme, this game is great for older kids, or for a grown-up picnic activity. It's a good team game, as the players will have to work together to drench the other team. So if you're looking for ways to teach your kids cooperation then this is it! Split into pairs and give each pair a towel and a pile of water balloons. Set up a volleyball or badminton net in the middle of the garden and have the players place the balloons in the towel and launch them over the net at the other team. You're trying to get them wet, but they're trying to catch the balloon in the net. You can score just like tennis, but soggier!

Back-to-back water dash

A great water balloon game for all ages, that will end up with a lot of wet shirts! Back-to-back water balloon dash pits pairs against each other to be the first to get to the end of the race without bursting their balloon! Get the pairs to face away from each other, place a water balloon in between them and have them link arms to hold the balloon in place. They must race other pairs to the finish line without ending up with wet backs!

Super soaker sponge balls

If you're looking for a more natural and eco-friendly take on a perfect summer water fight, then follow these instructions from Natural Beach Living and make your own super soaker sponge balls. You can split into teams and score points for how many hits you get, or just let loose and try to soak everyone!

Water war

As serious as it sounds, but a lot of fun, this game involves a couple of decks of playing cards, 8 half-filled plastic cups, and a large pitcher of water. Lay out the cups and pitcher on the table and a deck of cards in front of each player. At the same time, players will turn over the top card on their deck and whoever gets the highest card dumps a cup over their opponent's head. If one player gets War then they can dump the pitcher over the head of their opponent!

Sponge toss

Looking for quick ways to help your kids cool off? Then this simple sponge toss game is the perfect one to play. You'll need 2 large buckets, one big sponge and some water. Fill both of the buckets with water and place them some distance apart (depending on how far your kids can throw). Get one player to stand by each bucket, dip the sponge in the water and throw it to the person opposite them. Points are knocked off for dropping the sponge!

DIY soaker seat

If you're ready to get your teeth into a bigger project, and you have a bunch of teens who love getting their friends wet then this tutorial for building your very own soaker seat is well worth your time. A substantial workshop project, it'll last more than one summer and your house will be THE place to be every year!

Squirt me now!

Another fun and silly cooperative game here, so it's great for kids who aren't a fan of competition. All you need are blindfolds and squirt bottles. In pairs, blindfold one player and give them a squirt bottle. Spin the blindfolded partner around and tell them to start walking. The other player must give them directions to squirt them in the knees, feet, arms, torso, and head. There will be a lot of laughing with this game!

Colander toss

Looking to get your friends as wet as possible, then this is the best way to do it and have fun at the same time! One player holds a colander over their head while the rest of the team tries to throw water balloons into the colander. Points are awarded for each unburst balloon in the colander at the end of the game.

Balloon and spoon race

Take the traditional egg and spoon race and make it more challenging? Yes please! Water balloons are even more fragile than eggs, and they definitely splash further when they fall on the grass. This can be a great relay race where teams race through a course and back to the beginning, swapping the balloon over onto the next player's spoon. Prepare for splashes!

Water balloon dodgeball

Who doesn't love trying to take the opposing team out at the knees in a harmless game of dodgeball? This version simply swaps the softball for a bunch of water balloons. Mark out a "pitch" with cones or tape. Put as many water balloons as you can fill in a large bowl in the middle of the pitch and let havoc commence!

Wet musical chairs

We love this twist on a children's party classic from our very own list of brilliant water balloon games. Just like the original, line up one fewer chair than there are players. But, before you start the music, place a water balloon on each chair. Now players must choose between getting wet or losing the game!

Towel toss

Another fun outdoor game from our own list towel toss is a little like water balloon volleyball, but instead of your opponent trying to get you wet, you're working together to throw AND catch the balloon with the towel. It's tricky, but staying dry is a pretty good incentive!

Step on

What do you need for this game? Just some lengths of rope and a whole mess of water balloons! Tie a water balloon to the end of a short length of rope, repeat for however many team members you have playing the game. Tie the other end of the rope to each team member's leg and then blow the whistle! The aim is to stand on everyone else's balloons to pop them, and the winner is the last water balloon left standing! As we point out, this is a better idea on grass!

Hot potato

A much more soggy version of pass the parcel, this fun kid's party game is bound to get everyone giggling! Fill a load of water balloons and seat your guests in a circle. Give one person the balloon, start the music and get them to pass it around. When the music stops, whoever has the balloon must hold it above their head and pop it! This is one present you don't want to get!

Water balloon baseball

Is there a single sport that can't be made better by adding in water balloons? I don't think so! Take our very own national treasure - baseball. Sure, it's fun with a normal ball, but why not add into the mix the chance of getting splashed in the face every time you bat? If you do manage to hit the "ball" without getting wet, then normal rules apply (or you can make up your own!).

Squirt gun knock down

Invented for toddlers, to be honest, you can adapt this game for all ages, just by making the targets harder to hit. Build the most elaborate plastic cup tower you can, arm your game players with squirt guns, and see who can knock the most cups down. I bet dad will be the most competitive!

Slip 'n' slide

Why should toddlers have all the fun? Even if you don't have tiny tots to entertain, you can have a lot of laughs with a slip 'n' slide. Set it up in the garden and run competitions on how fast everyone can throw themselves. And if you do have little ones, they'll love seeing how long they can stand up as they slide along it.

Firefighter race

Obviously, it's a good idea to leave actual firefighting to the professionals, but this game is great for non-firefighters too. A tweaked relay game, the aim is pretty simple: use a cup to carry water from a full bucket to an empty bucket on the other side of the garden. The catch? You're running backward and forwards across a slip 'n' slide! You can buy one of these or Kid-Friendly Things To Do show you how to DIY it. You'll want to video camera out for this one!

Water obstacle course

If you've got a little prep time, then obstacle courses are great for occupying kids (and adults) of all ages. They're also great family games night ideas as everyone enjoys seeing their parents and siblings struggle! Meaningful Mama has some great ideas on how to make your own DIY water-based course.

The shark bit my cup

Another spin on a water relay race, this one would fit in well with a children's party themed around sharks, or pirates. Take two small cups and poke a few holes in the bottom of them. Divide the group into two teams, and stand them each by a bucket filled with water. At the other end of the garden is an empty bucket. The team must be the first to fill their bucket, carrying the full cups on top of their head. Prepare for some wet pirates!

Flipper fill up

If you want to make a game even more bonkers, then all you have to do is add some element of dress-up into the mix. Here we have another classic relay game, except this time players have to put on flippers, fill a small bucket from one large bucket of water, and walk to an empty bucket with the small bucket on their heads. Once back with their team, they have to exchange flippers and the bucket with the next player in line. You'll soon find out who is the most coordinated!

Frozen t-shirt race

If you've got a little warning that you're going to be hosting a garden full of warm and bored children (or teens) then you can prepare for this fun and challenging game. Get hold of one t-shirt for each player, completely soak it, squeeze it out and fold it up. Then, putting wax paper between the shirts to make sure you can separate them, put them all in the freezer overnight. When the games begin, give each player a shirt and challenge them to be the first one to unfold it and put it on!

DIY person wash

Backyard Boss certainly lives up to their name with this guide to making your own "person" wash. Great as part of a water obstacle course, or a relay race, this nifty structure will help you cool off your kids, and yourself in no time at all.

Kiddie pool kickball

If one slip 'n' slide isn't enough for you then how do you feel about adding in 3 kiddie pools too? Take your everyday kickball game, place a kiddie pool at each base, and arrange your slip 'n' slide so it leads to home base. Then start the game! You'll want to catch all this on camera for sure!

Water balloon fight

Sure, there are loads of brilliant games that you can set up in your backyard, and we're sure you'll have loads of fun. But, when you get to the end of your list and ours, the best way to finish off a water games session is a simple and old-school water balloon fight! All you need is a large bucket of filled water balloons and some over-excited participants. Enjoy getting drenched!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
33 Fun And Splashy Water Games For The Whole Family

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The sun is shining, the bees are buzzing, and the kids are bouncing off the walls! If you've run out of board games to play and you can't stand another Minecraft discussion then these outdoor water games will save your sanity. We have 33 fun and fabulous water games for kids (or adults!)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Looking for a fun Disney craft for kids and adults? Scroll down to find out how to make Mickey and Minnie Felt Bookmarks with this easy Disney craft!

This Disney bookmarks post contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.

My family always bring books to read on the airplane ride on our way to our favorite Disney vacation spots like Disneyland, Walt Disney World, or Aulani. My kids usually pick something Disney-related so they can fully immerse themselves in the Disney experience.

This year, we've had to postpone our Disney vacation, but we're not letting that get us down. Instead, we're trying to add a little Disney magic into our every day lives. And so can you!

Transport your kids (or YOU) to the Happiest Place on Earth while they hold the spot in their favorite book.

Follow the step by step directions below to create Mickey and Minnie inspired felt bookmark in just about 30 minutes, with limited supplies.

Mickey and Minnie Felt Bookmark Craft Materials:

How to Make these Fun Disney Bookmarks:

Mickey and Minnie Disney Bookmarks Step 1

Download patterns, print and cut out with scissors. Trace patterns on felt with fine tip permanent marker according to directions included on pattern sheet. Cut two black heads for each bookmark.

Mickey and Minnie Disney Bookmarks Step 2

Assembling Mickey: Attach two black felt Mickey heads to either side of the top edge of the black rectangle body. Attach red rectangle pants on top of the bottom section of the black body.

To finish, attach gold bow at neck and white buttons to top edge of pants.

TIP: If you don't happen to have the correct size buttons on hand either paint buttons you already have with white craft paint OR cut buttons from white felt.

Mickey and Minnie Disney Bookmarks Step 3

Assembling Minnie: Cut out approximately ten white felt circle polka dots and glue onto red felt rectangle body using photo for placement, let dry.

Attach two black heads to either side of the top edge of the red rectangle body. Once dry, flip over and trim excess white felt from the polka dots.

To finish, attach red felt bow onto the top of black felt Minnie head.

Create these quick and easy Disney bookmarks with the kiddos and share the wonderful experience of reading! Create a set for your family and some to give as gifts this holiday season.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Disney Bookmarks: Mickey and Minnie Felt Craft

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Looking for a fun Disney craft for kids and adults? Scroll down to find out how to make Mickey and Minnie Felt Bookmarks with this easy Disney craft! This Disney bookmarks post contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Kids love making and playing with this glowing campfire craft! It's super easy to make and perfect for summer, fire safety week, summer camp, or for imaginative play!
(This post contains affiliate links.) *This post was originally published April 23, 2016 and has since been updated.
This pretend campfire craft was an absolute hit with my kindergarten group! After reading Marshmallow Kisses by Linda Crotta Brennan, we got busy creating our very own light-up bonfire craft. Not only did the kids enjoy making their glowing campfires, but they couldn't wait to get busy setting up a pretend camping area in the classroom and roasting their cotton ball marshmallows.

I love how very little prep is involved- you basically just need to gather the materials. And the kids were able to do it all on their own!

Check out even more fun crafts in the video below!

