Summer is a great time for enrichment activities. Free from the daily grind of classes and homework, your child can explore his or her creative side.

Shop for art supplies on sale at local craft stores, or find wholesale arts and crafts supplies online at DollarDays. Many moms have a craft box (or craft closet) full of supplies to keep their kids occupied during school vacations and on rainy weekends.

While some parents splurge on summer art classes and camps, activity books can inspire at a much lower price tag. LittleMissMatched’s The Artist in Me! costs under $12 at Amazon.

This activity kit is small enough to fit in a suitcase for fun on a summer vacation. It contains a book and a set of artist tools: 3 drawing pencils, an artist’s sketchbook, a set of vine charcoal, oil pastels, sanding pad, blending sticks, color wheel, kneaded eraser and assorted charcoal paper. The book inspires young artists with dozens of drawing tutorials and tips.

If your child is interested in drawing, this kit will occupy them for many hours. Other affordable art kits for tween and teens include the Discover Chinese Brush Painting Kit: A Deluxe Art Set for Aspiring Artists (Discover Series) and the Watercolor Kit (Walter Foster Painting Kits).

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