30 Ways To Inspire Your Own Little Astronaut

The whole world has been looking at the skies for the past few weeks, with 2 visionary businessmen achieving manned trips to space and back in quick succession.

If you're looking for days to tap into the hype and inspire your very own Bezos, Branson, or Aldrin, then these space-themed activities will go down a storm (a meteor storm!). Enthuse your little astronaut with space rock smashing, watercolour planets, and even a STEM space lander mission.

Star stamping

the text reads "Tot school Star Camping" the images are of blue sugar paper being printed with yellow painted stars — Source: Mrs Plemon's Kinderegarten

Even the smallest space travellers are catered for in Mrs Plemon's Kindergarten. This star stamping activity helps your tiny tot create their own galaxy background with only a handful of materials.

Moon rock count and throw

on a camel colored carpet is a begie canvas basket. balls of silver foil are in front of the box with white cards. The text reds "moon rock count and throw" — Source: News with Naylors

All astronauts need to have good aim, otherwise, how will they throw their fellow space traveller a wrench across the engineering room? Encourage your little one's aim with the moon rock count and throw game from News With Naylors.

Space play dough mat

on a black piece of paper is a playdough rocket with a moon and stars motif — Source: Nurture Store

Inspire your cosmonaut's creativity with this free printable from Nurture Store. Giving them the starry background on which to put their most exciting space adventures will set their creative brains free.

Smashing moon rocks

a tray is covered in silver foil with rock shapes scattered on it interspersed with yellow stars. A wooden hammer sits on one side — Source: Pre K Pages

Great for improving fine motor skills, this moon rocks activity is engaging and fun too! Pre K Pages will show you how to make the moon rocks, and how to go about breaking them up.

Paper plate UFO craft

a flying saucer is made out of two paper plates. A paper alien sits inside a clear plastic cup on top of the saucer — Source: Woo Jr

Dreaming of little green men? Then this paper plate craft from Woo Jr will let your explorer fill their room with new alien friends. It's so easy to make that you'll end up with Martians all over your house!

Pom pom printed moon craft

on a black piece of sugar paper is a paper plate decorated like the moon — Source: Crafts on Sea

This simple space-themed craft from Crafts on Sea makes a great poster for your space-crazy pre-schooler. It would also look pretty cool on the front of a birthday card. We love a bit of versatility here at Playtivities!

Playdough aliens

on a white piece of fabric is a weird alien made out of playdough and googly eyes — Source: Rainy Day Mum

Who says that aliens have to look like those from Close Encounters? This Invitation to Create challenge from Rainy Day Mum is a great reminder that letting our imaginations run wild is something we should be encouraging from a young age.

DIY solar system torch

a hand reaches into a clear plastic bag with a piece of black sugar paper. The bag is decorated with planets. To the side is cup filled with sharpies — Source: Montessori From the Heart

This clever craft from Montessori From the Heart is a really visual way of getting preschoolers to learn about the planets. It also encourages fine motor control and dexterity.

Galaxy playdough

two child's hands hold a black ball of playdough studded with glitter — Source: Growing a Jeweled Rose

Sure, you can make aliens and planets with ordinary playdough, but this is much more fun! You can make this galaxy-themed playdough using Growing With a Jeweled Rose's recipe, and you'll be one step closer to an authentic Milky Way.

Glow in the dark space sensory bags

a hand reaches into a bag filled with star shapes — Source: Rainy Day Mum

What is a space-themed craft day without some glow in the dark stars? I had some of these bad boys on my bedroom ceiling when I was a tween (and thought I was cool), but they're even better in Rainy Day Mum's sensory bags.

Space yoga

the front cover of a book entitled "A yoga adventure through space". Two astronauts float thorugh a starry sky — Source: Amazon

Don't worry, this isn't some kind of aerial exercise regime. This gorgeous book from Robyn Snow takes you and your little one through some space-themed yoga positions to calm even the most frenetic astronaut.

Galaxy sensory bin

a deep tray is covered in silver foil. In it are black lentills, glow in the dark stars and plastic planets — Source: Best Toys 4 Toddlers

This sensory bin from Best Toys 4 Toddlers is a gentle way to introduce the world of planets and stars to little ones. They'll be fascinated with the glow in the dark shapes, and the feel of the grains through their fingers.

DIY playdough solar system

playdough planets are laid out on a starry sky — Source: Montessori From the Heart

Another good fine motor control activity for your toddler or preschooler. Montessori From The Heart celebrated International Astronomy Day with these playdough planets.

Simple rocket spacecraft

a black background with white stars doodled around a cardboard and tissue paper roacket — Source: The Kindergarten Connection

With just a few basic craft materials that you're bound to have laying around the house, The Kindergarten Connection shows you how to make exciting space rockets for your little ones to zoom around the backyard.