Materials for Glowing Campfire Craft

Directions for Glowing Campfire Craft

1. Cut your tissue paper up into little squares (or you can buy precut tissue paper squares).

2. Scrunch up a piece of tissue paper and glue it to the outside of a clear, plastic cup.

Continue until the entire cup is covered. (Some kids liked using the eraser end of a pencil to scrunch up their tissue paper, while others preferred scrunching the pieces into balls.)

3. As your tissue paper is drying, make a marshmallow roasting stick by gluing a cotton ball onto the end of a twig or thin craft stick.

4. Add some logs to your campfire by cutting strips of brown construction paper. Use a brown marker or crayon to add some details to your logs.

Now it's time to set up your campfire! Start by setting up your logs. Place your LED tea light on top the logs and then put your tissue paper cup over the light.

Go somewhere dark and watch it glow. It looks just like a real campfire!

My kindergarteners were so excited to get playing with their campfires. They all ran to the darkest area of the classroom and set up their campfires and bonfires together in a huge group. It was so cute!

A few of the kids were even making plans on how they'd be using them at home. One girl couldn't wait to get home so she could use it with her dolls. Another student had plans to use it as a nightlight when he went to bed!

Be sure to check out STEAM Kids book and ebook for even more creative STEM and STEAM ideas!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Glowing Campfire Craft for Kids - Buggy and Buddy

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Kids love making and playing with this glowing campfire craft! It's super easy to make and perfect for summer, fire safety week, summer camp, or for imaginative play! Follow our Crafts for Kids Pinterest board! (This post contains affiliate links.) *This post was originally published April 23, 2016 and has since been updated.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The sun is shining, the bees are buzzing, and the kids are bouncing off the walls! If you've run out of board games to play and you can't stand another Minecraft discussion then these outdoor water games will save your sanity.

We have 33 fun and fabulous water games for kids (or adults!) that will fill the air with laughter and get the whole family smiling (as well as pretty wet). Look no further for water balloons, cup races, and even a DIY person car wash.

Cup to cup

For days when you need a game that doesn't take 45 different resources, cup to cup is your go-to outdoor activity for your kids. All you need are 2 buckets and some plastic cups. Fill a bucket with water and place it down on the ground. The players sit in a straight line, one behind the other, in front of the bucket. The last person in line should be facing the opposite way with their back to the person behind them. In front of them is an empty bucket. The team must work together to fill the empty bucket by filling a cup with water and passing it over their heads down the line. The first team to fill their bucket wins. As Play Party Plan suggests, a fun adult version is to have all the players blindfolded!

Sponge run

Keep hold of your two plastic buckets, and you can play this next game too! Place one full bucket of water at one side of your garden, and an empty one on the other. Each player gets a sponge and must use the sponge to transport the water from the full bucket to the empty one, filling it up from the bucket and carrying it on their head across the garden! You can play as a team and time how long it takes to fill up the bucket, or use several pairs of buckets and run this as a race.

Toe diving

This is a great game for little ones, to get them to cool down in the heat, but it's also a lot of fun for teens and adults if you use smaller items. Start by filling a kiddie pool with water, and throw in lots of fun toys. Rings and rubber ducks are great for smaller children, quarters and smooth pebbles can create a challenge for bigger kids or adults. Put 60 seconds on the clock and players have to fish out as many of the items as possible from the pool - only with their toes!

Duck, duck, splash!

You probably played the classic kid's game "Duck, Duck, Goose" at least once as a child. This a great water-themed twist that is sure to bring soggy fun to your afternoon! As in the original version, players sit in a circle on the floor/grass. Pick one player to be "it" and give them a cup filled with water. This player must walk around the circle, tapping people on the head and saying "Duck". Rather than saying "Goose" when they reach their chosen player, they tip the cup of water over their head! Then this (very wet) player must chase them around the circle to get back to their seat first.

Ice bowling

This game takes a little more preparation, but it's great fun for kids of all ages to play. You can use shop-bought bowling pins from toy sets to make this easier, or you can make your own with Learn Play Imagine's easy instructions. The bowling balls are just water balloons filled with water and frozen overnight. Set up your pins and keep score, seeing who can manage a strike first!

Roll 6 and splash!

A perfectly easy and fun game for little ones, Roll 6 and Splash is quick to set up and lots of fun to play. All you need is a large shallow pan or tray filled with water and a large foam die. Sit all the children in a circle around the tray and have them take turns to roll the die. If someone rolls a 6 then they can slap their hand into the tray and splash everyone!

Water balloon toss

Water balloons are great things to keep in your cupboard for those unexpected hot summer afternoons. This simple game involves a few plastic bowls and some filled water balloons. Line the bowls up, labeling them with different points if you like, and challenge your kids to throw balloons into them. For extra squeals, you can have the other players stand next to the bowls, or even place them on their heads!

Water balloon pinata

Instead of using water balloons for this game (which are made with thin plastic so that they burst more easily), you're better off using regular balloons. Fill them up with water and hang them from a pole or monkey bars. Give your players a bat or a stick and let them loose on the balloons. The first player to pop the balloon (and get drenched!) is the winner!

Water balloon volleyball

Sticking with our water balloon theme, this game is great for older kids, or for a grown-up picnic activity. It's a good team game, as the players will have to work together to drench the other team. So if you're looking for ways to teach your kids cooperation then this is it! Split into pairs and give each pair a towel and a pile of water balloons. Set up a volleyball or badminton net in the middle of the garden and have the players place the balloons in the towel and launch them over the net at the other team. You're trying to get them wet, but they're trying to catch the balloon in the net. You can score just like tennis, but soggier!

Back-to-back water dash

A great water balloon game for all ages, that will end up with a lot of wet shirts! Back-to-back water balloon dash pits pairs against each other to be the first to get to the end of the race without bursting their balloon! Get the pairs to face away from each other, place a water balloon in between them and have them link arms to hold the balloon in place. They must race other pairs to the finish line without ending up with wet backs!

Super soaker sponge balls

If you're looking for a more natural and eco-friendly take on a perfect summer water fight, then follow these instructions from Natural Beach Living and make your own super soaker sponge balls. You can split into teams and score points for how many hits you get, or just let loose and try to soak everyone!

Water war

As serious as it sounds, but a lot of fun, this game involves a couple of decks of playing cards, 8 half-filled plastic cups, and a large pitcher of water. Lay out the cups and pitcher on the table and a deck of cards in front of each player. At the same time, players will turn over the top card on their deck and whoever gets the highest card dumps a cup over their opponent's head. If one player gets War then they can dump the pitcher over the head of their opponent!

Sponge toss

Looking for quick ways to help your kids cool off? Then this simple sponge toss game is the perfect one to play. You'll need 2 large buckets, one big sponge and some water. Fill both of the buckets with water and place them some distance apart (depending on how far your kids can throw). Get one player to stand by each bucket, dip the sponge in the water and throw it to the person opposite them. Points are knocked off for dropping the sponge!

DIY soaker seat

If you're ready to get your teeth into a bigger project, and you have a bunch of teens who love getting their friends wet then this tutorial for building your very own soaker seat is well worth your time. A substantial workshop project, it'll last more than one summer and your house will be THE place to be every year!

Squirt me now!

Another fun and silly cooperative game here, so it's great for kids who aren't a fan of competition. All you need are blindfolds and squirt bottles. In pairs, blindfold one player and give them a squirt bottle. Spin the blindfolded partner around and tell them to start walking. The other player must give them directions to squirt them in the knees, feet, arms, torso, and head. There will be a lot of laughing with this game!

Colander toss

Looking to get your friends as wet as possible, then this is the best way to do it and have fun at the same time! One player holds a colander over their head while the rest of the team tries to throw water balloons into the colander. Points are awarded for each unburst balloon in the colander at the end of the game.

Balloon and spoon race

Take the traditional egg and spoon race and make it more challenging? Yes please! Water balloons are even more fragile than eggs, and they definitely splash further when they fall on the grass. This can be a great relay race where teams race through a course and back to the beginning, swapping the balloon over onto the next player's spoon. Prepare for splashes!

Water balloon dodgeball

Who doesn't love trying to take the opposing team out at the knees in a harmless game of dodgeball? This version simply swaps the softball for a bunch of water balloons. Mark out a "pitch" with cones or tape. Put as many water balloons as you can fill in a large bowl in the middle of the pitch and let havoc commence!

Wet musical chairs

We love this twist on a children's party classic from our very own list of brilliant water balloon games. Just like the original, line up one fewer chair than there are players. But, before you start the music, place a water balloon on each chair. Now players must choose between getting wet or losing the game!

Towel toss

Another fun outdoor game from our own list towel toss is a little like water balloon volleyball, but instead of your opponent trying to get you wet, you're working together to throw AND catch the balloon with the towel. It's tricky, but staying dry is a pretty good incentive!

Step on

What do you need for this game? Just some lengths of rope and a whole mess of water balloons! Tie a water balloon to the end of a short length of rope, repeat for however many team members you have playing the game. Tie the other end of the rope to each team member's leg and then blow the whistle! The aim is to stand on everyone else's balloons to pop them, and the winner is the last water balloon left standing! As we point out, this is a better idea on grass!

Hot potato

A much more soggy version of pass the parcel, this fun kid's party game is bound to get everyone giggling! Fill a load of water balloons and seat your guests in a circle. Give one person the balloon, start the music and get them to pass it around. When the music stops, whoever has the balloon must hold it above their head and pop it! This is one present you don't want to get!

Water balloon baseball

Is there a single sport that can't be made better by adding in water balloons? I don't think so! Take our very own national treasure - baseball. Sure, it's fun with a normal ball, but why not add into the mix the chance of getting splashed in the face every time you bat? If you do manage to hit the "ball" without getting wet, then normal rules apply (or you can make up your own!).

Squirt gun knock down

Invented for toddlers, to be honest, you can adapt this game for all ages, just by making the targets harder to hit. Build the most elaborate plastic cup tower you can, arm your game players with squirt guns, and see who can knock the most cups down. I bet dad will be the most competitive!

Slip 'n' slide

Why should toddlers have all the fun? Even if you don't have tiny tots to entertain, you can have a lot of laughs with a slip 'n' slide. Set it up in the garden and run competitions on how fast everyone can throw themselves. And if you do have little ones, they'll love seeing how long they can stand up as they slide along it.

Firefighter race

Obviously, it's a good idea to leave actual firefighting to the professionals, but this game is great for non-firefighters too. A tweaked relay game, the aim is pretty simple: use a cup to carry water from a full bucket to an empty bucket on the other side of the garden. The catch? You're running backward and forwards across a slip 'n' slide! You can buy one of these or Kid-Friendly Things To Do show you how to DIY it. You'll want to video camera out for this one!

Water obstacle course

If you've got a little prep time, then obstacle courses are great for occupying kids (and adults) of all ages. They're also great family games night ideas as everyone enjoys seeing their parents and siblings struggle! Meaningful Mama has some great ideas on how to make your own DIY water-based course.

The shark bit my cup

Another spin on a water relay race, this one would fit in well with a children's party themed around sharks, or pirates. Take two small cups and poke a few holes in the bottom of them. Divide the group into two teams, and stand them each by a bucket filled with water. At the other end of the garden is an empty bucket. The team must be the first to fill their bucket, carrying the full cups on top of their head. Prepare for some wet pirates!

