6 Kid-Friendly Crafts to Enjoy in Edmonton

6 Kid-Friendly Crafts to Enjoy in Edmonton

Summer in Edmonton is usually a time for outdoor adventures, but when those unexpected rainy or smokey days roll in, it's the perfect opportunity to bring the fun indoors with some creative crafting. Rainy days don't have to mean a break from the summer fun; instead, they offer a chance to get cozy and make something special with your little ones. Here are six kid-friendly crafts that are perfect for families to do together. These activities are easy to set up, use materials you likely already have at home, and that I know first hand my kiddos loved to create!

1. Story Stones

Materials:

• Smooth stones (collected from a walk in your neighborhood or a nearby Edmonton park)

• Acrylic paint or permanent markers

• Paintbrushes

• Clear sealant (optional)

Instructions:

1. On a dry day before the rain, take a walk around your Edmonton neighborhood or one of Edmonton's many parks, like Hawrelak Park or Rundle Park, or any other local park to collect smooth stones.

2. Once inside, let your kids paint or draw symbols, characters, or objects on the stones. They can create Edmonton-themed story elements like the River Valley, animals from the Edmonton Valley Zoo, or even famous landmarks like the High Level Bridge.

3. After the paint dries, use these story stones to create and tell imaginative stories. Each stone can represent a different part of the tale, and your kids can mix and match them to create different story combinations.

4. To preserve the stones, you can seal them with a clear coat, making them a lasting keepsake from your rainy day activity. Collect smooth rocks using non-toxic acrylic paint, let your kids decorate the rocks with designs of Edmonton's skyline, the North Saskatchewan River, or their favorite animals. Once the paint dries, you can place the rocks in your garden, give them as gifts, or even hide them around the city for others to find.

2. Summer Memory Jars

Materials:

• Empty glass jars (like mason jars)

• Sand, small pebbles, or shells (collected from a recent trip or purchased)

• Small trinkets or souvenirs from summer adventures in Edmonton

• Ribbon or twine

• Paper and markers for labeling

Instructions:

1. Collect small items from your recent summer adventures in Edmonton, such as sand from a local playground, pebbles from a hike, or tiny souvenirs from a festival or market.

2. Fill the jars with these items, layering them to create a mini landscape or memory of your summer experiences.

3. Use ribbons or twine to decorate the jar, and label it with the date and location of the memory (e.g., "July 2024, Edmonton River Valley").

4. These memory jars are a wonderful way to capture the essence of your Edmonton summer, and they make for beautiful, personalized decorations in your home.

3. Skyline Silhouette Art

Materials:

• White Paper

• Acrylic or watercolor paint

• Black construction paper

• Glue

• Scissors

Instructions:

1. Using black construction paper, help your kids cut out shapes of iconic Edmonton buildings, like the Muttart Conservatory pyramids or the Alberta Legislature Building.

2. Once the skyline is cut out, have them create a colorful background made of watercolor or crayon art on a blank white paper.

3. Glue the black skyline onto their artwork

4. Paper Plate Rainbows

Materials:

• Paper plates

• Paint or markers

• Cotton balls

• Glue

• Scissors

• String or ribbon (optional for hanging)

Instructions:

1. Start by cutting a paper plate in half to form the base of your rainbow.

2. Let your kids use paint or markers to color the arcs of the rainbow in bright, vivid colors.

3. Once the rainbow is colored, have them glue cotton balls at each end of the rainbow to create fluffy clouds.

4. For an extra touch, you can punch a hole at the top of the rainbow and thread a piece of string or ribbon through it to hang the finished artwork in a window.

5. This craft not only brightens up the day but also helps kids learn about colors and weather patterns!

5. DIY Rain Shakers

Materials:

• Empty paper towel rolls

• Rice, beans, or beads

• Construction paper

• Paint, markers, or stickers

• Glue

• Tape

  
  

Instructions:

1. Start by sealing one end of the paper towel roll with tape.

2. Let your kids fill the roll with rice, beans, or beads—just enough to make a nice rattling sound when shaken.

3. Seal the other end of the roll with tape.

4. Now it’s time to decorate! Let your kids cover the roll with construction paper and decorate it with paint, markers, or stickers.

5. Once complete, they can shake their rain shakers along to music, creating their own indoor summer storm!

6. Edmonton Butterfly Feeders

Materials:

• A small, shallow dish (like a recycled yogurt lid)

• String

• Hole punch

• Brightly colored craft foam or plastic flowers

• Scissors

• Sugar water (mix 1 part sugar with 4 parts water)

Instructions:

1. Punch four evenly spaced holes around the edge of the dish.

2. Cut four pieces of string, each about 12 inches long, and tie them through the holes in the dish.

3. Gather the ends of the strings together and tie them into a knot, creating a hanger for your butterfly feeder.

4. Decorate the dish with brightly colored foam or plastic flowers to attract butterflies—colors like red, yellow, and purple work well.

5. Fill the dish with sugar water and hang it from a tree branch in your backyard, your deck or a park in Edmonton.

6. Watch as butterflies visit your feeder throughout the summer, bringing a touch of nature’s beauty to your home!

Crafting with your kids is a wonderful way to spend quality time together while encouraging creativity and imagination. So gather your supplies, get creative, and enjoy these kid-friendly crafts for Edmonton parents to do with your littles!