Keep the Kids Busy With These 8 Mess-Free Summer Projects

Give your kids blank notebooks and a few sheets of fun stickers (you can find them at the Dollar Store). Then ask them to create a story using the stickers as characters, props or settings. This will give them a creative challenge to solve and you an hour of your time back.

Download some free printables online or from a coloring book and pull out the crayons and markers. Color-by-numbers requires concentration and a good chunk of time which will keep them occupied — just make sure they stay away from walls.

Give your kiddos free reign to decorate windows, mirrors or even the fridge with reusable gel clings. They’re versatile, fun to arrange and can be reused all season long. Even better? They are next to impossible to make a mess with.

Create a simple list of items for your kids to find around the house, which could include things like “something blue” or a specific book on their shelves. It will transform your space into an adventure zone with no need for setup or cleanup.

Draw or print a simple picture, cut it into strips and glue the strips onto popsicle sticks. Mix them up and let your child solve their homemade puzzle. It’s a brainteaser with minimal mess. If you don’t feel like putting in that much effort to set up, go ahead and simply buy a real, kid-appropriate puzzle. When they complete the puzzle, you can glue it together and hang it up in their rooms for some added wall art.

Pick a kid-friendly audiobook (some libraries offer them free online!) and have your kids listen while drawing scenes or characters from the story. It's a mostly quiet time for you and an imaginative outlet for them that does not include iPad screens.

Stick a piece of felt to a cardboard backing and cut out simple shapes (animals, food, people, etc.) from other felt sheets. Your kids can create scenes, change them and start over with no mess and no fuss.

Pull up a kid-friendly dance-along video on YouTube or a streaming service. It's a great way to get their energy out while staying indoors, and all you need is a bit of space and some volume. The upside of this activity is that it’ll wear them out for a potential afternoon nap and a few hours of quiet and peace back to yourself.