Flipper fill up

If you want to make a game even more bonkers, then all you have to do is add some element of dress-up into the mix. Here we have another classic relay game, except this time players have to put on flippers, fill a small bucket from one large bucket of water, and walk to an empty bucket with the small bucket on their heads. Once back with their team, they have to exchange flippers and the bucket with the next player in line. You'll soon find out who is the most coordinated!

Frozen t-shirt race

If you've got a little warning that you're going to be hosting a garden full of warm and bored children (or teens) then you can prepare for this fun and challenging game. Get hold of one t-shirt for each player, completely soak it, squeeze it out and fold it up. Then, putting wax paper between the shirts to make sure you can separate them, put them all in the freezer overnight. When the games begin, give each player a shirt and challenge them to be the first one to unfold it and put it on!

DIY person wash

Backyard Boss certainly lives up to their name with this guide to making your own "person" wash. Great as part of a water obstacle course, or a relay race, this nifty structure will help you cool off your kids, and yourself in no time at all.

Kiddie pool kickball

If one slip 'n' slide isn't enough for you then how do you feel about adding in 3 kiddie pools too? Take your everyday kickball game, place a kiddie pool at each base, and arrange your slip 'n' slide so it leads to home base. Then start the game! You'll want to catch all this on camera for sure!

Water balloon fight

Sure, there are loads of brilliant games that you can set up in your backyard, and we're sure you'll have loads of fun. But, when you get to the end of your list and ours, the best way to finish off a water games session is a simple and old-school water balloon fight! All you need is a large bucket of filled water balloons and some over-excited participants. Enjoy getting drenched!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
33 Fun And Splashy Water Games For The Whole Family

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The sun is shining, the bees are buzzing, and the kids are bouncing off the walls! If you've run out of board games to play and you can't stand another Minecraft discussion then these outdoor water games will save your sanity. We have 33 fun and fabulous water games for kids (or adults!)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
As the weather warms up and everyone heads outside, be ready to ward off all of the "I'm bored" declarations with these 33 fun games.

From active running games, to splashing water games, to messy games that will make you glad you have a hose, these activities will suit a wide variety of ages. Most just require simple prep and items you may already have around the house.

Whether you're a mom, dad, babysitter, or camp counselor, these games are sure to bring fun to your child's summer!

Explore Your Options:

Active Games

1. Obstacle Course

Everyone loves a good obstacle course. You can create one in your own backyard using objects like a play tunnel, a balance beam, hula hoops, string, pool noodles, and more. Set up a simple course for little ones and model how to complete it before letting them go through. Get your older kids involved by having each person be responsible for creating one obstacle for the course. You can time them as they go and have them try to beat their previous time. Or set up two courses side by side and race!

2. Scooter Races

All you need for this game are some scooter boards and a driveway or sidewalk. Let your children race each other while sitting on the scooter boards.

Mix it up by playing 'red light, green light'. Have one person stand at the finish line and say "green light" letting the others move forward on their scooters. When the person says "red light" everyone must stop. If someone keeps scootering forward, they are either out or must start back at the beginning (depending on which rules you want to follow). The first person on a scooter who reaches the end (you can draw a line with chalk) wins. Then that person can be in charge of yelling "red light, green light".

3. Animal Tag

Spice up a regular game of tag with Animal Tag. Designate one area to be the "cage" where players will be sent if they are tagged. Choose one child to be "it"; They will be the zookeeper responsible for tagging all of the animals and sending them back to their "cage". Choose another child to be the mischievous "monkey"; They can tag players to let them out of the cage.

Divide the rest of the children into groups. How many groups depends on the number of players, but overall you can have one group hop like rabbits, frogs, or kangaroos, another gallop like horses, zebras, or antelope, another group run like cheetahs or lions, another can crawl like dogs, pigs, or bears or even skip. Choose animals based on your theme whether it's the zoo and a cage or a barnyard and a barn.

For more of a challenge, create different cage areas for each group. Or turn it into a game of freeze tag and let the monkey unfreeze the other players by tagging them.

4. Four Square

Four Square requires a large flat area, a piece of chalk, a kickball, and at least four players. Start by drawing a large square divided into four using the piece of chalk. Starting in the top left square, label them King, Queen, Jack, and Baby (you could also just label them 1-4).

Randomly assign children the squares to start. As the game progresses, they'll attempt to move into the higher squares. If the "King" is out, they either start over at "Baby" or must get in line to wait to get back in, depending on the number of players.

The "Baby" starts with the ball and serves it into another square. The next player must hit it into the next square after one bounce. Players must continue to bounce the ball from one square to the next. If a player hits it out of bounds or can't pass it before it bounces once, they're out.

Variations

Around the World: Players must pass the ball clockwise. The hitter can call out reverse to switch the order before hitting it to now pass from counterclockwise.

Around the World No Reverse: Same as above, but you can't reverse it.

Categories: Let the King choose a category, like food (state, movie star, colors, etc.). Each player must name an item in the category when they hit it, without repeating something that was previously said. If they repeat something, they're out.

Extra Rules

Bus Stop: If the King calls "bus stop", everyone must ignore the ball and run to touch the center where all four squares meet with their foot, the last one to do so is out.

Ballerina Feet: If the King calls "ballerina feet", the players must all rush to their corner and get into first position in ballet (heels together, toes out following the corner's lines), the last one to do so is out.

Train: If the King calls "train" everyone must quickly get onto a line. The other players can shuffle along the lines while the King shuffles and tries to tag someone, the person tagged is out.

Tea Party: If the King calls "tea party with XYZ" those two players must bounce the ball back and forth until someone is out.

5. Bicycle Fun

Bikes are another fun outdoor activity. With trikes, bicycles, and adaptive tricycles, most children will have fun riding their bikes around the neighborhood. You can add games too. Play "How Slow Can You Go" with a piece of chalk. Draw out a straight or wavy line and time your kids to see who can go the slowest without stopping or needing to put their foot down. Or create obstacles using cones or cans and have your children maneuver around them.

6. Sharks and Minnows

If you've got a group of kids, this game is a perfect alternative when tag starts to get a bit boring. Designate one or more players to be the "shark" they will try to tag the minnows. The rest of the players are "minnows" and should stand together in a straight line at one end of the playing field, all facing the shark in the middle of the field. When the shark yells "Swim!" all of the minnows should try to run to the other side of the field without being tagged.

If a minnow is tagged, there are two possible options: You can have them become "seaweed" having them sit down and try to reach out for other minnows to turn them into seaweed too. Or you can have them become additional sharks for the next round.

Play continues until only one minnow remains untagged, they become the new lead shark. This game can also be played in a gym class or in the pool.

7. Kick the Can

All you need for this game is an empty can and a group of participants. Place the can in a large open area. Choose one player to be "It" who should then count to 50 while the other players hide. Then It tries to find and tag all of the other players. If another player is tagged, they must go to the designated "jail" area near the can. Any player who hasn't been tagged can try to "kick the can" to set all of the players in jail free. When It has all of the players in jail, they win. Whoever was in jail the longest becomes the new It and a new game starts.

8. Opinion Tag

Decide on four spots to be bases. Label them "Love it" "Okay" "Don't like it" "Never tried it". Choose one person to be "It". It chooses a food, sport, activity, etc. and yells it out loud. For example "baseball" or "carrots" or "Spanish class". All of the other players must run to the base that describes how they feel about the chosen subject. It tries to tag one of the players as they run. If a player is tagged, they become the new It for the next round.

Water Games

9. Sponge Tennis

For this game, you'll need a balloon and a sponge on a stick. You can make your own by using a large sponge, a painter's stick or ruler, and tape to wrap around the handle and prevent splinters. Or purchase a sponge on a stick for a quicker solution. Children can then bat the ball back and forth to play "tennis", add a net to enhance the game. Or simply attempt to keep the balloon in the air by working together.

For extra fun, head outside. Fill a bucket with water and dip the sponges into it, then play this game with wet sponges! A scrub brush sponge stick is designed to get wet!

10. Water Cup Races

Get two plastic cups and poke a hole in the bottom center of each. Tie a string to a secure anchor point, thread a string through the cup and tie the other end to another secure point (like a tree branch or chair). Bring both cups to the end of their respective strings and hand each child a filled water gun. Have the children shoot the water into the cups to push the cups along the string. Race to see who can get their cup to the end of the string first!

11. Sponge Tag

Easy to set up and tons of fun, all you need for this game is a bucket of water and a large car wash sponge. Choose one child to be "It". It should take the sponge and dunk it in the bucket. Then It chases the other players trying to tag them with the wet sponge. The first person tagged becomes It and refills the sponge.

12. Frozen Feet

Perfect for cooling down on a hot day, you'll need ice cubes to play this game. There are two versions of this game.

Version 1: Fill a tub with ice cubes and place an empty tub beside it. Set a time limit (1-2 minutes). See how many ice cubes one child can move from the filled bucket to the empty bucket using only their feet. Then empty the second bin and let another child try. Whoever can move the most cubes within the set amount of time wins!

Version two: Fill one tub with ice cubes, water, and marbles. See how many marbles one child can pick up from within the tub using only their feet in a given time limit. Put the marbles back in the tub and let another child try. Whoever gets the most marbles wins!

13. Over Under Sponge Relay

For this game you'll need two large sponges and two buckets that are the same size and two large tubs filled with water. Divide the children into two groups and have each group stand in a line. Place the full tubs in front of the lines and the empty buckets at the end of the lines.

Hand the large sponge to the first person in line. They must dunk the sponge and pass it over their head to the next person in line. That person must pass it under their legs to the next person who then passes it over their head... and so on. The last child in line squeezes the sponge out into the bucket then runs to the front of the line and the relay continues. The first team to fill their bucket wins.

If you think this will take too much time, use a small bucket or sharpie a fill-to line on the inside of the bucket.

14. Melt the Ice

This game requires a bit of prep work. But it can be used with a variety of ages and played individually or in a group.

Play individually or cooperatively: Get a large container and fill with one inch of water, then play a few small toys and freeze. Add more water and toys and freeze again. Repeat the process for each layer until the container is full. Remove the block of ice and give your child tools to melt it. (spoons, salt, paintbrushes, spray bottles, etc.) to try and melt the ice and retrieve their treasures.

Play in a group: This version is a bit easier to prepare. Just fill an ice cube tray with one penny and water. Then freeze. Give each child one ice cube and see who can melt it (not break it) in their hands first and get to the penny. That child is the winner and everyone gets to keep a penny!

15. DIY Sprinkler

Sometimes unstructured play is best. Have your child help you create this sprinkler. You'll need a sturdy plastic bottle, a drill, tape, and a garden hose. Use the drill to make holes in the bottle, if you have older children you can supervise as they do this step. Then securely tape the container to the end of the garden hose. Turn on the water for an instant sprinkler! Your children can run through it, jump over it, and have plenty of fun

Looking for fun sprinkler games? Your children can play ring-around-the rosy, hokey pokey freeze dance, and more around the sprinkler.

16. Water Balloon Toss

This game is a lot like an egg toss but the water balloons instead. Start by filling several water balloons. Have the children divide into pairs and give each pair one water balloon. Have the children start close together and throw the water balloon back and forth. On each successful throw, have both children take another step back. If the water balloon breaks or the pair fails to make a catch, they're out. The team that ends up the furthest apart wins!

