If you are looking for space crafts for kids, this guide is designed to help busy parents bring planets, rockets and stars into hands-on creative play. It is easy to save for a rainy afternoon, a school holiday, a party, a family celebration or a moment when everyone needs a fresh idea.
Use the ideas below as a flexible starting point. You can keep things simple, adapt them for different ages, and choose the options that suit your time, space and supplies. The aim is to make family life feel easier, more playful and a little more inspired.
Start with a theme
Space crafts for kids work beautifully when you choose a simple theme first: rockets, planets, aliens, stars, astronauts or the moon. A clear theme helps children focus their ideas.
Use recycled materials
Cardboard tubes, cereal boxes, foil, bottle tops, paper plates and egg cartons are perfect for space crafts. They are easy to decorate and give children permission to build big.
Add a little science
Craft time can gently introduce ideas about planets, gravity, rockets, shadows or the night sky. Keep the facts simple and let the making stay at the centre of the activity.
Display the finished pieces
Hang planets from string, create a bedroom galaxy wall or line up rockets for a launch countdown. Displaying crafts makes children feel proud of the time they spent creating.
Make the Most of the Ideas
The best space crafts for kids are the ones children want to return to. Keep favourite ideas somewhere easy to find, repeat the ones that work, and change the details when your child is ready for a new challenge. If you are planning for a group, prepare one main idea and one quick backup so the pace stays relaxed.
Helpful Setup Tips
- Choose the idea that fits your time and energy today.
- Gather supplies before inviting children to start.
- Keep instructions short and demonstrate the first step when needed.
- Let children adapt the idea so it feels like their own.
- Take a photo or save the result if it is something they are proud of.
If you are looking for activities that will unplug your tweens or are fed up hearing “I’m bored” from your older kids, look no further!
Here are 12 funky crafts for kids aged 8 to 12 years, who are ready to move onto bigger and more complicated crafts.
Quirky Crafts for Kids aged 8-12
As your kids get older, they may be looking for new ideas for crafts, so here are some ideas for crafts for tweens that they can lead by themselves.
While you will still need to be on hand for some aspects of these projects, tweens will love the independence to get creative.
#1. Winter Terrariums
Image: Babble Dabble Doo
These mini terrariums from Babble Dabble Do are a great winter activity. Using pebbles, salt, moss and plastic animals, these terrariums are suited to any age.
You could also equally create a summer version, with sand instead of salt.
#2. Craft Stick Crows
Popsicle stick crafts are always great as they don’t require much in the way of space or materials – if you see packs of sticks, it’s always worth picking some up for a craft session.
How cute are these little craft stick crows from Kids Activities Blog? Using supplies you most likely have in your craft box (or that you can easily find in stores), your child could make their own crows or try parrots, robins or distinctive pink flamingos.
#3. Silhouette Lanterns
Image: Adventure in a Box
Silhouette lanterns can be easily made with jars, spray paint, and a paint marker, and can look very effective.
Adventure in a Box created these spooky Halloween lanterns, but you could tweak your design for other seasons or just whatever takes your fancy!
#4. Egg Carton Wreath
Image: The Crafty Crow
Egg carton wreaths are a great way of crafting from egg cartons that normally end up in your recycling, and would be a fun craft for older kids.
This fall wreath from The Crafty Crow uses different flower styles to create a real showstopper. You could vary the colours and style of the flowers for the differing seasons, and these would be perfect to hang on your child’s bedroom door or as a table centrepiece.
#5. Parachute Cord (Paracord) Bracelets
Image: Frugal Fun
Similar to loom bracelets which were incredibly popular, these paracord bracelets look great, and will appeal to kids, as they can be unravelled to provide a usable length of parachute cord if ever needed!
Frugal Fun gives you a full step-by-step with pictures for creating these particular paracord bracelets.
#6. Make a Mini Minion
Minions will always be popular and these cute little guys will also allow your kids to get some sewing experience.
Busy Kids Happy Mom gives a great tutorial to get your started with sewing your own little minion.
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Get creative, make a (little) mess and produce some fantastic mini masterpieces with these engaging ideas for 50 fun art & crafts for kids!
#7. Cosmic Sun-Catchers
Image: Babble Dabble Do
Let the colours flow with these fun cosmic sun-catchers from Babble Dabble Do! If your kids are learning about the environment, they will love that these are made from recycled materials, and are super quick to make.
#8. Folded Paper Bracelets
Image: Picklebums
These folded paper bracelets are a neat way to upcycle your artwork. Use old paintings, even scrap art, to make a bespoke bracelet. It’s such a great way of repurposing all the treasured artwork pinned to the fridge or stacked in piles. Don’t panic if you don’t have artwork to spare, different coloured craft paper is just as good.
Picklebums has step-by-step instructions to make this fun bracelet idea – you could even go big and make a crown!
#9. Glue Batik T-Shirt
Image: Kid World Citizen
Originally from Indonesia, Batik is usually made by using wax to create a design on textiles, then dye the cloth, which resists the wax. Batik has symbolic meanings in its colours and designs, and people use the craft to express themselves.
Kid World Citizen shows how kids can discover their inner designer with these batik t-shirt designs using craft glue in place of wax.
#10. Make a Vehicle
This rubber band powered car from Inspiration Laboratories will appeal to your young engineers, and apart from the rubber bands, you will probably have most of the materials lying about the house already.
#11. Star Wars Tin Can Lanterns
These Star Wars tin can lanterns from Frugal Fun would be simple for older kids to make, and look great.
Not a Star Wars fan? No problem! Any pattern or design can be created – just draw what you want, and then use hammer and nails to create the design and bring your look to life!
#12. Pipe Cleaner Hearts
Make these super cute pipe cleaner hearts – such a nice, simple craft for your teen. Here’s a how to video, you can either use regular or glittering pipe cleaners, or use glitter glue for extra sparkle.
FAQ Section
What are the best space crafts for kids for families?
The best space crafts for kids are simple to start, flexible for different ages and enjoyable enough that children want to keep going. Choose ideas that match your child's interests, the time you have available and the space you can use comfortably.
What age group is this space crafts for kids guide best for?
This space crafts for kids guide is useful for families with children who enjoy practical, creative or playful ideas. Many options can be adapted for younger children with help or made more challenging for older children.
How can parents make space crafts for kids easier to use at home?
Parents can make space crafts for kids easier by preparing supplies in advance, keeping instructions short and choosing one idea at a time. It also helps to have a quick backup activity ready in case the first idea finishes faster than expected.
What should families prepare before trying space crafts for kids?
Before trying space crafts for kids, prepare a clear space, any simple materials you need and a rough idea of how long the activity should last. For groups or parties, it is worth setting rules or expectations before everyone begins.
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- Things To Do Hub
- Crafts & Creative Play collection
- Evergreen family activities
- All/Parents ideas
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