10 Fun and Educational DIY Projects for Kids

While they are at home, it can be challenging to keep the kids entertained at all times while also providing educational benefits. Work, chores, and other adult responsibilities can get between you and quality time with your children. That is why it is beneficial to have some fun and educational activities in your back pocket to keep them happy and engaged throughout the day.

In this article, we will provide you with a range of DIY projects that are suitable for kids of all ages. Some may require more supervision than others, but they all focus on developing a range of skills, from critical thinking to fine motor skills. So, keep the kids occupied and their brains active with the following 10 DIY activities.

1. Homemade Volcano

Starting off with a classic science project, DIY volcanoes are an activity no kid can resist. Additionally, the experiment can be performed with basic household items, meaning that you can set up this experiment with ease.

Using vinegar, baking soda, and a couple of other household supplies, kids can enjoy the sight of a mini volcanic eruption. They can also learn basic chemical reactions during this project, creating the foundation for future discussions around geology and natural phenomena.

The sight of a volcanic eruption is also a perfect occasion to prompt dramatic play as well. Create a make believe scenario of saving a city from the eruption and make your child the hero! Alternatively, they can come up with their own ideas you can support and explore as well.

Materials Needed:

• Baking soda
• Vinegar
• Dish soap
• Red food colouring (optional) to colour the chemical reaction like lava
• A small bottle or container to hold the reaction in
• Playdough or clay to form the volcano

2. DIY Bird Feeder

Bring education outdoors by building a simple bird feeder with household materials and natural resources. This project is an excellent method of introducing your children to the great outdoors, its wildlife and the importance of caring for them.

Once a feeder has been created, encourage your little ones to regularly watch the area to spot any visitors. This provides another series of great learning opportunities as different bird species are identified and observed. Your child may even gain a passion for birding, a hobby that can expand their wildlife knowledge and keep them entertained on quieter days.

Materials Needed:

• Pine cone or a recycled plastic bottle
• Peanut butter
• Birdseed
• String

3. Solar Oven

Allow your kids to discover the fundamentals of renewable energy and heat through a solar oven project. Your little ones are sure to be delighted by the fact they can create a functional oven to cook their favourite foods with. So, give them the chance to use the sun’s energy to cook some delightful treats with a solar oven.

Materials Needed:

• Pizza box
• Aluminium foil
• Plastic wrap
• Black construction paper
• Tape and glue

4. Paper Mache Globe

Make exploring the world’s geography a fun pastime by helping your kids to make their own paper mache globe. This fun art project requires barely any materials to create a globe as large or small as desired. After which, the whole family can sit down to help paint and label the countries of the world.

Additionally, once your child learns how to effectively paper mache, they can utilise this skill to create their own projects in the future.

Materials Needed:

• Balloon
• Newspaper
• Flour and water (for the paste)
• Paints and brushes

5. Homemade Playdough

Nothing encapsulates the joy of childhood play than playdough. This classic and fun item can be made from scratch by kids with some simple items like flour, salt, and water. The process of making homemade playdough can grant kids the chance to understand measurements and how ingredients can combine together to make new substances.

With their choice of food colouring, your kids are sure to have fun making a range of colourful construction materials. From which, hours of entertainment and creation is guaranteed as they build whatever their imagination comes up with.

Materials Needed:

• Flour
• Salt
• Water
• Cream of tartar
• Food coloring

6. String Art

Expand your childrens’ fine motor skills and allow them to explore geometric shapes with string art. Help your little one hammer in some nails to a wooden board and set them loose with some colourful string. They can spend hours making their own beautiful designs by combining string colours and wrapping them into unique patterns.

Materials Needed:

• Wooden board
• Nails
• Hammer
• Colourful string or yarn

7. Balloon-Powered Car

Let the races begin with the creation of a balloon-powered car. Using the basics principles of physics and engineering, kids can transform bottlecaps and balloons into their own race car.

You can even use the leftover balloons in various other balloon popping activities. This will also have the added benefit of teaching kids how to recycle and make the most of what they have on hand. This adaptability and ingenuity can be used in various other areas of their daily life.

Materials Needed:

• Straws
• Balloons
• Bottle caps
• Tape and glue
• Cardboard or plastic for the body

8. Salt Dough Ornaments

Let your little ones add to the home’s interior decor by guiding them through how to make salt dough ornaments. This activity is particularly perfect for holidays and special occasions to add to festivities or to offer as gifts.

Once salt, flour and water have been mixed into a dough, they can be shaped and baked into any design. Allow their imagination to run wild with this DIY project.

Materials Needed:

• Flour
• Salt
• Water
• Paints and brushes

9. Crystal Growing Experiment

Introduce kids to chemical solutions and the magic of crystal formations with this growing experiment. They can even choose what shape and colour the crystals grow as with the use of water, borax and pipe cleaners.

Materials Needed:

• Borax
• Water
• Pipe cleaners
• Glass jars

10. Homemade Kaleidoscope

Dazzle little ones with the brilliant display of a homemade kaleidoscope. The fundamentals of light and symmetry can be explained and explored through shiny papers and fun, colourful beads. Allow them to make their own dazzling patterns through some basic supplies.

Materials Needed:

• Cardboard tube
• Reflective paper or mirrors
• Transparent plastic
• Beads or sequins

Make DIY Fun & Educational With Ease

Entertaining and educating your kids has never been easier with these ten DIY projects. Successfully blending together fun and fundamental science facts, these projects provide hands-on learning experiences.

Encourage ingenuity and creativity alike by gathering up some basic supplies and starting your DIY journey together. Joy waits for no one!