17. Water Limbo

All you need for this water game is a hose. Have an adult hold the hose up high with water streaming out of it. Children can take turns limboing under the stream. After each round, the adult should lower the hose. If the child can't make it under the steam, they'll get soaked and be out! Last one limboing wins!

18. Drip, Drip Drench!

This twist on 'duck, duck, goose' includes fun water play. Have all of the children sit in a circle, except the child who is "It". The person who is "It" should walk around the circle holding a sopping wet sponge over each child's head. As they pass they should say "Drip, drip, drip" until they get to a chosen player and say "Drench" squeezing the sponge over the person's head. The chosen player gets up and chases it around the circle trying to tag them. It tries to make it around the circle once and to sit in the chosen player's spot. If It is tagged, they must sit in the center of the circle until someone else is tagged. The chosen player becomes the next It. Resoak the sponge and start again!

19. Ping Pong Toss

Grab a ping pong ball, a sharpie, and several plastic cups. Label the cups numbers 1-5. Fill the cups halfway with water and set the cups up so the ones labelled 1 are closer and the ones labelled higher numbers are further away. Give a child five ping pong balls and let them throw them into the cups for points. You could also let the children throw as many ping pong balls as they can in thirty seconds. Then let the next child take a turn. The child with the most points wins.

Messy Games

20. Egg Roulette and Other Egg Games

You may want to put down a cheap plastic throw away tarp for these games.

Egg Roulette: Fill a bowl with several boiled eggs and one raw egg hidden in the mix. One at a time the child should crack an egg on their head until one breaks.

Egg Toss: Divide the children into pairs and give each pair one raw egg. They must toss the egg back and forth, taking a step back after each successful toss. The winners get the most distance between them without dropping the egg.

Egg and Spoon Race: Give each child one raw egg and one spoon. The first child to get to the finish line and back without dropping their egg wins. If the egg drops, the child must start over from the start line. If the egg breaks, they're out.

21. Rainbow Tag

This fun face paint game mixes tag, with capture the flag. You will need five tongue depressors, each marked with a color of the rainbow. You will also need matching face paint colors. Hide the tongue depressor and matching face paint in a variety of places around the yard.

Choose someone to be "It". All of the other players run off in search of the sticks. When they find a stick, they should put a stripe of the matching face paint on their cheek and then continue searching without letting anyone else know where the stick is.

In the meantime, the It tries to tag the other players. If It tags a player, It can wipe off one stripe of color from their face.

The first player to get stripes of each color on their face wins!

22. Squirt Gun Painting/Tag

For these games you'll need squirt guns filled with liquid watercolors.

Squirt Gun Painting: Set up easels with paper or tack paper to a tree. Fill each squirt gun with a different color. Then give each child a squirt gun and let them spray the paper to paint it. Your children can switch guns to mix different colors.

Squirt Gun Tag: Make sure everyone is wearing a white shirt that can get dirty. Fill the squirt guns with two different liquid watercolors and divide everyone into teams. If you get squirted by the other team's gun, you've been "hit" and you're out. Continue until only one player remains standing that team wins!

To extend the game, play the color wars version. Individually or in teams, each child tries to get the others to be as colorful as possible (if a child is "hit" they aren't out). The child with the most white remaining on their shirt at the end of a designated time wins!

Even More Games

23. Parachute Games

Mushroom, Popcorn, Cat and Mouse, and so much more. There are plenty of games to play with a parachute!

Get started with Popcorn. Divide all of the children into two teams and have each child grab a handle on the parachute. Get balls of two colors and place them on the parachute. Players on each team should then try to shake the handles and "pop" them off the parachute. The team with their ball color left on the parachute at the end wins!

Find more parachute games to play here!

24. Bean Bag Ladder & Hula Blockers

For these games you will need bean bag and a ladder or hula hoop.

Bean Bag Ladder: Set up a ladder and label each step to be worth a certain number of points. Let kids take turns throwing bean bags onto the ladder rungs for points. The player with the most points after everyone has taken a turn wins.

Hula Blockers: Grab a hula hoop for each player and set them in the grass. Have each child stand in a hula hoop and divide the bean bags evenly between them. Each child should try to throw the bean bag into the other player's hula hoop and try to block them from entering the hoop. For an added challenge, play with more than 2 kids.

25. Ball Pit Search

Set up a cheap ball pit using a kiddie pool and ball pit balls. Choose small toys or stuffed animals to hide in the balls. Then let your child search for the toys within the ball pit. You could turn it into a competition by seeing who can find the most toys the fastest. Hide the toys again and replay.

26. Giant Games

Twister: Play a giant game of twister on the yard. You'll need a spinner from a regular game of Twister or by creating it yourself. Then use four spray paint cans to create a board on the grass and play regular Twister. You'll have a fun game to play until the grass is mowed.

Tic-Tac-Toe: You can use the same spray paint to create a giant tic-tac-toe board. Choose items like hula hoops or other items to play tic-tac-toe!

Memory: Create giant matching cards using poster board. Get your child involved by having them help create the cards by drawing pictures using markers. Then set up the board with the cards facing down and play a giant version of memory!

27. Sidewalk Chalk Simon

Have you ever played the electronic Simon game? Make it interactive and physical with this sidewalk chalk game. Create a Simon game board out of chalk. Form a circle with sections of color.

Have your child stand in the middle of the board. Call out a color and have your child jump into the section, repeat it, and then jump into the center again. Next, say the first color and a new color and have your child repeat the jumping sequence. Continue adding colors until your child can no longer remember the sequence.

Switch it up by using numbers, letters, or other pictures in the sections instead.

28. Snakes and Worms

Get green and brown strings and cut them into several pieces. Hide the pieces of yarn around the yard. Divide the children into two groups and choose one captain. The children will run around the yard looking for yarn. And the captain's will stand in the center of the yard and tie the yarn onto together to create a long worm/snake. The team with the longest piece of string wins.

29. Quarter Bounce

All you need for this simple game is a quarter and a bouncy ball. Place the quarter in the sidewalk crack. Have one child stand on each square and bounce the ball attempting to knock the quarter out. The first child to knock the quarter out of the sidewalk crack wins.

30. Marbles

This classic game requires sidewalk chalk, small marbles, and large marbles. Use the chalk to draw a three foot diameter circle with a line through the center. Each player needs a large marble to use as a "shooter". Place 10-15 marbles in the center of the circle. Shoot your marble by flicking it from the ground. Grab whatever marbles you manage to knock out of the circle. Continue knocking marbles out until none remain. Whoever has the most marbles at the end wins.

If you don't knock a marble out of the circle, you must leave your "shooter" in play. If the other player knocks it out on their turn, they win and the game ends. Otherwise you may pick it up again on your next turn.

31. Simon Says

Choose one player to be "Simon". Simon will give commands to the other players. If Simon begins the command by saying "Simon Says" everyone must follow the command. If Simon begins the command without saying "Simon Says" players aren't allowed to do the action.

For example, if Simon says, "Simon Says touch your toes!" you must touch your toes, if you don't, you're out. If Simon says, "Touch your toes!" you shouldn't touch your toes. If you do, you're out.

The last player standing wins and gets to be Simon for the next round.

32. Scavenger Hunt

Create a scavenger hunt for your children to do out in the backyard. You can hide written clues for them to find and follow to a treasure. For example, a clue like "Climb up and then down, down you go. Look for me on the ground below" could lead your child to the area under the slide to find the next clue.

Or create a list of objects (a stick, a leaf, a round stone, etc.) that they need to find. The first one to find all of the objects on the list wins and gets a prize.

33. Traditional Games

Still looking for more ideas? Teach your child some fun traditional games like:

What are you waiting for? Choose a game from the list, head outside, and start getting active with your kids!

Ready for more fun outside or indoors? Check out these fun games with your kids!

References
B. (2019). 35 Fun Outdoor Games for Kids of All Ages. Kids Activities. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/3aQpitl
B. (2020). 25 Fun Games to Play with Water this Summer. Kids Activities. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/39QJ3AK
S. (2016). RIDICULOUSLY FUN OUTDOOR GAMES FOR KIDS!. How We Learn. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/3d05nd9
Top 10 Messy Party Games. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://bit.ly/2Qb28Wr
Ward, K. (2018). 17 fun outside games kids will love playing. Care. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/3aSyQ71

Medical Disclaimer: The information provided on this site, including text, graphics, images and other material, are for informational purposes only and are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other healthcare professional with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As the weather warms up & everyone heads outside, be ready to ward off all of the "I'm bored" declarations with 33 fun outdoor games for all ages this summer!

# data[].attributes.body
yes

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In today's post: Teach your kids how to make an origami frog that actually jumps! Origami jumping frogs are easy to fold and fun to play with.
I couldn't believe it when I realized last week that I had never taught my kids to make origami jumping frogs. I learned how to fold these in sixth grade from a friend, and we had a blast making frogs of all sizes and colors, then seeing whose frog could jump the furthest and who could get her frog to land on it's feet most often. These cute little origami frogs are pretty easy to fold, so most upper elementary age kids will have no trouble with them. My six year old was even able to make one with a little help. Keep reading for full instructions on how to fold your own jumping origami frog.

Origami frog: supplies

As with most origami, these frogs are a little easier to fold if you have actual origami paper, since it's nice and thin, but you can really use any square piece of paper. Find origami paper here:

Once your frog is folded, press down on the folded "legs" with the tip of your finger, then quickly slide your finger off to make the frog jump.

Depending on how hard you push the legs down, you might be able to get the origami frog to make one perfect flip in the air and land on its feet again. It's fun to try to jump the frogs into targets, or just see whose frog jumps the furthest.

How to fold a jumping origami frog

I've made photo diagrams as clear as possible so I don't have to try to explain each step. When you see arrows, those are showing you which direction you should fold the paper, and the dotted lines show you the line the fold will make. Remember, you are not folding to match the paper up with the dotted line, you are folding ON the dotted line.

For these frogs, we used 6 inch square origami paper

, and the frogs ended up about 2×2 inches.

If you love origami, visit these posts: Print + fold origami bookmarks 20 cool origami tutorials Origami bowtie (for Father's Day) And for more kid fun, check out these posts: 101 summer fun ideas kids can do at home 50 indoor activities for kids 20 kid art projects that turn out pretty enough to frame

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Make an origami frog that really jumps! These easy to fold origami jumping frogs are so much fun to play with! Click through for step by step folding instructions.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In today's post: Teach your kids how to make an origami frog that actually jumps! Origami jumping frogs are easy to fold and fun to play with.
I couldn't believe it when I realized last week that I had never taught my kids to make origami jumping frogs. I learned how to fold these in sixth grade from a friend, and we had a blast making frogs of all sizes and colors, then seeing whose frog could jump the furthest and who could get her frog to land on it's feet most often. These cute little origami frogs are pretty easy to fold, so most upper elementary age kids will have no trouble with them. My six year old was even able to make one with a little help. Keep reading for full instructions on how to fold your own jumping origami frog.

