Crafts for Kids: Get Campy with Vintage Throwback Activities

Jun 11

“School’s Out for Summer” is a nationwide cheer heard loud and clear from throngs of jubilant children everywhere as they empty out their binders, toss their spiral notebooks, and shove their backpacks into the deepest depths of their closets on the last day of school. But this celebratory moment can also be associated with a deafening silence as parents of the younger student body hold their breath, stare at their little ones faces and try to determine exactly what they’re going to do with these energetic little creatures for the next couple of months.

Stress Free Summer Vibes Only

The relief of wrapping up a school year can bring so much joy as the prospect of not setting an alarm, not packing a lunch, and not checking homework sets the tone for the more whimsical days of summer break. BUT the definitive endcap to the routine of the last nine months can also bring with it a new set of seasonal stresses. The days can linger on seemingly forever when kids abruptly lose the structure that has dictated their day-to-day lives. With so many lacking the option of partaking in costly camps or making best friends with a kid who has a pool, the burning question of “what’s a kid to do?” takes over like a heatwave. But instead of sweating out a detailed plan, commit to keeping it simple. Let them play.

Good Cheap Fun

Parents went above and beyond last year in the throes of the pandemic, coming up with new and creative ideas at the onset of every new day as they attempted to keep their kids entertained, enriched, and most importantly, distracted. They googled activities, scoured Pinterest, and spent the rainy day jar on Amazon. But this summer, families may feel overwhelmed at the thought of trying to top their 2020 superhero moves. And they shouldn’t. This summer, as things continue to relax, so too should the parents. All they really need to do is throw on their 80’s thinking caps and dive deep into the incredibly basic but wildly satisfying treasure trove of activities from so many decades ago that they used to enjoy back when most of them were kids themselves. This summer, commit to the simplest pleasures and get your chill on with this cool, flash-way-back Friday list of ideas.

5 Fun and Inexpensive Summer Kids Activities and Crafts

1. Friendship Pins

These trophies of popularity were worn proudly on the shoelaces of every shoe. Made of pins and beads, they spanned the rainbow in color and were the must have accessory on your K-Swiss kicks. Recreate in old-school fashion or sub in paperclips and felt pom poms for the littler set.

2. Gimp

Plastic woven lanyards for the latchkey kids and more, these colorful tassels kept little hands busy for endless hours and were so much more than a keychain. These can decorate anything from your wrist to your suitcase zipper giving kiddos a little custom flare.

3. Origami

You didn’t need an instructional booklet and fancy paper to fashion folded cranes and 3-D cubes. You just needed the pages from last week’s TV Guide and a idea to create these no-cost tchotchkes.

4. Toilet Paper Flowers

This might have been frowned upon in 2020, but now that fears of toilet paper shortages have been wiped away, you can safely spare a few squares and let the kids make these homemade floral designs. Don’t forget to spritz with perfume when done!

5. Run Through a Sprinkler

So this is not a craft, but who cares. Never forget how wonderfully muddy and refreshing this activity was on any given day of the summer. Bring the family dog along and water the lawn with this ultimate summer shenanigan.

Summercraftskidsbeads

Lyndsay Camins

Lyndsay Camins is a freelance writer based in sunny Southern California. Mother to two humans and one furball, she is an avid cook, complete workout-aholic, and self-described arm candy to her equal parts loving and patient husband. A former force in the fashion industry, Lyndsay switched gears in her middle life to pursue a career in writing so that her 3am notebook scribbles might have an opportunity to be shared with the world. She will write for anyone, anywhere, at anytime for the sake and true love of the written word.