Summer vacation is the time for picnics, pool days and popsicles, but keeping little ones busy and entertained on a daily basis can pose challenges for busy parents and caregivers. Whether it’s too hot outside to visit the playground or you want to inspire your child’s inner creative, summer is a great time to pull out the craft supplies and make something you’ll both be proud to display.

Fight hot-weather boredom with these simple crafts that both younger and older kids can execute in a single afternoon.

1. Suncatchers

Because the sunlight shines down much longer during the hotter months of the year, a colorful suncatcher is a perfect craft for summertime. These simple decorations add a little bit of liveliness to the inside of your home and help every member of your family to appreciate the extra natural light streaming in through the windows.

All you need to create a beautiful suncatcher are a few see-through supplies, something to adhere or hang from a window and a little creativity. Suncatchers can take any shape, and can be made from any translucent materials including:

Beads

Thin tissue paper

Colored glass stones

Painted transparency paper

Melted wax crayons

Challenge your kids to think of interesting shapes and patterns to create with their materials, and enjoy the boost of colorful light in your space.

2. No-sew Dog Toy

Show your four-legged friend, or a loved one’s pup, some extra love and dedicate a crafting session to his or her playtime. A simple braided dog bone can be made from high-quality fleece fabric for a soft, exciting way to play a game of tug of war with Fido.

Start with three strips of fleece and tie a knot at one end. Then, simply braid the pieces until you’ve reached the desired length and tie another knot to finish the handmade dog toy. If desired, you can snip the end pieces to create a frayed effect before heading to the backyard with your pet to play.

3. Pressed Flower Art

Peak flower season calls for an all-natural craft that can get your family outside in nature and gently test their patience at the same time. Head outside to pick some fresh blooms and bring them home to start the pressing process. While you can utilize a designated flower press, you can also achieve the same effect by placing the flowers between waxed or parchment paper and placing them in a sturdy book beneath a heavy weight.

If your kids don’t want to wait for 2-4 weeks using that method, simply apply an iron on low heat to the outside of the parchment paper. The newly pressed flowers can be glued to art projects, used in handmade cards, laminated into bookmarks, hung in frames on the wall and in any other creative project you and your child can imagine.

4. Recycled Robots

Put discarded toilet paper rolls, milk jugs and bottle caps to good use by making junkbots from recycled materials. Find as many ways to create robots of different shapes, sizes and imaginary abilities, including wheeled creations or three-armed contraptions.

Take this craft to the next level by using tin foil and paint to give the creations even more personality. Recycled robots not only challenge your kids’ creativity, but they also inspire them to think like an inventor and discover new ways to assemble what was once garbage into truly moveable arms and functional, robotic legs.

5. Tie-dye Blankets

If your family spends many days at the park throughout the summer, a handmade tie-dyed blanket can make warm-weather outings feel even more special. Pick up a simple tie-dye kit from the craft store and work your magic on a thin blanket made from natural fibers such as cotton.

Increase the sentimental factor by including each of your favorite colors for a handmade picnic blanket that will not hold a personal significance, but will also accompany your family on memory-making outings all summer long.