Origami frog: supplies

As with most origami, these frogs are a little easier to fold if you have actual origami paper, since it's nice and thin, but you can really use any square piece of paper. Find origami paper here:

Once your frog is folded, press down on the folded "legs" with the tip of your finger, then quickly slide your finger off to make the frog jump.

Depending on how hard you push the legs down, you might be able to get the origami frog to make one perfect flip in the air and land on its feet again. It's fun to try to jump the frogs into targets, or just see whose frog jumps the furthest.

How to fold a jumping origami frog

I've made photo diagrams as clear as possible so I don't have to try to explain each step. When you see arrows, those are showing you which direction you should fold the paper, and the dotted lines show you the line the fold will make. Remember, you are not folding to match the paper up with the dotted line, you are folding ON the dotted line.

For these frogs, we used 6 inch square origami paper

, and the frogs ended up about 2×2 inches.

If you love origami, visit these posts: Print + fold origami bookmarks 20 cool origami tutorials Origami bowtie (for Father's Day) And for more kid fun, check out these posts: 101 summer fun ideas kids can do at home 50 indoor activities for kids 20 kid art projects that turn out pretty enough to frame

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Make an origami frog that really jumps! These easy to fold origami jumping frogs are so much fun to play with! Click through for step by step folding instructions.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
When I was a kid, we played outside with the other kids in the neighborhood with most of our free time. We also made the most of recess at school. We kept ourselves quite occupied without any of today's modern technologies. Listed below are some no-tech games that you may have enjoyed as a kid. I sure did. Some can be done indoors. Some can be done by yourself or with just one friend. But most of them are best when done outside with a group of people. Also, most of these games can be changed or improved by making up your own rules. Use your imagination!

Hide and Seek

Everyone has played this one. Most parents have played with their kids, since hiding and finding is a common interest of small children. I've heard of all kinds of variations on this game. Sometimes you count to twenty, sometimes ten, sometimes one hundred. Sometimes there is a home base that you can run to and tag, becoming "safe," sometimes you just wait to be found. The general idea is that one person is "it," that person closes his or her eyes and counts to a certain number without looking and then he or she tries to find the others. Number of Players: Ideally at least three. Equipment: None.

Kick the Can

This game is a variation of tag and hide & seek. One person or a team of people are designated as "it" and a can is placed in the middle of the playing area. The other people run off and hide while the "it" covers his or her eyes and counts to a certain number. "It" then tries to find everyone. If a person is tagged by "it", they go into a holding pen for captured players. If one of the un-captured players manages to kick the can, the captured players are released. The game is over once all the non-"it" players are in the holding pen. Number of Players: Ideally at least three. Equipment: A metal can.

Capture the Flag

This game is most fun when played with a large group. Split the group into two teams, each team having a flag or other marker at the team's base. The object of the game is to run into the other team's territory, capture their flag and make it safely back to your own territory. You can tag "enemy" players in your territory, sending them to your jail. They can be sprung from jail by a member of their own team running into your territory, tagging them and running back, with one freed person allowed per jail break. It is sometimes played that all the people in jail could hold hands and make a chain back toward their own territory, making it easier for members of their team to tag them. We also played a similar game called Steal the Sticks. It had almost the same rules, but several sticks were used instead of one flag. Number of Players: A large group. Equipment: Two flags or other markers.

Parachute

Fun for kids of all ages, this game involves a large round parachute, preferably with handles, with people holding the parachute all around the edges. It helps if someone is in charge telling people what to do. Players can just ruffle the parachute up and down a little bit, they can go all the way up and all the way down, or all the way up and then run underneath, sitting on the edge of the parachute, which can create a bubble of air with everyone inside. Players can also place light objects such as wiffle balls or beanbags on top of the parachute, and make them jump by ruffling the parachute. Also, one person can sit in the middle of the parachute and everyone ruffles it near the ground. If there is a smooth floor and a light child, the child can sit in the middle on top of the parachute and everyone else can walk partway around still holding the parachute edge. Then everyone pulls backward, spinning the child. There are countless variations. Number of Players: Depends on the size of the parachute, but usually eight to ten. Equipment: A play parachute. These aren't as hard to find as you would think. Try here and here.

Traffic Cop

This game works best on a street with little to no traffic, or in a large paved area of some kind. You need bikes, wagons, pedestrians, scooters or whatever is available. One person directs traffic to make sure kids don't run into each other. It is more fun than it sounds, and helps kids learn about waiting to cross the street and about traffic safety. Number of Players: A small group. Equipment: Bikes, wagons, scooters, anything on wheels.

Four Square

This ball game is played on a square court further divided into four smaller squares, numbered one through four. One player stands in each of the squares, with the highest ranked player in number one, lowest in number four. You bounce the ball among the players, bouncing once in the other person's square before that person catches it. When I played this as a kid, we had countless additional rules to choose from. The person in square one got to choose the rules. Anyone who violates the rules will have to move down in the ranking, or be eliminated with another player rotating in to square four. Number of Players: Four, unless you take turns. Equipment: A four square court or sidewalk chalk, a playground ball.

Hopscotch

Use some sidewalk chalk and make a hopscotch grid. Number the squares from one to nine. Pick a rock that is good for tossing. Small ones can bounce too much, and larger ones are hard to throw. Start by tossing the rock onto Square 1. Hop over the rock and hop with a single foot or both feet (to follow the hopscotch pattern) all the way to the end. Turn around and come back, stopping on Square 2. Balancing on one foot, pick up the rock in Square 1 and hop over Square 1 to the start. Continue this pattern with Square 2. And so on. If you toss your rock and miss the correct square, your turn is over. This game can be played with any number of people, but only one person can go at a time. If it's raining or dark or too cold, you can get indoor hopscotch mats or foam pieces, or just find a pattern on the floor to follow, perhaps using a beanbag instead of a rock. Number of Players: One at a time. Equipment: Hopscotch grid, rock or beanbag.

Jump-Rope and Double Dutch

One of the biggest ways I spent my recess time as a young girl was jumping rope. I got quite good at it for my age, both in speed and in skill. It was fun to jump by myself, but it was even more fun to have a long rope and jump with a couple of friends. That's where jump-rope rhymes come in. They turn a simple exercise into a fun game, to compete against yourself and others. Then there's double dutch. I was always in awe of the older girls who could do double dutch. The first time I tried it, I got tripped up almost immediately. However, once you understand how to do it, it isn't as hard as it looks. Number of Players: One for single jumping, three with a longer rope or for double dutch. Equipment: One or two jump-ropes.

Chinese Jump-Rope

This game requires three people, or just one or two people with really good chairs. It is easily done inside, assuming a sturdy floor. This game resembles regular jump rope in that you jump. A lot. But you jump in a pattern. Two people (or chairs) put their feet inside the rope and stretch them out, standing far enough apart for the third person to jump between them. The third person, or jumper, faces one of the people holding the rope and jumps in a pattern of left, right, inside, outside and on the ropes. What pattern you use is up to you, but all the players should use the same one. The game is started with the rope around the ankles. Once the jumper does the jump correctly, the rope is moved up to the calves. Then to the knees, then the thighs. Usually it doesn't get any farther than that. Once you miss, it is someone else's turn. Number of Players: Preferably three, but it can be done with one or two. Equipment: A stretchy-type rope or 5 to 6 meters of rubber bands tied together in a circle.

Jacks

This game can be played on any flat surface, indoors or out. The player scatters the jacks on the playing surface, often by just tossing them out of one hand, as if rolling dice. The ball is then tossed up, is allowed to bounce once, and is caught before the second bounce. The player tries to scoop up jacks and catch the ball with one hand before the ball's second bounce. The number of jacks to be picked up goes in order. First you pick up one ("onesies"), then two ("twosies"), then three and so on. There are many variations to the rules of this game including things like "pigs in the pen" and "double bounces." Jacks is one game I wish I had played as a girl, but it was much more common when my mom was a child. Number of Players: Any, taking turns. Equipment: A set of jacks and a small rubber ball.

Marbles

The general rules specify that you draw a circle in the sand or on the sidewalk, and then take turns trying to knock each other's marbles out of the circle with your one large marble. As with the other games, there are countless variations. I haven't played this game at length, though, because I always seem to hurt myself flicking the large marble into the ring! You can also use a marble mat which contains different point zones. Number of Players: At least two. Equipment: Chalk, large and small marbles.

Red Light, Green Light

With enough room, this game can easily be played inside. One person is the traffic light at one end, and the other players are at the other end. When the traffic light faces the group, he or she says, "Red light!" and everyone must freeze. The traffic light then turns his or her back and says, "Green light!" while the group tries to get as close to the traffic light as possible. The traffic light turns around quickly, again saying, "Red light!", and if anyone is spotted moving, they have to go back to the starting place. The first person to tag the traffic light wins and gets to be the next traffic light. Number of Players: A small group. Equipment: None.

Mother, May I

This game is set up in the same way as Red Light Green Light. One person in the group asks the person in the front, "Mother, may I take steps forward?" The person at the front then says, "Yes, you may." or "No, you may not." You can vary your requests by including options such as taking baby steps, spinning steps, leaps or whatever strikes your fancy. Again, the first person to tag the person in the front wins and is the next person in the front. Number of Players: A small group. Equipment: None.

Simon Says

This game can be played anywhere, even in a car or other small space. One person is Simon and starts by saying, "Simon says, '[insert action here]'. " Everyone must then do the action. However, if Simon makes an action request without saying, "Simon says" to begin the request, anyone who does that action is out. The last person still playing in the end will be Simon for the next round. Number of Players: A small group. Equipment: None.

Tag

It seems that everyone knows how to play tag, but just in case it wasn't in your childhood game playing repertoire, here is how you play. A group of kids decides who will start out as being "it." That person chases the other people around, trying to tag one of them with their hand. The newly tagged person is now "it." There is often the rule of "no tag-backs" where you can't tag the person who just tagged you. The game ends when everyone is tired of playing. Number of Players: Any size group. Equipment: None.

Shadow Tag

In this fun version of Tag, you tag each other's shadow with your feet instead of tagging their body. Thus, it must be played on a sunny day. The closer to noon, the greater the difficulty. Number of Players: A small group. Equipment: None.

Freeze Tag

This is a variation of Tag where if the person who is "it" tags you, you have to freeze where you are. Another participant can tag you to unfreeze you. Number of Players: A small group. Equipment: None.

TV Tag

A variation of Freeze Tag where the person unfreezing the frozen player has to call out a TV show title. That show then can't be used again during that game. Number of Players: A small group. Equipment: None.

Marco Polo

This variation of tag is played in a swimming pool. Whoever is "it" closes their eyes and yells "Marco!" The other players then yell "Polo!" The "it" person has to tag one of the others, and then that person is "it." Be sure to play in a pool that is not too deep for any of the players. Number of Players: A small group. Equipment: A swimming pool.

Blind Man's Bluff

A favorite game in Tudor and Victorian England, this game is yet another variation on tag. The person who is "it" wears a blindfold and tries to tag the other players. Be sure to play this in an area safe from obstructions and other hazards. Number of Players: A small group. Equipment: A blindfold.

