Creative Activities for Aunts, Uncles & Kids

Fun creative activities for kids of all ages, including painting, drawing, photography, crafts, writing, music, jewelry making, scrapbooking, DIY projects and imaginative challenges.

Creativity doesn't have to mean sitting down and making the "perfect" craft.

Sometimes it's painting with your fingers, making up a ridiculous story, taking funny photographs, designing a friendship bracelet or turning a cardboard box into something completely unexpected.

For aunts, uncles, Funcles, Faunties and other special adults, creative activities are a great way to slow down, make something together and give your niece or nephew space to experiment, imagine, express themselves and have fun.

The finished project doesn't have to be perfect.

In fact, it probably shouldn't be.

The process is the adventure.

What Are Good Creative Activities for Kids?

Creative activities can take countless forms. The best ones give children opportunities to make choices and put their own spin on what they're creating.

Try:

  • Painting

  • Drawing

  • Coloring

  • Photography

  • Arts and crafts

  • Writing stories

  • Making comics

  • Music

  • Dancing

  • Jewelry making

  • Scrapbooking

  • DIY projects

  • Building projects

  • Baking

  • Creating handmade gifts

  • Designing costumes

  • Nature crafts

  • Creative challenges

  • Imaginative play

Choose activities based on the child's age and interests, and don't be afraid to let the project evolve.

You might start with a craft and end up telling a story about the characters you created.

That's creativity.

Creative Activities for Toddlers & Preschoolers

Young children love exploring colors, textures, sounds and movement.

For ages 2–4, keep activities simple and focus on the experience rather than the finished product.

Try:

  • Finger painting

  • Crayon drawing

  • Large-piece collages

  • Playdough creations

  • Sticker art

  • Music and dancing

  • Homemade cards

  • Nature crafts

  • Painting rocks

  • Simple sensory art

  • Building with blocks

  • Decorating cardboard boxes

  • Making simple puppets

Ask questions such as:

"What are you making?"

"What happens if we mix these colors?"

"What should we add next?"

Let them decide.

[Explore Activities for Ages 2–4 →]

Creative Activities for Ages 4–6

Kids ages 4–6 are ready to experiment with more materials and start developing their own creative ideas.

Try:

  • Painting

  • Drawing

  • Making paper crafts

  • Creating puppets

  • Building cardboard creations

  • Making friendship-style bracelets with age-appropriate materials

  • Baking and decorating

  • Nature art

  • Simple photography

  • Storytelling

  • Dress-up

  • Making homemade cards

  • Creating collages

  • Music and movement

  • DIY decorations

Give them a basic idea and let them take it somewhere completely different.

[Explore Activities for Ages 4–6 →]

Creative Activities for Ages 6–8

This is a great age for projects that take a little longer and allow kids to develop skills.

Try:

  • Painting

  • Drawing

  • Photography walks

  • Comic book creation

  • Scrapbooking

  • Jewelry making

  • Craft projects

  • Baking

  • Sewing with appropriate supervision

  • Building projects

  • Writing stories

  • Creating board games

  • Making stop-motion videos

  • DIY decorations

  • Music projects

Instead of making the same project yourself, let your niece or nephew make their own version.

There doesn't need to be one right answer.

[Explore Activities for Ages 6–8 →]

Creative Activities for Ages 8–10

Older elementary-age kids can take on more complex creative projects and begin developing their own interests.

Try:

  • Photography challenges

  • Short stories

  • Comic books

  • Painting

  • Drawing

  • Scrapbooking

  • Jewelry making

  • DIY projects

  • Building projects

  • Cooking and decorating

  • Stop-motion animation

  • Costume design

  • Music

  • Creative writing

  • Handmade gifts

  • Room decorations

You can also give them a creative challenge.

For example:

"Create something using only materials we already have at home."

Or:

"Take ten photographs that tell a story."

Or:

"Design your own board game."

[Explore Activities for Ages 8–10 →]

Creative Activities for Tweens

Tweens often enjoy creative projects that feel more like hobbies or real-world skills.

Try:

  • Photography

  • Digital art

  • Jewelry making

  • Painting

  • Drawing

  • Creative writing

  • Scrapbooking

  • Cooking

  • Baking

  • DIY room décor

  • Clothing customization

  • Music

  • Video creation

  • Graphic design

  • Photography walks

  • Handmade gifts

  • Craft challenges

Let your tween choose the project whenever possible.

