Whether your kids are in preschool or a bit older, it’s easy for them to get bored in the summer and resort to watching TV. However, the break is an ideal time for them to be active and get creative. If you’re looking for some inspiration to keep children entertained, here are five cool projects, from crafts to experiments, to try together.

Try These 5 Creative Summer Activities.

1. Custom T-shirts

Create stencils using household objects like apples and bell peppers to dip into paint and apply onto plain t-shirts. Create letters with sponges, use fingerprints, and don’t be afraid to get a little messy. When your tot starts preschool in the fall, they can wear their project to class and discuss what they learned this summer.

2. Mini Volcanoes

Don’t wait until junior high to try this fun experiment at home. Turn modeling clay into a hill with a hole at the apex. To make lava, you’ll need two teaspoons of baking soda, eight tablespoons of water, and a drop of food coloring. When the clay is dry, create the lava mix and pour it into the hole to watch it erupt.

3. Slime

Create a unique, tactile twist on slime by adding polka dots. Gather 10 ounces of clear glue, liquid starch, and colorful pom poms. Slowly mix the starch into the glue to create a paste, then add powder until the glue isn’t sticky anymore. Knead the mixture and add pom poms for the perfect summer toy. 

4. Fairy Gardens

Invite fairies into the home or onto the deck with miniature container gardens. Dedicate a short, wide pot to this project with ample ventilation holes in the bottom. Fill the container with dirt before adding moss to create a carpet-like floor. Decorate it with a little house made out of Popsicle® sticks and a rock path leading to the door. Add a few mini gnomes and fake butterflies to make the fairies feel welcome.

5. Fingerprint Family Tree

Help your little one get to know their ancestors by creating a family tree. Start off drawing big branches for immediate kin. Have each member add their fingerprint to their section. Then, move on to aunts and uncles, grandparents, and cousins. See how far your kids can go without any help before you chime in to teach them about distant relatives.

In addition to these activities, enroll your little one in camp to encourage active play and learning. Imagination Childcare Academy in Rochester, NY, offers preschool, child care and before- and after-school programs for kids ages 3 to 5. Their passionate, talented teachers foster physical and mental development in a nurturing classroom environment. To learn about their preschool curriculum and programs call (585) 413-3948. Visit the website for information on their instructors and academic goals, like teaching the arts, communication, literacy, math, and science.