Red Rover

Divide everyone into two teams, each forming a long line, holding hands, facing the other team. The two teams should be around 20 or so feet apart. The teams take turn calling out, "Red Rover, Red Rover, let come over!" That child leaves their team's line, runs as fast as they can toward the other line and tries to break through the held hands. If they break through, they get to take someone back to their team. If they don't, they join the new team. When a team only has one person left, that person tries to break through the other team. If they do not, then their team loses. If they do, they gain a player and play continues. Number of Players: Any decent size group. Equipment: None.

Heads Up, Seven Up

Dating back to at least the 1950s, this game is one we played in elementary school. In my experience, it was usually done in the classroom with everyone at their desk. To start the game, seven players go to the front and the teacher says, "Heads down, thumbs up!" Everyone still at their desk puts their head down, extends an arm and stucks their thumb up. The seven kids that were at the front go around and each press one person's thumb down. Then they all go back to the front of the room and the teacher says, "Heads up, seven up!" The players at the desks raise their heads and the seven whose thumbs were pressed down stand up. Each in turn names the person they think pressed down their thumb. If they are correct, they change places with the presser. Then the game can start again. Number of Players: Minimum of 14. Equipment: Desks at which to sit.

Spud

This outdoor game is a lot of fun. Every player gets a number and crowds around the person who is "it" for that round. "It" then tosses the ball straight up and the other players run away. As the ball reaches the top of its toss, "it" calls out the number of one of the other players and then runs away also. The player whose number was called must run back and catch the ball (or chase after it if it is bouncing around). Once that person has the ball, they yell, "Spud!" Then everyone else must freeze. The person with the ball must try to hit one of the players with the ball. If they do, that new person gets a letter (first S, then P, then U, then D) and is now "it." If they miss, the person who threw the ball is "it" for the next round. Number of Players: A small group. Equipment: Playground ball.

Button, Button, Who's Got the Button?

Played inside or outside, the group sits or stands in a circle and holds their hands together in front of them. One person takes the button and goes around the circle, pretending to put the button in someone else's hands. They actually deposit the button in one person's hands, but then continue the rest of the way around the circle, pretending to put it in everyone else's hands. Then going around the circle, each player tries to guess who has the button now. Before each person's guess, the group asks together, "Button, button, who's got the button?" Then the player can state their guess. Once the player with the button is finally guessed, that person distributes the button during the next round. Because a button is used in this game, be sure that all the kids playing are old enough so as to not choke on the button. In another version of this game (and the one that I am more familiar with), one child stands in the middle of the circle, and the button gets passed around the backs of the rest of the group. Those without the button pretend to pass it. When the passing stops, the player in the middle has to guess as to who actually has the button. Number of Players: Any size group. Equipment: A button.

Cat's Cradle

This incredibly portable game can be played anywhere. If you are playing alone, you can make various string shapes on your own hands. With two people, you can play a bit of a game, transferring the shapes back and forth and creating new ones. Learn from someone if you can, but otherwise there are some good books on the subject. Make your own string, or buy a book on how to do it, which often comes with a string! Number of Players: One or two. Equipment: A string, approximately 36 inches long, tied in a circle (length varies, so find one that works for you!).

Hand-Clap Games

The first hand-clap game most people have played is Pat-a-Cake with their parents. Songs and patterns get much more complicated from there. Usually there are two people involved, doing a series of clap patterns on their own and each other's hands while singing or chanting a rhythmic song. There are many rhymes listed online, but if you can learn from someone else or see it in a video, that is best, so that you can get the notes of the song and the rhythm of the clapping. From "Miss Mary Mack" to "Miss Susie" to "Say, Say, My Playmate," there are countless hand clap games to learn. Number of Players: Usually two, but creativity can allow for a third or fourth person. Equipment: None.

Crack the Whip

Though often played on ice while wearing skates in the winter, this game is much safer, though possibly less fun, when played on grass. All the players hold hands in a line. The person at one end of the line skates or runs around, changing directions quickly. The tail of the "whip" of players tends to get moved around with a lot more force than players closer to the front. The longer the tail, the harder it is to hold on. If the players at the end fall off the end of the tail, they can attempt to get back on, perhaps in a position closer to the front. Number of Players: A small group. Equipment: None.

Musical Chairs

In a circle, arrange chairs facing outward to total one fewer than the number of players. An additional player needs to be in charge of the music. When the music starts, the players walk around the chairs. When the music stops, players sit down in the nearest chair as soon as they can. The one player who does not have a chair is out. One of the chairs is then removed, and the game continues in this manner. The player that sits in the final chair is the winner. This game is traditionally played inside, but it can also be played outside with outdoor furniture and a portable music player. Number of Players: A small group. Equipment: Music player or person making music, chairs.

Telephone

This game is one in which most people end up laughing quite a bit, so if you're in the mood for silliness, give it a go. Players sit in a circle. One person thinks up a sentence or phrase and whispers it to the next person. That person repeats it to the person on their other side. This continues around the circle. When it finally reaches the last person, that person says the sentence out loud. Hilarity ensues. The ending sentence is usually quite changed from the beginning sentence, since errors tend to compound as they go around the circle. Number of Players: A small group. Equipment: None.

Freeze Dance

Choose one person to be in charge of the music. When the music starts, everyone else dances, the crazier the better. When the music stops, the dancers must freeze in their position. Anyone caught moving after that is out. Play continues until there is one person left, the winner. Number of Players: Any number. Equipment: Music player or person making music. You can find more activities in The Dangerous Book for Boys and The Daring Book for Girls, as well as some jump rope and hand clap rhymes.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
From perennial favorites Hide and Seek, Telephone and Capture the Flag to the less common Blind Man's Bluff, Spud and Crack the Whip, this list has something for everyone.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Crafts are somewhat of a dying art in an age where the pull of screens and digital activities is so strong. Never fear - I have put together a list of 101+ Nature Crafts for Kids that your whole family can enjoy. Boredom doesn't have to lead to excessive screen time if there's always a craft activity ready to go!

I will always advocate for creative, hands-on activities, because the benefits are truly enormous; kids can learn so much about their own creativity and style by making things with their hands. Plus, craft is incredible for fine motor skill development.

The best part?

You can make craft using all-natural materials. Nature is so vibrant and colourful, perfect for incorporating into any arts and crafts activity, plus they're ecofriendly!

Try out some crafts from this list of nature-inspired activities and get your kids excited about creating!

Stick nature crafts for kids

Sticks are a great craft supply because you can find them pretty much anywhere you see trees. If you haven't got a back yard, don't worry - consider taking a stroll to the nearby park with your kids for a stick collecting spree, then get stuck into these fun crafts.

If your kids like fairies and magic, they will be absolutely delighted by these Stick Fairies. Leaves make for beautiful wings!

Make little stick people out of y-shaped twigs and bright yarn. This activity is completely adorable - your kids are sure to love making their mini-me!

This is a great craft for decorating backpacks or hanging on bedroom doors. Your kids can make the first letter of their name out of sticks and yarn, personalizing it with their favourite colours.

Decorate the playroom or your child's bedroom with these gorgeous stick stars. A simple yet gorgeous decoration that will bring nature into your home.

How great are simple activities? This craft only requires two materials - paint and sticks - and the result is a beautiful collection of bright, decorative sticks. A super age-flexible craft activity for kids who love using colour.

If you've got old flowerpots lying around at home, adding sticks around the outside is a simple way to spruce them up. Try this craft with your kids and plant some flowers to finish it off.

Find some sticks and spin and twist the twine around them. These are perfect for Halloween!

Display your treasured family photos in these beautiful DIY frames, perfect for wall hangings or tabletop decorations.

Make these easy nature butterflies with your kids and use them as decorations or add them into another craft, like a collage. Your child will be delighted to see what they can make with just sticks and leaves!

Flower Nature Crafts

Flowers are a spectacle of nature, bringing colour and beauty to any outdoor space. Make use of the flowers in your yard by using them as a craft material, like in these activities:

Not only is plastic glitter a nightmare to clean up, it's also terrible for the environment. Switch to nature's glitter by collecting flowers and cutting them into confetti - the result is even better than the shiny stuff!

If you've got shoes lying around that no one uses anymore, consider turning them into flowerpots. This is a great activity for teaching your kids about reusing and repurposing.

Is your child beginning to read? Encourage their reading development with this beautiful flower bookmark craft.

Pet rocks, with a floral twist! Collect dandelions with your kids and use them to make beautiful rock-people.

Capture the sun's rays with this dreamy flower-gelatin suncatcher. Colourful and squishy to touch, your kids are sure to find great joy in making and using this sensory craft.

Leaf nature crafts for kids

Like flowers, leaves come in all shapes and colours, making for a wonderful craft material. Leaves are abundant in nature and easily collected. Make use of nature's confetti with these activities.

Use leaves to make little hearts and string them together. These can be used as decorations inside or outside, and they're super simple to make.

Handprint painting with leaves, the perfect way to add a bit of nature to the page. Trace your child's hand on a leaf and use it as a patterned stamp.

Teach your child a new handy skill by stitching patterns into leaves. Leaves make for a great practice piece, and the final product can be used as a cute decoration.

Leaves come in a vast range of colours, especially in the fall, making them the perfect material for confetti. Try out this eco-friendly confetti alternative for your next kid's party (or just for fun!)

Who doesn't love the Very Hungry Caterpillar? Recreate Eric Carle's beloved hungry critter using leaves from the backyard. Your kids will be delighted to create their very own caterpillar picture.

This is a more involved craft and takes a little longer than the others, but the result is absolutely worth the patience and effort! Teach your kids how to create their own soft toys using gorgeous leaf patterns.

Get your child's imagination running with this fun robot activity. Kids can design a robot using leaves in different shapes and colours, personalizing it however they'd like.

Turn a big, round leaf into a slithering snake in just a few simple steps.

Practice learning letters and words in a fun, nature-filled way by stamping letters onto leaves. Encourage your child to mix and match the leaves to form words.

As leaves are very similar to paper in thickness and feel, embossing leaves works like a charm. Create delicate designs on leaves with your kids and use them in other crafts or simply admire them.

If you've ever played with felt pieces on a felt board, this activity has a similar idea - but with leaves! Cut out different shapes and sizes and encourage your kids to arrange them however they'd like.

Leaves look beautiful when lit up by candlelight. Get creative with candle jars and create a special gift/home decoration.

Nature Crafts using wood

Wood comes in different textures, colours, and smells, ideal for use in craft activities. If you have access to wood pieces, enjoy using this versatile natural art material to create with.

Kids are often mesmerized by the lives of insects. Capture their fascination with this adorable bug hotel that helps to make the bugs in your yard feel right at home.

Textured wood is the perfect material for making stamps out of. Your child will get hours of enjoyment out of these nature-friendly stamps!

The art of weaving presents an opportunity for your kids to slow down, relax, and focus on learning a useful skill. Your child can use these wood slices to practice on.

Encourage your child to make meaningful gifts for their friends with these wood slice friendship bracelets, customizable and simple to make.

Welcome birds into your backyard with this lovely wooden bird house. This is a great way to get your kids interacting with nature, as they will be able to inspect birds up close.

Nature crafts for kids using vines

Vines are a great natural medium for weaving. If you are yet to discover the peaceful joys of weaving, I would so encourage you to give it a go!