You might be surprised by what they want to create.

[Explore Activities for Tweens →]

Creative Activities for Teens

Creative activities can be a great way to connect with teenagers without making the experience feel forced.

Try:

  • Photography

  • Cooking

  • Painting

  • Digital art

  • Film making

  • Music

  • Creative writing

  • Jewelry making

  • Thrift-flip projects

  • Clothing customization

  • Scrapbooking

  • Graphic design

  • Pottery

  • DIY projects

  • Photography outings

  • Making videos

  • Learning a creative skill together

You could even choose something neither of you knows how to do and learn it together.

Being beginners together can make the experience even more fun.

[Explore Activities for Teens →]

Arts & Crafts for Kids

Arts and crafts are classic for a reason.

They provide an opportunity to experiment, create something tangible and spend uninterrupted time together.

Try:

  • Painting

  • Drawing

  • Collages

  • Paper crafts

  • Nature crafts

  • Homemade cards

  • Painted rocks

  • Holiday decorations

  • Friendship bracelets

  • Scrapbooks

  • Clay projects

  • DIY decorations

  • Personalized gifts

Don't worry if the finished project looks nothing like the example.

Their version is supposed to be their version.

Painting Activities

Painting can be much more than putting a paintbrush on paper.

Try:

Paint With Different Tools

Experiment with sponges, cotton swabs, leaves, cardboard or other age-appropriate materials.

Paint a Story

Create a picture together that tells a story.

Paint Rocks

Find smooth rocks and turn them into animals, characters, patterns or colorful decorations.

Make a Giant Painting

Put a large piece of paper down and create one big artwork together.

Try Color Mixing

Give kids a few colors and see what new colors they can create.

Ask:

"What do you think will happen when we mix these?"

Drawing Activities for Kids

You don't have to be an artist to have fun drawing.

Try:

  • Drawing portraits of each other

  • Creating cartoons

  • Drawing imaginary animals

  • Designing superheroes

  • Drawing maps

  • Creating comic strips

  • Drawing your dream house

  • Making a family picture

  • Drawing with your non-dominant hand

  • Taking turns adding to one picture

One fun challenge:

Start a drawing and switch papers every few minutes.

See what each person adds to the other person's artwork.

Photography Activities

Photography can turn an ordinary walk into a creative adventure.

Give your niece or nephew a phone or age-appropriate camera and create a challenge.

Ask them to photograph:

  • Something red

  • Something tiny

  • Something enormous

  • Something funny

  • Something beautiful

  • Something that looks old

  • An interesting shadow

  • An animal

  • A texture

  • Something that tells a story

For older kids, create a photo series around a theme.

You can even make a small photo book together afterward.

Creative Writing Activities

Writing doesn't have to mean an essay.

Make it fun.

Try:

  • Writing silly stories

  • Creating comic books

  • Writing poems

  • Making up characters

  • Creating alternate endings to favorite stories

  • Writing postcards

  • Starting a shared journal

  • Creating a family story

  • Writing a mystery

  • Making a children's book together

Start with a simple prompt:

"You wake up and discover your pet can talk. What happens next?"

Then let the story go wherever it wants.

Music & Creative Movement

Creativity doesn't always require supplies.

You can make music and move your bodies together.

Try:

  • Dance parties

  • Making up dances

  • Creating rhythms

  • Making homemade instruments

  • Singing favorite songs

  • Writing silly songs

  • Creating a family playlist

  • Musical storytelling

  • Freeze dance

  • Learning an instrument together

For younger kids, keep it simple.

For older children and teens, let them introduce you to music they enjoy.

Sharing music can be its own kind of connection.

Jewelry & Bracelet Making

For kids who enjoy hands-on projects, jewelry making can be a fun creative activity.

Try:

  • Friendship bracelets

  • Beaded bracelets

  • Simple necklaces

  • Keychains

  • Personalized charms

  • Color-themed bracelets

  • Handmade gifts

Create matching bracelets for the two of you.

You could even make it an aunt-and-niece or aunt-and-nephew tradition.

Scrapbooking & Memory Making

Creative projects can also help preserve the memories you're creating together.

Create a scrapbook with:

  • Photos

  • Drawings

  • Ticket stubs

  • Notes

  • Favorite quotes

  • Little souvenirs

  • Birthday memories

  • Vacation photos

  • Handwritten stories

Give your niece or nephew their own section and let them decide what belongs in it.

