I recently had such a great podcast discussion with Joy Cho of Oh Joy! Design Studio, about ways to encourage creativity in kids. Now more than ever, we’re all looking for ways to keep our kids engaged, and for those of you with little ones at home, I really feel you.
So I asked Joy to share a fun, colorful DIY or craft for younger kids right now…and she’s graciously shared four of them with me.
They are all inspired by her brand new board book, BE CURIOUS! which is already a #1 Amazon new release. Not surprised at all — it’s delightful.
Related: 8 of the cutest rainbow crafts for preschoolers and little kids
I think these colorful DIY craft projects are such wonderful ways to encourage curiosity, exploration, and creativity in your kids, while bringing a little boost of color indoors right now — or hey, maybe even outside in your own yard, if the spring weather is being kind to you so far. I know I could use more rainbow in my life, that’s for sure.
With that…here’s Joy!
CMP is an Amazon affiliate
Be Curious Activities from Joy Cho: Colorful Curiosity!
Hey Friends! I’m Joy Cho, Founder and Creative Director of Oh Joy! I live in Los Angeles with my two daughters Ruby and Coco and my husband Bob. (We also have a cat named Max!) I am so excited that on April 7th, we launched our new book with Scholastic called BE CURIOUS! It follows the adventures of a curious cat who is about to make a lot of colorful discoveries.
Because we’re all home right now and looking for fun ways to develop curiosity at home, I wanted to share a few simple activities you can do with materials you have at home to inspire colorful curiosity, especially for little ones from ages 2-6
You can find the full instructions on my site, through the links below.
1. COLOR SCAVENGER HUNTS
Simply make small squares of color and paste on a single page (shown above). Then search the house to find small objects that match each color square.
2. DIY RAINBOW LETTER CRAYONS
This colorful DIY craft is a great way to make use of all those crayon bits we have laying around, to create something new. Kids can help come up with their favorite color combinations or group similar colors together.
Related: 11 fun and easy flower crafts for kids to make this spring.
3. GEM SIDEWALK CHALK CRAFT
There’s no kid (big or little) who doesn’t love sidewalk chalk. If it’s warm where you live, get in some outdoor time with chalk art on your sidewalk or driveway. These gems are so fun for kids to help make — and then get to use.
4. COLORFUL SMUSHED PAINT ART PROJECT
Super fun and tactile especially for little ones as young as a year old, I love this project because it turns into your child’s very own masterpieces to help freshen up your walls. The color options here are endless.
Color is all around us and certainly inspires a ton of curiosity and creating. Let us know which colorful DIY craft projects you create together!
For more fun DIY and craft ideas for kids, be sure to check out Joy’s Make with Kids Pinterest board. You can order BE CURIOUS!, her first of a series of new board books, from our affiliate Amazon, Indiebound, or your local independent bookstore.
Photos by Lily Glass and Casey Brodley, styling by Julia Wester, Wilmarose Orlanes, and Ariel Fulmer, Production Assistance by Jess Hong. All used with permission.
