Ten craft afternoons for kids that don't need a trip to the shop

Kids' crafts don't need kits. A recycling bin, some glue and a bit of adult patience go a long way.

Ages 3–5

1. Salt dough decorations. 2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, 1 cup water. Cut shapes, poke a hole, bake low for 2 hours, paint.
2. Cardboard tube animals. Kitchen roll tubes, paint, googly eyes made from paper circles.
3. Nature crowns. A strip of card with double-sided tape; go outside and stick leaves and petals on.
4. Paper plate masks with elastic and whatever's in the craft drawer.

Ages 6–8

1. Cereal box marble run taped to the back of a door.
2. Woven paper placemats with two colours of strips.
3. Egg carton caterpillars with pipe cleaner antennae.
4. Milk bottle bird feeder: cut windows, add perches, hang with string.

Ages 9+

1. Tin can lanterns: fill with water, freeze, punch a pattern with a nail, add a tea light. Adult on the hammer.
2. Finger knitting with chunky yarn, then a ten-minute scarf for a soft toy.

Setup tips

• A cheap plastic tablecloth and a tray per child contain the chaos.
• Put everything out before you call them.
• Let them make it wrong. The point is the afternoon, not the object.

Post what they made, with their permission, and tag the age.

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