Spring Craft Ideas for Kids

When sprucing up your outdoor space in the spring, include the kids by giving them useful craft projects. They will have fun, and you can proudly display their completed works of art in the yard. People used to laugh at me as I used the shed to show off Chloe’s artwork when she was young. It was better than having it on the fridge or anywhere else in the kitchen! Here we have a round-up of Spring Craft Ideas.

Cover your picnic table and the ground area around it with plastic cloths so the kids can work on their creations in the fresh air and sunshine.

Birdbath

Even if you already have a conventional birdbath, this decorated version will be a happy addition to your garden or flowering border.

Materials needed:

    Large clay pot and saucer
    Acrylic paint in multi colors
    Art brushes of various sizes
    Acrylic sealer

Let the kids paint the pot and saucer with spring flowers, geometric patterns, small bug, and animal pictures or any design their artistic flair dictates. When the paint dries, apply sealer. Position the saucer on top of the inverted pot and you have a colorful little birdbath.

While you have the paints handy, have the children express their artistic nature on a watering can, stepping stones, or small clay pots. A child’s handprint applied in paint to a clay pot is a nice piece of memorabilia.

Outdoor plant stand

Materials needed: Outdoor paint (your colour choice) 3 foot or 6 foot unfinished wood stepladder Small and medium paint brushes Stencils (if desired)

Allow the children to paint the wooden ladder in a bright color to coordinate with your patio or deck furniture. Stenciling flower designs down the sides, or on each rung, is an option of personal choice. When the temperature is right for bringing indoor plants outside, position a pot on each rung of the ladder for a charming and convenient outdoor plant stand. The plants are grouped together and can be watered all at once, with a gentle spray from the hose.

Windsock

Materials needed: Plain paper bag Rolls of crepe paper Yarn Elmer's glue stick Crayons or markers stapler

Cut the bottom off a paper bag. Let the child decorate the bag with crayons, markers, cut-out pictures from magazines, stickers, sequins. Tie yarn to opposite ends of the top to create a handle. Staple 2 foot lengths of crepe paper around the bottom edge and hang where it will catch a breeze.

Bird feeder

Materials needed:

At least one eager child
    Peanut butter
    String
    Large pine cones
    Birdseed

Have the child fill a paper plate with birdseed. Let him smear peanut butter all over a large pinecone, after attaching 2 feet of string to the top. Roll the pine cone in birdseed and hang from a tree branch, out of reach of squirrels. Watch the birds flock to feast on your youngster’s handiwork.

When spring rains force the children indoors, here is a useful project that will entertain them for hours:

Spring bookmarks

Materials needed: Old magazines Child-safe scissors Elmer's glue stick Construction paper ( cut in 3x8 rectangles) Fine felt tip pen (black)

The child can cut out pictures of flowers, bugs, insects or small critters and affix them to the top of the construction paper rectangles with a glue stick. You can write a clever saying to coordinate with their picture on the space below, such as: “Don’t lose my place.” or “Don’t bug me, I’m reading.” Let the child autograph the back of the bookmark. These make lovely Mother’s Day, Father’s day or grandparent gifts. The child will also enjoy using his own custom bookmarks when he is reading a favorite book.

Crafts are fun for children, and enable them to express their creativity. If the craft created is also useful, the time spent will be all the more valuable and the child will be filled with a sense of pride in his accomplishment.

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