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General
Cooking & Baking
Crafts
for Host Families
for Au Pairs
Health & Beauty
General
Cooking & Baking
Crafts
for Host Families
for Au Pairs
Health & Beauty

Easy Summer Craft Ideas for Kids

Turning ordinary days into creative moments, you will both remember

When summer holidays begin in Germany, something shifts in the rhythm of daily life. Mornings slow down, routines loosen, and suddenly there is more time than usual. For Au Pairs and parents, this often brings a quiet question that returns again and again: What should we do today?

It does not take long before children grow restless. The novelty of free time fades, and the search for something meaningful begins. Not something complicated, not something expensive, but something that feels engaging, creative, and shared.

The truth is, the best moments rarely come from elaborate plans. They come from simple activities, done together, where imagination has space to grow. Over time, we have found that a few thoughtful craft ideas can transform an ordinary afternoon into something children truly remember.

Here are three ideas that do exactly that.

1) Painting Stones

It usually begins outside. A walk by the river, a path through the park, or even just a quiet corner of the neighborhood. Children rarely need encouragement to start collecting stones. They pick them up instinctively, comparing shapes, sizes, and textures, holding onto the ones that feel “special.” At that moment, you are not just collecting stones. You are already beginning the activity.

Back at home, the transformation begins. What was once just a handful of stones becomes a canvas. Some children paint animals, others create patterns, and some simply enjoy covering the surface in color. There is no right or wrong, and that is part of the beauty. One of the most exciting variations is creating glow-in-the-dark monster rocks. During the day, they are playful and colorful. At night, they quietly glow, turning a simple craft into something almost magical.

Materials

Clean, dry stones

Acrylic paint in various colors

Glow-in-the-dark paint

Paintbrushes

Black marker or fine liner

Optional white base paint

Steps

Start by washing the stones and letting them dry completely. If they are dark, applying a white base coat helps the colors stand out later.

Once dry, paint the stones in any design you like. Let the paint dry, then add a second layer if needed.

Next comes the part children love most. Using glow-in-the-dark paint, add eyes, teeth, or playful patterns. Let the stones rest on a flat surface so the paint can dry properly.

After everything is fully dry, use a black marker to add details. Small touches like outlines or pupils bring the characters to life.

When evening comes, place the stones under the light, then turn off the lights and watch them glow. It is a small moment, but one that often feels surprisingly special.

2) Decorating Tin Cans

In many homes, tin cans are simply thrown away without a second thought. But for children, they are something else entirely. A shape to explore, a surface to transform, a starting point for imagination.

There is something deeply satisfying about turning something ordinary into something unexpected. A simple can can become a robot, a container, a game, or even a small piece of decoration.

Often, children approach this activity with a mindset adults sometimes forget: nothing has to be perfect. It just has to be fun.

Materials

Empty tin cans (cleaned and labels removed)

Magnets

Glue gun and glue sticks

Craft materials like buttons, beads, pipe cleaners

Small metal parts like nuts and bolts

Steps

Begin by preparing the cans. Remove labels, clean them thoroughly, and make sure there are no sharp edges.

Lay out all materials and let children explore. This stage is important. It allows them to imagine before creating.

Start assembling different elements. Metal parts can be attached using magnets, while other materials can be glued on. If using a glue gun, make sure an adult is present to help.

Once the pieces are ready, attach them to the cans. Faces, patterns, or abstract designs all work.

The best part is that nothing is permanent. Children can rearrange their designs again and again, creating something new each time.

Later, these cans often take on a second role. They become targets for games, small storage containers, or even handmade plant pots placed by a window.

 

3) Making Wind Chimes

Some crafts end when the activity is over. Others stay. Wind chimes belong to the second kind. They are not just something children make. They are something they keep, something that moves, makes sound, and reminds them of the moment they created it. This makes them especially meaningful.

Materials

Jumbo craft sticks

Glue (tacky glue or hot glue)

Jewelry wire or fishing line

Beads in different colors

Larger beads

Crimp beads

Scissors and pliers

Steps

Start by creating the structure. Glue the craft sticks into two triangles, then layer them to form a star shape.

Cut several lengths of wire. On each strand, secure a crimp bead at the end, then begin threading smaller beads in patterns. Add a larger bead along the way and at the bottom.

Attach three strands to the star structure so they hang evenly.

Use the fourth strand to connect everything through the center, bringing the structure together.

Adjust the lengths carefully so the wind chime hangs balanced. Secure the top, then find a place to hang it.

The first time it moves in the breeze, producing a soft sound, children often pause. There is a quiet sense of pride in seeing something they created become part of their environment.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, these activities are not really about stones, cans, or beads. They are about time. Time spent together. Time without pressure. Time where children can explore, create, and simply be present.

For Au Pairs, these moments are where connection happens naturally. Not through structured routines, but through shared experiences that feel genuine. You may not remember every craft. But the feeling of those afternoons, the laughter, the small achievements, those stay. And often, that is exactly what children carry with them long after summer ends.

Want to become an Au Pair in Germany?

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•  Support you through documents, interviews, and cultural preparation

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