We love camp crafts, yes we do! We love camp crafts, how ‘bout you? WTP is bringing you a throwback summer with our top five favorite camp crafts for preschoolers.
Did you grow up going to camp? I went to camp every summer. They are some of my best memories; bug bites, swimming pools, campfire songs, and…. CAMP CRAFTS! Craft activities utilize and develop so many different skills: fine motor, visual motor, bimanual skills, motor planning, direction following and sequencing, vocabulary building, tactile processing, tool use, etc. We love watching those focused faces while kiddos are in process and the shared joy of a beautiful and fun product!
1. Make Your Own Lanterns
These lanterns are super simple and turn out so beautiful! You can use a glass jar or a plastic container, such as a water bottle with the top cut off to make an opening. For younger kiddos, pre-cut strips or shapes from different colors of tissue paper (we made hearts). Older kiddos can cut or tear tissue paper with supervision. WTP insider tip: use a little dish and a spreader, such as a Q-tip, for dipping and dabbing glue onto surfaces. Q-tips are a great size if working on a more refined grasp, but a small paint brush also works for younger kids. Once your jar is dry, just put in a battery operated tea light for safety (I found a 2 pack at the dollar store – score!) and ENJOY!
2. Soothing Rain Bottles
Rainsticks make the best soothing noise! For our kid friendly version, all you need is a water bottle, straws for cutting, and dry rice! Straws are great early practice for cutting because they just take one big SNIP! Warning: they may go flying when snipping, so help your little to hold on tight. Fill your bottle about half way up with straws and then use a small cup or funnel to pour in dry rice. We used some fun foam stickers to decorate. If you are worried about your little opening up the bottle and making a mess, you can glue or tape the lid shut when you are done!
Did you know that rainsticks were traditionally made with cacti that were dried in the sun and then pebbles or other small objects were placed inside and the ends were sealed? When the instruments were tipped, they would make the sound of falling water. It is believed that rainsticks were first used by the Mapuches in what is modern day Chile and Argentina, to call thunderstorms. Similar instruments can be also found in Southeast Asia, Australia, and Africa, where they are often made of bamboo.
3. DIY Projector with Flashlight
We love any opportunity to reuse and utilize household items. This flashlight craft requires: toilet paper rolls, cling wrap, rubberbands, foam stickers, and of course, a small flashlight! Tear a small piece of cling wrap and place over one end of the toilet paper roll, minding the sharp edge. Have your kiddo assist with pulling the rubber band to place over and secure the cling wrap. Place a foam sticker (animals are great!) in the middle of the cling wrap. Use your flashlight to shine through and project the sticker shape onto the wall. There are so many great opportunities for play with this activity; kiddos can put on a live “flashlight show” where they can create and act out their own scenes as the character their flashlight projects onto the wall, or they can play flashlight tag!
4. Wine Cork Fireworks
Wine Cork Fireworks: No summer craft series is complete without some fireworks! There are so many fun ways to make fireworks and celebrate all things red, white, and blue. This activity has tons of graded control for little hands and bilateral coordination. We used rainbow loom rubber bands (but any will do) to wrap around wine corks to add some texture. Then we placed some paper into a large bowl with some drops of paint. Kids can work independently to roll the corks through the paint by tipping the bowl or they can work as a team with another kiddo for some communication practice and team building!
5. Coffee Can Ice Cream
Did you know you can make homemade ice cream with coffee cans!? This is the perfect summer all-star activity because it not only involves developmental skills in all of “Walk, Talk, Play” domains, but you also get yummy, delicious ice cream at the end!
Click the title or picture for the recipe!
Perform activities recommended by Walk, Talk, Play at your own risk with appropriate adult supervision provided. Walk, Talk, Play is not responsible for any injury caused while performing these play activities.
