3 DIY Projects to Keep Kids Entertained this Summer

Summer is finally here! Now that school is out for the next few months, parents everywhere will be looking for activities to entertain their kids at home. If this sounds familiar, don’t worry “”  Goodwill is here to help you keep your kids occupied and avoid the dreaded phrase: ” I’m bored!”

Kick off the summer fun and keep your children busy with these easy, affordable craft projects using supplies from Goodwill:

Grey and white t-shirts from Goodwill

Kid-Friendly Tie-Dye

The idea of tie-dying with kids may sound difficult and messy, but we have tips to make it an enjoyable experience for all! Start by picking up your supplies, including the clothing you want to tie-dye. Goodwill is the perfect place to shop for affordable, plain white t-shirts in sizes for the entire family. You’ll want to look for 100% cotton shirts to create the best result.

Next, you’ll need rubber bands, a spray bottle filled with water, and a tie-dying kit, which you can find at a craft store or online. Wet the t-shirts with water, then twist them into sections and secure them with the rubber bands. (For this next step, be sure to take all the supplies outside and put on rubber gloves to prevent a big mess!) Apply different colors of dye to the sections of t-shirts and place each shirt in its own sealable plastic bag. After 24 hours, take the shirts out of the bags and rinse them in cold water to remove excess dye. Remove the rubber bands and then wash and dry the t-shirts separately to make sure the dye sets in. Your kids are sure to love showing off their wearable art all summer long!

Sensory ” Sandbox”

Sensory play is any type of activity that engages our senses. It’s a great way to help young kids with brain and language development, problem-solving, and fine motor skills. It can also help calm children who are anxious or frustrated!

One way to bring sensory play into your home is by creating a DIY sensory bin or box. This is simply a container filled with an assortment of items that stimulate the senses. Head to your local Ohio Valley Goodwill store to stock up on sensory bin supplies, such as:

• Large plastic tubs or bins. If you don’t have room for a large bin, you could also use small containers or plastic bowls!
• ” Filler” “”  small decorative rocks, marbles, buttons, or beads. (Choose sizes that are age-appropriate for your child to play with to prevent choking hazards.)
• ” Scoops” “”  spoons, plastic cups and jars, measuring cups, or sifters
• Small toys such as plastic animals, bouncy balls, or action figures

Glass jars from Goodwill

Once you have your supplies, fill the container with the ” filler” items. You could also incorporate materials from around your home, such as sand, packing peanuts, dry pasta or beans, birdseed, or even water! Add the small toys and let your kids play with their hands or the ” scoops” to engage their senses.  

DIY Chalkboard or Dry Erase Board

Chalkboards and dry erase boards can provide hours of entertainment for your kids, from road trip games (think tic-tac-toe or charades) to drawing and even handwriting and spelling practice! Did you know that you can make a custom chalkboard or dry erase board using Goodwill finds?

Head to your local Ohio Valley Goodwill store and pick up a few gently-used glass photo frames. We have a variety of shapes and sizes to choose from! Take your frames home and remove the glass panel. You can also paint the frame a new color if you like.

Frames from Goodwill

If you’re making a chalkboard, first clean the glass, then use chalkboard paint to paint the glass panel. Let it dry before reassembling the frame and drawing with chalk!

If you’re making a dry erase board, clean the glass thoroughly, then paint the backside of the glass with acrylic paint. You can choose a plain background or make an abstract design. Once the paint is dry, you can reassemble the frame and write on the outside (the non-painted side) with dry-erase markers!

Keep Summer Boredom at Bay with Goodwill!

When you shop at Goodwill this summer, you can save money, keep your kids busy, and help others in your community all at the same time!

Shopping at Goodwill is a way to ” pay it forward,” because your purchases help provide valuable job skills training and employment services to individuals with disabilities and veterans right here in Cincinnati. That’s an incredible feeling!

Gear up for a great summer by stopping by any of Ohio Valley Goodwill’s 19 retail store locations. Plan your shopping trip today!