The long, dreamy days of summer are a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of the school year. It’s a time to rest, recuperate, and have fun in the great outdoors!
Summer can also be a wonderful opportunity to bring simple handwork projects that are outside of your usual school year curriculum. It is an opportunity to work with a wider variety of materials creating a more diverse tactile and creative experience.
Whether you are looking to reinforce handwork skills with your own children at home, seeking the perfect birthday party activity, or brainstorming projects for summer camp, we have a great list of ideas to share that will engage your children in handwork fun all summer long!
Kite-Making
Is there anything better than the freedom and joy we feel when flying a kite? Maybe only when we have built the kite with our own 2 hands! A simple diamond kite can be made with dowels and scraps of rip-stop nylon fabric. Add on tails for balance in flight with surveyor tape or flagging tape from the hardware store. This project reinforces sewing skills, measurement, and balance. With middle school or high school students you can dive into the science behind wind and thermodynamics. In our experience, diamond kites are the perfect choice for kite-making with children. They are simple to stitch up and almost guaranteed to fly even in the mildest breeze.
Leatherwork
Children love leatherwork. It is a very different tactile experience from the soft yarns and fibers we use in handwork during the school year. Leatherwork strengthens muscles in our hands and fingers, as we SQUEEZE the hole punch to lay a path for our stitches. And there are so many options for children to create their own patterns and designs. Leather balls can be made from 4 simple ovals. Leather pouches and arm guards for archery can be freely designed. By punching some extra holes children can create beautiful embroidery designs on their leather. The options are endless!
Whittling
Whittling gives children a great sense of confidence and agency. A child who knows they are trusted with a special tool (with adult supervision) can let their imagination and creativity flow! There are many safety options for beginners such as whittling peelers, safety gloves, and of course, rules to follow while being supervised. What a great way to work creatively with our hands while spending time in nature.
Nature Mandalas
Creating nature mandalas is a fantastic way to delve into artistic expression, practice mindfulness, and enjoy the outdoors. These fleeting artworks are crafted from gathered natural materials, forming beautiful temporary installations. Beyond being a fun art project, nature mandalas offer an educational experience. Children will delight in searching for specific items, much like a scavenger hunt, and their innate curiosity will foster learning. Enjoy answering their questions and observing what they uncover as they explore nature. Nature mandalas reinforce geometry, color, and design work, and a sense of beauty in all that surrounds us.
We would love to hear from you. Share your favorite summertime handwork projects in the comments below!
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