I like easy crafts. It may be because I’m lazy but it’s also because I don’t like cleaning big messes. But of course, kids love messes! I would never stop them from expressing themselves, except for maybe if they’re trying to color on the walls. So I came up with a list of mess free kids activities to keep your kids busy and happy while also keeping your sanity in place.
10 Mess Free Activities for Kids
Everything here is super easy to put together and even easier to clean up!
1. Paint in a Bag
Add paint to a zip-lock bag and tape to the wall. Kids fingers, and the wall, will stay clean, plus it’s squishy and fun.
2. Painters Tape Tracks.
Make a track for your cars, a pathway or something else. And clean-up is fun because your kids can peel off the tape when they’re done. It’s a great activity for hand eye coordination as well.
3. Washable Markers on Windows.
Let the kids draw a picture or make scribbles on your glass windows. The clean up is easy, all you need is a wet paper towel. If you’re feeling generous and don’t mind the mess let them paint the windows!
4. Water bottle shakers
Make water bottle shakers with dried pasta or rice. Kids can use their fine motor skills to fill the bottles. Add food coloring for extra fun. Tape the top and you’ve got an easy musical instrument.
5. Necklaces and Bracelets.
All you need is beads, cereal or macaroni. Then your kids can thread them on pipe cleaner or a piece of string.
6. Stickers.
You don’t even need an explanation for this one! There’s sticker books, sticker collection, a sticker for every season! I haven’t meant a kid that doesn’t love stickers.
7. Sugar or Salt Writing.
Cover a cookie sheet or plate with sugar or salt. Kids can use their fingers to draw. It’s a great way to kids to practice their letters, numbers and shapes. You just give the tray a shake and when they’re done you just throw away the salt or sugar. For an even easier clean up, put the sugar or salt in a sandwich bag instead.
8. Scavenger Hunt.
You can make this as simple or hard as you want. Find a blue sock or find something with a sphere shape. We made this free outdoor scavenger hunt printable and stay tuned for our free indoor scavenger hunt printable too!
9. Color an Empty Box.
Last Halloween we decorated a box and used it for our extra Halloween toys and dress up clothes. It was an easy way to keep things off the floor and the kids have fun decorating. We’ve made doll houses, garages and mini kitchens with cardboard boxes. And when you’re done all you have to do is recycle the box.
10. Notebooks
Make your own mini notebooks. Use scrap paper, construction paper or line paper to make mini notebooks that your kids can write and draw with. You just have to staple the top and it’s ready to go.
Do you have any more idea for crafts or mess free activities for kids?
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