Summer Fun Crafts and Free Printables for Kids

Some summer days call for a kitchen-table project. Others call for a few activity pages you can pack for a trip or pull out when everyone needs a break from the heat.

This collection of summer crafts and printables for kids has both. Start with a printable craft template, explore ocean animals, choose a quiet coloring activity, or make a summer snack together. Each link leads to the full project, with instructions or download details.

Printable Summer Crafts for Kids

These summer craft printables give children a starting shape or design while leaving room to choose their own colors and details.

• Cut, color, and build an ice cream craft: Print the free template, decorate the scoops and toppings, then assemble a pretend ice cream treat.
• Free ice cream cone templates: Use a cone outline for coloring, cutting, or an ice cream shop craft.
• Crab handprint paper craft: Trace a child’s hand and use the free template to make an ocean animal.
• Lobster handprint paper craft: Make a lobster with a handprint and printable pieces.
• Narwhal handprint craft: Create a narwhal using a child’s hand shape and the template.
• Handprint jellyfish craft: Turn a traced hand into a cheerful jellyfish.
• Octopus handprint paper craft: Make an octopus for an under-the-sea display.
• Ocean triorama printable: Build a small three-dimensional ocean habitat.

For younger children, print and cut the difficult pieces ahead of time. Older kids can trace, cut, assemble, and add their own details. If you are planning an ocean-themed week, let each child choose a different sea creature and display them together.

Beach and Ocean Printables

Need a quieter activity for a beach trip, summer camp, or a hot afternoon indoors? Keep a few of these pages ready to print.

• Beach-themed worksheets and activities: Find a mix of coloring and learning activities with a beach theme.
• Beach coloring pages: Pick a seaside picture to color.
• Summer word search printables: Try a summer-themed word puzzle.
• Summer symmetry drawing worksheets: Finish summer pictures while practicing observation and drawing.
• Ice cream color by number pages: Use a familiar summer treat for color and number practice.

The worksheets are useful for travel folders, waiting rooms, summer school, and the time just before dinner when children want something to do.

Easy Ocean Animal Crafts

These projects use paper plates, paint, or simple paper shapes. Check each tutorial for its supply list and any included template.

• Starfish paper plate craft: Make a colorful starfish using the free template.
• Paper plate dolphin craft: Create a leaping dolphin for an ocean display.
• Paper plate crab craft: Paint and assemble a bright red crab.
• Paper plate stingray craft: Try another sea animal for your summer craft table.
• Origami shark: Fold a shark from paper.
• Free printable crab template: Use the template as a starting point for your own crab craft.

You can browse many more ideas in our ocean animal crafts for kids collection.

Sunshine, Art, and Garden Projects

Summer crafts do not have to follow a beach theme. Try one of these when kids want to paint, build, or grow something.

• Sun paper plate craft: Make a bright sun for a summer display.
• Easy ocean painting ideas: Paint an ocean-inspired picture.
• Homemade paint activity: Make paint, then use it for a creative afternoon.
• DIY lemon seed starter kit: Plant seeds and check for changes as they grow.
• Plastic bottle greenhouse: Build a small greenhouse for a longer summer science project.

Summer Reading, Camping, and Road Trip Printables

These pages are easy to keep in a folder for days away from home.

• Summer reading log: Track the books your child reads during the break.
• Road trip activities for kids: Print activities before a long drive.
• Camping bingo printable: Take a game along on a camping trip or play during a camping-themed day at home.
• Ice cream party decorations: Print a sign for a summer party.

Planning around a holiday? Browse our Fourth of July crafts, printables, and food ideas.

Summer Sensory Crafts

If your children enjoy mixing and exploring textures, try a slime project with adult supervision.

• Sand slime: Add a beach-inspired texture to slime.
• Blue ocean slime: Make a blue batch for ocean-themed play.

Follow the ingredient amounts and directions on each recipe page. Glue-based slime is for play, not eating. For more choices, visit our slime recipes for kids collection.

Summer Snacks and Treats to Make With Kids

Craft time can lead right into snack time. Here are the food ideas from this summer collection, along with an easy choice for a Fourth of July gathering.

• Watermelon pizza dessert: Decorate watermelon slices for a colorful summer treat.
• Apple turtle snack: Turn fruit into a little sea creature.
• Kool-Aid lollipops: Make a sweet treat in a favorite flavor.
• Kool-Aid pie: Prepare a colorful dessert.
• Fourth of July chocolate-dipped strawberries: Add a patriotic treat to a summer party.

Have children help with age-appropriate steps such as choosing colors, arranging fruit, or decorating. Follow the individual recipe for preparation and food handling.

How to Use This Summer Activity Collection

Choose one printable for a quiet moment and one hands-on project for a day when you have more time. Keep basic supplies such as cardstock, crayons, glue, washable paint, and child-safe scissors together so you can start when the mood strikes.

You do not need to fill every day of summer with an activity. A printable ice cream craft on a rainy morning or an ocean animal project after a beach trip can be enough to give children a fun memory and something they are proud to show you.