Over time, the scrapbook becomes more than a craft.

It becomes a record of your relationship.

DIY Projects for Kids

Kids often love making things they can actually use.

Try:

  • Decorating storage boxes

  • Making room signs

  • Creating bookmarks

  • Building birdhouses with appropriate supervision

  • Designing picture frames

  • Making homemade decorations

  • Creating a reading nook

  • Building cardboard structures

  • Designing costumes

  • Upcycling old items

  • Making handmade gifts

Give them a goal rather than a strict set of instructions.

"Let's make something to hold your books."

Then let them design it.

Creative Activities You Can Do With Almost No Supplies

You don't need a craft store run to get creative.

Try:

  • Drawing with paper and crayons

  • Making up stories

  • Building with cardboard boxes

  • Creating blanket forts

  • Making paper airplanes

  • Putting on a play

  • Creating a dance

  • Taking photographs

  • Making shadow puppets

  • Designing a treasure map

  • Creating a pretend restaurant

  • Making up a board game

  • Building with household objects

Sometimes having fewer materials actually encourages more imagination.

Free Creative Activities

Looking for creative things to do without spending money?

Try:

  • Drawing

  • Storytelling

  • Nature art

  • Photography walks

  • Making forts

  • Creating cardboard projects

  • Writing stories

  • Putting on a play

  • Making paper crafts

  • Drawing with sidewalk chalk

  • Creating homemade games

  • Making music

  • Dancing

  • Creating a scavenger hunt

  • Making gifts from materials you already have

Creativity doesn't require a budget.

Creative Rainy-Day Activities

Rainy afternoons are perfect for getting creative.

Try:

  • Build a blanket fort

  • Make homemade cards

  • Paint

  • Draw comics

  • Bake and decorate cookies

  • Create a board game

  • Make puppets

  • Put on a play

  • Write a story

  • Make friendship bracelets

  • Create a scrapbook

  • Have a dance party

  • Make a cardboard creation

  • Create an indoor photo challenge

Put together a creative activity box with paper, crayons, stickers, washable supplies and other age-appropriate materials.

Then you'll always have something to pull out on a rainy day.

Creative Activities for Aunts, Uncles, Funcles & Faunties

Creative projects can become traditions that belong specifically to your relationship.

Maybe you:

Make homemade ornaments every Christmas.

Create a birthday scrapbook page every year.

Take a silly photo together every time you meet.

Make matching bracelets.

Write each other a letter once a year.

Create an annual piece of artwork together.

Have a monthly creative challenge.

These traditions don't have to be expensive or elaborate.

They become meaningful because you keep doing them together.

How Do I Encourage Creativity in Kids?

The best way to encourage creativity is to give children room to experiment.

Instead of immediately correcting them, ask questions.

Instead of showing them exactly how something should look, let them try.

Instead of focusing on whether the project is "good," ask:

"Did you have fun making it?"

"What made you choose that color?"

"Tell me about what you created."

"What should we try next?"

Praise their effort, ideas and willingness to experiment.

And don't be afraid to make something ridiculous together.

The sillier, the better.

The Best Creative Activity Is the One You Make Together

You don't need artistic talent.

You don't need expensive supplies.

You don't need a perfect project.

You just need a little time and a willingness to play.

Draw something silly.

Make a mess.

Tell a ridiculous story.

Take terrible photographs.

Build something that doesn't work.

Try again.

Laugh about it.

That's the memory.

For your niece or nephew, the most important part may never be what you created.

It may simply be that you created it together.

Never Forget to Play.

More Ways to Find Your Next Activity

By Age

[Activities for Ages 2–4 →]
[Activities for Ages 4–6 →]
[Activities for Ages 6–8 →]
[Activities for Ages 8–10 →]
[Activities for Tweens →]
[Activities for Teens →]

By Type

[Indoor Activities →]
[Outdoor Activities →]
[Educational Activities →]
[Creative Activities →]
[Adventure Activities →]
[Free Activities →]
[Budget-Friendly Activities →]
[Travel Activities →]
[Food & Cooking Activities →]
[Arts & Crafts Activities →]

By Season

[Spring Activities →]
[Summer Activities →]
[Fall Activities →]
[Winter Activities →]

By Occasion

[Birthday Activities →]
[Christmas Activities →]
[Halloween Activities →]
[First Day of School Activities →]
[Summer Vacation Activities →]
[Rainy Day Activities →]