Watercolor planets

Moving through the age ranges, Rainy Day Mum has some great activities for slightly older children as well. These watercolor planets are inspired by "Moustronaut Goes to the Moon", and are simple to make with just a few art resources.

DIY telescope

3 cardboard roll tubes are turned into telescopes decorated with stars and plnets — Source: Highlights.com

With these cute little DIY telescopes from Highlights.com, you can send your junior astronomers out into the backyard to search for planets, or even far-off UFOs.

Make your own moon rock maze

2 images of a maze laid out on a parquet floor with large stones — Source: Playtivities

Ok, so technically when we developed this activity we weren't thinking about space, but it fits right in to our theme. Lay out your moon rocks and find your way around a distant planet.

Mobile solar system

a swirled wind chime made of paper and decorated with the solar system hangs in front of trees — Source: In The Bag Kid's Crafts

A fun craft idea for outside from In The Bag Kid's Crafts. This solar system mobile helps develop fine motor skills with the cutting, and helps kids remember the order of the planets.

Fizzing moon rocks

a hand uses a blue squeezy bottle to drop ink into a plastic tray filled with water and moon rocks — Source: Little Bins for Little Hands

With a helpful video, Little Bins for Little Hands explain how to make this fascinating fizzing moon rock activity. Kids will love experimenting with their rocks and watching them change.

Space lander STEM mission

The text reads "Space Lander Mission STEM Challenge" the image is of space landers made out of card, cups and straws — Source: Vivify STEM Education

If you've got some siblings struggling to play together, or some friends over for a playdate, then this STEM challenge will at least get them all working on something at the same time! Task them with Vivify's landing task and then reward the winner with their choice of pizza for tea!

Nebula in a jar

a jar full of a mix of colors and liquid — Source: That After School Life

If Chemistry is more their thing that Physics, then this craft by That After School Life will keep them intrigued. You only need 5 ingredients, and a little bit of patience to create your very own nebula.

Edible space crystals

3 jars are full of orange, purple and blue crystals — Source: STEAMsational

Interesting and edible, what more could you ask for in an after school activity? These edible sugar crystals will make you think you're exploring a far-off planet, and you'll learn about chemical properties too. STEAMsational will show you how.

DIY constellation projector

two hands use a pin to make holes in a constelation pattern — Source: Playground Parkbench

We don't all live in the middle of nowhere with a clear view of the stars. If you'd like to watch Orion's Belt move slowly over your ceiling, then this constellation projector from Playground Parkbench will make it happen.

STEM moon craters

in a black dish is floour scattered with marbles of various colors — Source: Mombrite

Designed to explain how the moon got it's Swiss Cheese-like appearance, this STEM activity from Mombrite uses flour, a pan and some marbles to get your little ones (and slightly older ones) thinking about our nearest celestial ball.

Make a bottle rocket

A girl dressed as an astronaut wearing goggles and holds uo a rocket made of a water bottle and cardboard — Source; Science Sparks

While smaller children will be content with their painted rocket made out of a toilet roll tube, older kids want something a little more exciting. That's where this bottle rocket from Science Sparks comes in. This rocket will shoot up into the air, making a real impression!

Stargazing

a boy and his omther stand next to a telescope with the mother pointing out of the window and up at the sky — Source: Shutterstock

If you do have the space and opportunity, then stargazing is a fascinating and awe-inspiring family activity. This book from John Read will help kids explore space through their own telescope.

Check out NASA's kid's club

a cartoon image of a figure in a blue and white suit driving a car. The text reads "NASA Kid's Club" — Source: Nasa.gov

Sometimes it pays just to go straight to the experts. NASA's kid's club is full of activities, inspirational stories, games and cartoons to keep your little ones busy for hours. Just be prepared to pay for space camp when they're done!

Paper mache planets

If you've got a science fair coming up then I'd keep this page bookmarked. These paper mache planets from Instructables can make a real impact all strung up in orbit. They're fun to make too!

Erupting black hole science experiment

a close up of two black circular cakes decorated with gold dust and stars — Source: STEAM Powered Family

They might be made in a donut mould, but don't try to eat them! These black holes from STEAM Powered Family get your kids exploring chemistry with a few simple kitchen ingredients. Bring on the bubbly reaction!

Eat the solar system

a plate containing each planet in the solar system made out of fruit. — Source: Creative Kid's Snacks

Why shouldn't our snacks match our theme as well? These clever ideas from Creative Kid's Snacks will see your kids getting their 5 a day and eating their way around the solar system. Even Pluto gets a look in!