If your kids love dressing up, they will love making and using these beautiful DIY wings. They're made out of weeds, so you can recycle those annoying weeds in your garden and put them to good use!

Create a calming activity for your kids to wind down after a long day with this delightful outdoor weaving frame. Weaving is so simple yet so enjoyable, and something the whole family can do together.

Harness the bright colours of fallen leaves and weave them with sticks to create these gorgeous nature stars!

If you have old photo frames sitting around, repurpose them into some DIY weaving frames for your kids. Weaving is the perfect wind-down activity for when your child needs something peaceful and relaxing to do.

You and your child can master the art of weaving with these simple and useful woven baskets, made using natural materials.

Stone/rocks nature crafts

We as people don't pay rocks much attention - after all, they don't really catch the eye! Still, rocks can make great craft supplies if you add a bit of creativity and imagination, like in these fun activities:

Ever painted a pet rock? This is the same concept, but space themed. Get your kids thinking about our incredible universe by painting planets, astronauts, and stars onto rocks.

Does your child love the 'Old MacDonald' nursery rhyme? Allow them to interact and engage with the story by making some of these story stones (printable).

Fairy gardens are a wonderful way to get your kids excited about gardening and being outside. Simply paint doors onto rocks and add them into any garden space to easily convert it into a fairy garden.

These flower rocks are a lovely decoration for your gardens and tabletops. Allow your kids to get creative and paint colourful flowers onto pebbles.

Have fun painting cute little bees onto rocks. Teach your kids all about bees and their role as nature's helpers while you paint!

Brighten up any potted plant or garden space with these bright (and delicious-looking) watermelon rocks.

Your kids will love making these adorable hedgehog rock pets. A cute addition to any potted plant, toy box, or windowsill.

Clearly identify where you've planted seeds in your garden and which seedlings are which with garden markers made out of rocks. Weather-resistant and brightly coloured, these helpful rock markers will add a bit of fun to your veggie garden.

Want to give your kids a pet cactus, but worried that the spikes will be dangerous? Make these pet rock cacti instead - your kids will be delighted to have their very own cactus friends on their windowsill or bedside table.

There's a reason why a lot of our favourite childhood storybooks featured woodland animals - they're so adorable! Paint woodland animals onto rocks with your kids and encourage them to make some stories of their own.

Beautify the rocks in your garden using temporary tattoos!

Grass nature crafts for kids

It grows pretty much everywhere, Yep, Grass. You'll never run out of natural craft materials!

These grass hearts are so simple yet so beautiful, a lovely craft activity for you and your kids to enjoy together outside.

These spiky grass pom poms are completely adorable and easy to make. They look great as decorations for parties or around the house/garden.

Get into some Easter craft with your kids by making these cute grass heads out of eggshells - your kids will love the finished result!

In this activity, you can make a soil-stuffed animal that grows grass out of its head-like hair. How cool! Kids adore stuffed animals, and they are sure to enjoy these animal grass heads.

Shell Crafts

Shells are one of nature's most incredible creations. They are intricate, delicate, and structurally fascinating, perfect for use in craft activities.

Shells should never be collected if they still have living creatures inside... but that doesn't mean you can't make your own creatures! Your kids can make sea snails out of playdough and add real shells to create their very own sea critters.

Make little fish out of the shells you find on the beach. All you need is the shells, some tropical coloured paint, and googly eyes!

In this craft activity, your kids can turn their shell collection into adorable puppets that they can interact and play with.

Use shells to create a beautiful keepsake wreath. Your kids can have fun collecting a variety of shells to put into this lovely decoration.

If your kids collect shells on your next beach trip, consider preserving them in a stunning clay heart decoration. All you need are cookie cutters and clay - just add the shells!

Explore some cool science with your kids and make these stunning borax crystal-coated shells overnight.

Allow your kids to hone their drawing skills and have fun doodling on rocks with sharpies. Decorative rocks can be used to add colour to pot plants and windowsills.

Heating crayons can make a paint-like material that is fun to work with. If your kids are old enough to be cautious around heat, they will be able to safely enjoy this activity and create some beautifully coloured shells.

Sand Nature Crafts for Kids

Sandpits are lots of fun, but that's not the only use for it! There are so many ways to utilize sand in your craft activities. Here are some of my favourites:

Brighten up the sandbox with coloured sand play. This recipe is simple and affordable - no need to fork out lots of money on coloured sand in store.

Set up an outdoor sand play space and encourage your kids to try 'painting' with coloured sand. This activity can be reset many times, and kids will be delighted by the tactile nature of sand.

Sand adds a cool 3D effect to art activities. With sand, glue, and a colouring-in page, your kids can colour in the lines using normal or coloured sand.

Use sand to create molds and fill them with plaster-of-Paris. This activity is a simple and affordable way to create paintable molds of anything your child can think of.

Sand is so versatile that it can even be used to make beaded jewelry! Have a craft day with your kids and create these beautiful beads out of sand, glue, and paint.

Bean and Seed Nature Crafts

Not only are beans and seeds super tasty, but they also make great natural craft materials. Read on to see how you and your kids can use them in your next craft activity.

Use beans as mosaics and create tactile 3D paintings. These are super satisfying to make; your kids can create a picture of their favourite movie character, animal, or anything they'd like.

Teach your kids about giving back to the earth with these wildflower seed bombs. They can be given as gifts or used in your own backyard.

Mix seeds with old recycled paper to create textured, decorative paper that you can use in art activities or gift to others.

Collect some acorns with your kids and show them how to create adorable little acorn people. These make wonderful decorations!

Got used up toilet rolls lying around? Put them to great use with this simple bird feeder. Coat the outside of a cardboard toilet roll in seeds and watch as birds flock to your garden.

Pinecone nature crafts for kids

Pinecones are so cute! They are the perfect natural material for making craft, and there's so much you can do with them. Collect a bag of pinecones with your kids and get creative.

If you have smaller pinecones leftover that no one wants to use, consider making these pinecone fireflies. Baby pinecones are the perfect size for these DIY critters.

Next time Halloween rolls around, consider making these creepy-crawly pinecone spiders with your kids. They will love making these out of pipe cleaners and googly eyes... though the finished product is more cute than spooky!

Pinecones are super spiky, so of course, you should make little hedgehogs with them. Your children can have their very own spiky friends to sit on their windowsill or bedside table.

Make these special fairy gifts with your kids using pinecones, paint, and felt.

The spiky exterior of pinecones means that materials like felt can be easily stuck to the outside. Wrap pinecones in pulled felt and create these adorable sheep with your kids.

If you look down from the top of a pinecone, the spikes almost look like petals. Get painting with your kids and make a bouquet of pinecone flowers. You won't need to worry about keeping them watered!

There's something so festive about pinecones. Paint them to make a vibrant and colourful hanging wreath.

Why purchase decorations for around the home when you can easily make them out of natural materials? These ombre pinecones would make an absolutely stunning centerpiece, and they are so easy to create.

There are so many things you can create with felt and pinecones, like these cute foxes. Encourage your kids to get imaginative and see what other animals they might be able to make.

When leaves are added to the top, pinecones look (and feel) just like a prickly pineapple! Have fun making these summery decorations with your kids.

Colourful holiday decorations are as simple as wrapping some yarn around pinecones! Try out this craft activity with your kids these holidays.

Clay and Mud Nature Crafts for kids

Now for the messy crafts. It's true - working with clay and mud often requires a bit of clean-up afterward, but it's all worthwhile when you see the smiles of delight on your kids' faces!

Make a memento of your child's tiny hands to look back on and compare as they get older. All you need is some clay and natural decorations to make a beautiful keepsake.

With this activity, your kids will have loads of fun setting up a mud ice creamery outside. Get creative with toppings - use flowers and leaves (but remember not to eat them!)

Mud collage

Simply mix some mud, collects some natural materials around your garden and start creating!

Make simple Valentine's Day gifts with your kids using clay and flowers.

This is a great activity for a creative stroll in the woods. Bring along some playdough and encourage your kids to make faces on the bark of trees using the dough and whatever natural materials they can find.

Mixed media nature crafts for kids

These crafts don't necessarily fit into a category, but they are all super fun and nature-focused. Keep this list on hand for your next craft day.

If you want to teach your kids about birds and spark their interest in animals, making a bird nest is a great way to do so. Observe the birds making nests in your backyard, then make beautiful nests of your own.

Create beautiful, natural dress-ups for your kids using leaves, flowers, vines, and ferns. They will be delighted to wear these crowns while playing in the yard.

Your kids can dress up their very own mermaid with these lovely printables. Simply add leaves, flowers, and any other natural materials.

Celebrate Earth Day every day with these mini earth moss balls. All you need is yarn, moss, and water!

Are your kids Disney fans? If so, they'll love dressing their favourite Disney princesses up in colourful flowers and leaves. Download these printables if you need a quick and easy craft activity on the go.

Materials like pine needles, grass, ferns, and stalks make excellent natural paintbrushes. Make some of these brushes next time your kids feel like painting - they're super simple to put together.

Help your kids to focus on nature's colours and textures with these paper plate stencils.

If your child is obsessed with Pokémon, get into these Pokémon nature crafts and make the characters out of natural materials.

Have you ever done marbling? Marbling creates beautiful and unique designs on paper. Use sticks, leaves and feathers to paint marbled designs onto nature!

Collect some flowers and leaves from around the garden with your kids, then spend some time dressing up these cute printable faces!

Looking for some Easter-themed craft activities? Try out this simple nature bunny mask - your kids will love dressing up and hopping around in these.

Let your kids become superheroes with these masks decorated by nature.

Make these adorable nature fairy houses with your kids and add them to your garden for a magical touch.

Playdough is such a fun and versatile medium; add some sticks, flowers and leaves, and you've got a simple nature craft activity. Your kids will love using their imagination to make things out of playdough and nature.

Get the whole family outside by making nature boats. Not only are they simple to make, only a few materials are needed, and you can have fun racing them down a creek (or floating them in the bathtub!)

Now that you've got a full list of 101+ nature crafts for kids, and the whole family to enjoy, it's time to get creative! Make your next craft day all about nature. Even if you find yourself doing a craft activity that isn't on this list, challenge yourself to find some way of incorporating nature into it. Natural materials really are so beautiful and so versatile - adding them into your arts and crafts is easier than you might think!

If your kids do any of the crafts I've mentioned here and you want to share the results, be sure to tag me in the photos - I'd love to see how they turn out!

Yours in nature,

Penny x

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
101+ ADORABLE Nature Crafts for Kids - Mother Natured

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Crafts are somewhat of a dying art in an age where the pull of screens and digital activities is so strong. Never fear - I have put together a list of 101+ Nature Crafts for Kids that your whole family can enjoy.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The sun is shining, the bees are buzzing, and the kids are bouncing off the walls! If you've run out of board games to play and you can't stand another Minecraft discussion then these outdoor water games will save your sanity.

We have 33 fun and fabulous water games for kids (or adults!) that will fill the air with laughter and get the whole family smiling (as well as pretty wet). Look no further for water balloons, cup races, and even a DIY person car wash.

