Sending your kids to summer camp is not cheap and if you're like me, you need budget-friendly ways to keep your kids from begging you for more screen-time.
Because if they ask one more time, you might just give in.
But there is an alternative!
Designing and facilitating your own summer camp might seem like a chore you don't want to take on, but my kids and I spend many summers on our own and I learned that all you really need is to have one special activity planned for each day.
The activities in this 5 Day DIY Art and Design Summer Camp are simple enough even for parents with no formal art experience. All you need is a few (very inexpensive) supplies (you probably already have most of them!) and some creativity.
And you know what, your kids don't even have to be "into" art. Neither of my boys really are and yet they enjoyed every one of these art and design activities!
MORE DIY SUMMER CAMPS:
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NOTE ON AGE RANGES: For each day I've included a suggestion for under 5s and 5 and up. However, this is not set in stone! Look over both ideas and decide which one your kids will like to do, or try both!
Day 1: Side by Side
The first day is a great day to create art side by side with your kids. You don't have to spend every day of art summer camp on the same art project as your kids but it's a nice way to begin.
It's also time to break out a brand spanking new art journal. Our favorite, which I've written about many, many times is this one here. I can't recommend it strongly enough.
Tandem drawing was one of the first ways I drew (pun) my reluctant artist son into creating art with me and Zentangle inspired drawings make for a calming afternoon activity.
- Under 5s: Tandem drawing
- 5 and up: Zentangle inspired drawings
MORE: Creative Art Journaling With Kids
Day 2: Math Art
Math and art are a dynamic duo and on day 2, kids will explore very simple ways the disciplines can intersect. Young kids can explore relative size with tape art, creating patterns or (more likely) chaos with strips of tape. Older kids will have a great time making tessellation patterns.
- Under 5s: Tape art
- 5 and up: Tessellations
MORE: 21 Math Art Projects
Day 3: Smoosh!
Smooshing is the name of the art game for day 3. Who doesn't love a little rebellion by pressing and smooshing to create swirly designs?
- Under 5s: Symmetry art, which also plays on day 2's math art theme!
- 5 and up: Make marbled paper with shaving cream
MORE: 10 Active Art Projects
Day 4: Science
Go old school with these two art projects which combine science learning with art and design. Young artists will learn about absorption, color mixing, and the science of persistence of vision.
- Under 5s: Coffee filter art
- 5 and up: Thaumatropes
MORE: Science Art Projects
Day 5: Big Paper
Our favorite art supply, other than a blank art journal, is hands-down, a big giant roll of paper. You will be amazed at how much you use it!
Under 5s: Body Tracing. Make a life sized self-portrait! Color it any way you want, or draw train tracks all over it like my son did!
5 and up: Giant Comic Strip. Sure, writing and drawing comic strips is fun, but for a giant comic strip you'll need to draw upon (pun) a whopping amount of creativity!
MORE: Art Projects for a Big Roll of Paper
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