3 Cute Crafts for Kindergarten to Help Your Child Prepare for School

Starting kindergarten can feel intimidating to children, especially if they've never attended a program like daycare or preschool. These cute crafts for kindergarten can help your child get ready for their first day of school and feel excited about it.

If you have a little one who'se reluctant to start school, try making a few of these sweet kindergarten-themed crafts together to help them feel more at ease.

Milk Carton School Bus

Photo Credit: Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas

This adorable Milk Carton School Bus craft by Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas will make the "big yellow bus" seem much less scary.

Materials:

• 1/2 gallon milk carton
• Yellow paint
• Paintbrush
• Construction paper, white and black
• Scissors
• Crayons and markers
• Glue stick
• Foam stickers
• 4 plastic bottle caps
• Hot glue gun

Instructions:

1. Paint the outside of the milk carton with a layer of yellow paint. Apply two coats, letting the paint dry in between coats.
2. Cut two long rectangular strips from white construction paper using scissors, then fold the strips into thirds.
3. Draw black lines down the folded lines using crayons or markers to make the strips look like windows.
4. Glue the "windows" across the yellow milk carton with a glue stick. Let the glue dry completely.
5. Cut two long rectangular strip from black construction paper using scissors, and glue them under the window strips, one per side of the bus.
6. Apply foam letter stickers across the black strips to spell out the word "school" on each side of the bus.
7. Draw people in the windows of the bus with crayons or markers.
8. Cut out a circle from white construction paper, and attach it to the front of the bus. This is where you can draw the bus driver.
9. Attach four plastic bottle caps on to each corner of the milk carton bus using a hot glue gun, then allow the hot glue to cool completely.

Pool Noodle Chalk Pencil

Photo Credit: LalyMom

How cute is this Pool Noodle Chalk Pencil from LalyMom? This craft is sure to make your kindergartner want to start school!

Materials:

• Pink pool noodle
• Serrated knife
• Yellow pool noodle
• Silver duct tape
• Jumbo sidewalk chalk

Instructions:

1. Place the pink pool noodle on a flat surface, and cut off a 4-to-5-inch piece with a serrated knife.
2. Place the yellow pool noodle on a flat surface, and cut off a 27-to-30-inch piece.
3. Cut around one end of the yellow pool noodle at an angle to "sharpen" the tip.
4. Place the pink pool noodle section on the flat end of the yellow pool noodle section, and wrap silver duct tape around the seam to attach them together.
5. Push a jumbo sidewalk chalk into the "sharpened" end of the yellow pool noodle, then have fun writing!

Bean Letters

Photo Credit: Happiest Mom on the Blog

Help your kids get a head-start learning the alphabet with this exciting and educational craft, courtesy of Happiest Mom on the Blog.

Materials:

• Construction paper
• Pencil
• White school glue
• Dry beans

Instructions:

1. Place a sheet of construction paper on to a flat surface, then draw out a letter on the paper using a pencil.
2. Trace the pencil markings with white school glue.
3. Place dry beans over the line of glue, one at a time, until the entire letter is covered with beans.
4. Allow the glue to dry completely before hanging up the bean letter.

Looking for even more cute crafts for kindergarten? Try these 10 apple-themed crafts and activities.

 As an award-winning journalist, author, and artist, Kelly Sundstrom has a passion for helping  parents feel well-prepared, confident, and capable in the journey ahead. As an Attachment  Parenting advocate and homeschooling mother of two, Sundstrom has been a guest speaker on  Grassroots TV in Aspen, Colorado, and encourages families across the country to disconnect from  media and reconnect with each other.