Cup to cup

For days when you need a game that doesn't take 45 different resources, cup to cup is your go-to outdoor activity for your kids. All you need are 2 buckets and some plastic cups. Fill a bucket with water and place it down on the ground. The players sit in a straight line, one behind the other, in front of the bucket. The last person in line should be facing the opposite way with their back to the person behind them. In front of them is an empty bucket. The team must work together to fill the empty bucket by filling a cup with water and passing it over their heads down the line. The first team to fill their bucket wins. As Play Party Plan suggests, a fun adult version is to have all the players blindfolded!

Sponge run

Keep hold of your two plastic buckets, and you can play this next game too! Place one full bucket of water at one side of your garden, and an empty one on the other. Each player gets a sponge and must use the sponge to transport the water from the full bucket to the empty one, filling it up from the bucket and carrying it on their head across the garden! You can play as a team and time how long it takes to fill up the bucket, or use several pairs of buckets and run this as a race.

Toe diving

This is a great game for little ones, to get them to cool down in the heat, but it's also a lot of fun for teens and adults if you use smaller items. Start by filling a kiddie pool with water, and throw in lots of fun toys. Rings and rubber ducks are great for smaller children, quarters and smooth pebbles can create a challenge for bigger kids or adults. Put 60 seconds on the clock and players have to fish out as many of the items as possible from the pool - only with their toes!

Duck, duck, splash!

You probably played the classic kid's game "Duck, Duck, Goose" at least once as a child. This a great water-themed twist that is sure to bring soggy fun to your afternoon! As in the original version, players sit in a circle on the floor/grass. Pick one player to be "it" and give them a cup filled with water. This player must walk around the circle, tapping people on the head and saying "Duck". Rather than saying "Goose" when they reach their chosen player, they tip the cup of water over their head! Then this (very wet) player must chase them around the circle to get back to their seat first.

Ice bowling

This game takes a little more preparation, but it's great fun for kids of all ages to play. You can use shop-bought bowling pins from toy sets to make this easier, or you can make your own with Learn Play Imagine's easy instructions. The bowling balls are just water balloons filled with water and frozen overnight. Set up your pins and keep score, seeing who can manage a strike first!

Roll 6 and splash!

A perfectly easy and fun game for little ones, Roll 6 and Splash is quick to set up and lots of fun to play. All you need is a large shallow pan or tray filled with water and a large foam die. Sit all the children in a circle around the tray and have them take turns to roll the die. If someone rolls a 6 then they can slap their hand into the tray and splash everyone!

Water balloon toss

Water balloons are great things to keep in your cupboard for those unexpected hot summer afternoons. This simple game involves a few plastic bowls and some filled water balloons. Line the bowls up, labeling them with different points if you like, and challenge your kids to throw balloons into them. For extra squeals, you can have the other players stand next to the bowls, or even place them on their heads!

Water balloon pinata

Instead of using water balloons for this game (which are made with thin plastic so that they burst more easily), you're better off using regular balloons. Fill them up with water and hang them from a pole or monkey bars. Give your players a bat or a stick and let them loose on the balloons. The first player to pop the balloon (and get drenched!) is the winner!

Water balloon volleyball

Sticking with our water balloon theme, this game is great for older kids, or for a grown-up picnic activity. It's a good team game, as the players will have to work together to drench the other team. So if you're looking for ways to teach your kids cooperation then this is it! Split into pairs and give each pair a towel and a pile of water balloons. Set up a volleyball or badminton net in the middle of the garden and have the players place the balloons in the towel and launch them over the net at the other team. You're trying to get them wet, but they're trying to catch the balloon in the net. You can score just like tennis, but soggier!

Back-to-back water dash

A great water balloon game for all ages, that will end up with a lot of wet shirts! Back-to-back water balloon dash pits pairs against each other to be the first to get to the end of the race without bursting their balloon! Get the pairs to face away from each other, place a water balloon in between them and have them link arms to hold the balloon in place. They must race other pairs to the finish line without ending up with wet backs!

Super soaker sponge balls

If you're looking for a more natural and eco-friendly take on a perfect summer water fight, then follow these instructions from Natural Beach Living and make your own super soaker sponge balls. You can split into teams and score points for how many hits you get, or just let loose and try to soak everyone!

Water war

As serious as it sounds, but a lot of fun, this game involves a couple of decks of playing cards, 8 half-filled plastic cups, and a large pitcher of water. Lay out the cups and pitcher on the table and a deck of cards in front of each player. At the same time, players will turn over the top card on their deck and whoever gets the highest card dumps a cup over their opponent's head. If one player gets War then they can dump the pitcher over the head of their opponent!

Sponge toss

Looking for quick ways to help your kids cool off? Then this simple sponge toss game is the perfect one to play. You'll need 2 large buckets, one big sponge and some water. Fill both of the buckets with water and place them some distance apart (depending on how far your kids can throw). Get one player to stand by each bucket, dip the sponge in the water and throw it to the person opposite them. Points are knocked off for dropping the sponge!

DIY soaker seat

If you're ready to get your teeth into a bigger project, and you have a bunch of teens who love getting their friends wet then this tutorial for building your very own soaker seat is well worth your time. A substantial workshop project, it'll last more than one summer and your house will be THE place to be every year!

Squirt me now!

Another fun and silly cooperative game here, so it's great for kids who aren't a fan of competition. All you need are blindfolds and squirt bottles. In pairs, blindfold one player and give them a squirt bottle. Spin the blindfolded partner around and tell them to start walking. The other player must give them directions to squirt them in the knees, feet, arms, torso, and head. There will be a lot of laughing with this game!

Colander toss

Looking to get your friends as wet as possible, then this is the best way to do it and have fun at the same time! One player holds a colander over their head while the rest of the team tries to throw water balloons into the colander. Points are awarded for each unburst balloon in the colander at the end of the game.

Balloon and spoon race

Take the traditional egg and spoon race and make it more challenging? Yes please! Water balloons are even more fragile than eggs, and they definitely splash further when they fall on the grass. This can be a great relay race where teams race through a course and back to the beginning, swapping the balloon over onto the next player's spoon. Prepare for splashes!

Water balloon dodgeball

Who doesn't love trying to take the opposing team out at the knees in a harmless game of dodgeball? This version simply swaps the softball for a bunch of water balloons. Mark out a "pitch" with cones or tape. Put as many water balloons as you can fill in a large bowl in the middle of the pitch and let havoc commence!

Wet musical chairs

We love this twist on a children's party classic from our very own list of brilliant water balloon games. Just like the original, line up one fewer chair than there are players. But, before you start the music, place a water balloon on each chair. Now players must choose between getting wet or losing the game!

Towel toss

Another fun outdoor game from our own list towel toss is a little like water balloon volleyball, but instead of your opponent trying to get you wet, you're working together to throw AND catch the balloon with the towel. It's tricky, but staying dry is a pretty good incentive!

Step on

What do you need for this game? Just some lengths of rope and a whole mess of water balloons! Tie a water balloon to the end of a short length of rope, repeat for however many team members you have playing the game. Tie the other end of the rope to each team member's leg and then blow the whistle! The aim is to stand on everyone else's balloons to pop them, and the winner is the last water balloon left standing! As we point out, this is a better idea on grass!

Hot potato

A much more soggy version of pass the parcel, this fun kid's party game is bound to get everyone giggling! Fill a load of water balloons and seat your guests in a circle. Give one person the balloon, start the music and get them to pass it around. When the music stops, whoever has the balloon must hold it above their head and pop it! This is one present you don't want to get!

Water balloon baseball

Is there a single sport that can't be made better by adding in water balloons? I don't think so! Take our very own national treasure - baseball. Sure, it's fun with a normal ball, but why not add into the mix the chance of getting splashed in the face every time you bat? If you do manage to hit the "ball" without getting wet, then normal rules apply (or you can make up your own!).

Squirt gun knock down

Invented for toddlers, to be honest, you can adapt this game for all ages, just by making the targets harder to hit. Build the most elaborate plastic cup tower you can, arm your game players with squirt guns, and see who can knock the most cups down. I bet dad will be the most competitive!

Slip 'n' slide

Why should toddlers have all the fun? Even if you don't have tiny tots to entertain, you can have a lot of laughs with a slip 'n' slide. Set it up in the garden and run competitions on how fast everyone can throw themselves. And if you do have little ones, they'll love seeing how long they can stand up as they slide along it.

Firefighter race

Obviously, it's a good idea to leave actual firefighting to the professionals, but this game is great for non-firefighters too. A tweaked relay game, the aim is pretty simple: use a cup to carry water from a full bucket to an empty bucket on the other side of the garden. The catch? You're running backward and forwards across a slip 'n' slide! You can buy one of these or Kid-Friendly Things To Do show you how to DIY it. You'll want to video camera out for this one!

Water obstacle course

If you've got a little prep time, then obstacle courses are great for occupying kids (and adults) of all ages. They're also great family games night ideas as everyone enjoys seeing their parents and siblings struggle! Meaningful Mama has some great ideas on how to make your own DIY water-based course.

The shark bit my cup

Another spin on a water relay race, this one would fit in well with a children's party themed around sharks, or pirates. Take two small cups and poke a few holes in the bottom of them. Divide the group into two teams, and stand them each by a bucket filled with water. At the other end of the garden is an empty bucket. The team must be the first to fill their bucket, carrying the full cups on top of their head. Prepare for some wet pirates!

Flipper fill up

If you want to make a game even more bonkers, then all you have to do is add some element of dress-up into the mix. Here we have another classic relay game, except this time players have to put on flippers, fill a small bucket from one large bucket of water, and walk to an empty bucket with the small bucket on their heads. Once back with their team, they have to exchange flippers and the bucket with the next player in line. You'll soon find out who is the most coordinated!

Frozen t-shirt race

If you've got a little warning that you're going to be hosting a garden full of warm and bored children (or teens) then you can prepare for this fun and challenging game. Get hold of one t-shirt for each player, completely soak it, squeeze it out and fold it up. Then, putting wax paper between the shirts to make sure you can separate them, put them all in the freezer overnight. When the games begin, give each player a shirt and challenge them to be the first one to unfold it and put it on!

DIY person wash

Backyard Boss certainly lives up to their name with this guide to making your own "person" wash. Great as part of a water obstacle course, or a relay race, this nifty structure will help you cool off your kids, and yourself in no time at all.

Kiddie pool kickball

If one slip 'n' slide isn't enough for you then how do you feel about adding in 3 kiddie pools too? Take your everyday kickball game, place a kiddie pool at each base, and arrange your slip 'n' slide so it leads to home base. Then start the game! You'll want to catch all this on camera for sure!

Water balloon fight

Sure, there are loads of brilliant games that you can set up in your backyard, and we're sure you'll have loads of fun. But, when you get to the end of your list and ours, the best way to finish off a water games session is a simple and old-school water balloon fight! All you need is a large bucket of filled water balloons and some over-excited participants. Enjoy getting drenched!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
33 Fun And Splashy Water Games For The Whole Family

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The sun is shining, the bees are buzzing, and the kids are bouncing off the walls! If you've run out of board games to play and you can't stand another Minecraft discussion then these outdoor water games will save your sanity. We have 33 fun and fabulous water games for kids (or adults!)