July 7, 2024

Get Crafty on a Budget

Affordable Back-to-School Crafts for Pre-K

4 students sit at a table in a PreK classroom. They are making crafts together, and various crafting materials are on the table for them to use.

As the back-to-school season approaches, it's the perfect time to get creative and make some fun crafts with your Pre-K student. Crafting not only fosters creativity and fine motor skills but also provides an opportunity for quality time together as a family. However, we understand that crafting supplies can add up quickly, especially for families on a tight budget. In this blog post, we'll share a variety of affordable back-to-school craft ideas that are both fun and budget-friendly, ensuring that you can enjoy creative activities with your child without breaking the bank.


DIY Pencil Toppers

Transform ordinary pencils into whimsical and colorful pencil toppers using inexpensive materials such as pom-poms, pipe cleaners, and googly eyes. Let your child's imagination run wild as they design their own unique pencil toppers to personalize their school supplies. This budget-friendly craft is not only fun and easy to make but also adds a touch of personality to your child's pencils.

Cardboard Tube Binoculars

Turn empty cardboard tubes from paper towels or toilet paper into imaginative binoculars for outdoor adventures. Decorate the tubes with markers, stickers, or paint, and attach them together with a piece of string or ribbon. Your child can use their DIY binoculars to explore the world around them and embark on exciting nature walks or backyard scavenger hunts.

Decorated Bookmarks

Encourage a love of reading by making personalized bookmarks that your child can use to mark their place in their favorite books. Cut out rectangles from sturdy cardstock or recycled cardboard, and let your child decorate them with markers, crayons, stickers, or stamps. For an extra-special touch, laminate the bookmarks to make them more durable and long-lasting.


Paper Plate Clocks

Help your child learn to tell time while also getting crafty with this simple and affordable paper plate clock craft. Use a paper plate as the base and draw or print out clock numbers on paper to glue onto the plate. Attach clock hands using brass fasteners or draw them directly onto the plate. Your child can practice telling time while also decorating their own unique clock masterpiece.


DIY Name Puzzle

Create a personalized name puzzle using colored craft sticks or cardboard squares. Write each letter of your child's name on separate sticks or squares, and let your child arrange them in the correct order to spell their name. This hands-on craft not only reinforces letter recognition and spelling skills but also provides a fun and interactive way for your child to learn their name.


With these affordable back-to-school craft ideas, you can enjoy creative and educational activities with your Pre-K student without breaking the bank. Encourage your child to use their imagination, explore different materials, and express their creativity through art. Remember that it's the process, not the end result, that matters most, so have fun crafting together and creating cherished memories that will last a lifetime. Happy crafting!

Ready to apply?

We invite parents interested in enrolling their child in our free Pre-K program to submit an application today. Our dedicated team looks forward to welcoming your child into our community and supporting their growth and development every step of the way. Apply now and embark on this wonderful journey with Yellowstone Schools!


The content provided in this blog post is generated by an AI language model and is reviewed by our staff for accuracy and completeness. While we strive to ensure the information presented is reliable and up-to-date, we recommend consulting with our admissions team or visiting our website for the most current information about our admissions process.