Use coupon code WELCOME10 for 10% off your first order.
Cart
0
Congratulations! Your order qualifies for free shipping
You are $100 away from free shipping.
No more products available for purchase
Products
Pair with
Is this a gift?
Your Cart is Empty
Mini Theater Kit
$54.00
off
Final sale
With the Mini Theater Kit, kids build and decorate their own die-cut theater, paint backdrops, and cut and glue their own puppets.
As they bring all of this to life, they explore storytelling concepts like character, setting, and theme—all while making a toy they can return to again and again.
What's in this kit?
Non-toxic, washable art materials
Step-by-step instruction booklet
Custom die-cut theater and backdrop
Gouache paint & high-quality paintbrush sets
Basic art tools & assorted craft supplies
Prompts for continued making & play
What age is this best for?
This kit is best for kids ages 7 and up for independent making, and ages 3.5+ with adult guidance.
How much time, help, and cleanup does this project need?
Completion time for this kit is around 2-3 hours. Because it involves painting and gluing, things can get messy and it is recommended to use a covered surface in a designated making space.
With Summer Squash kits, the kids get to choose. The colors, the scenes, the characters, and the story are all theirs to invent and create.
We provide a die-cut stage, simple art supplies, and prompts to spark ideas—but these are just starting points. With just enough structure to support them, kids shape the look, feel, and world of their creation.
As they bring the story to life from start to finish, making begins to feel more personal—something shaped by their own choices, imagination, and artistry.
Why kids (& parents) love it
As soon as we opened it, it was all my daughter wanted to do. Love these kits!
Mom from Salem, MA
Kiddo: Age 4
My daughter was having SO much fun doing this. She recruited some aunts & uncles to perform her play. It was such a fun bonding time for us, we loved it!
Mom from Hartford, CT
Kiddo: Age 8
My daughter had sooo much fun making this. The instructions were easy to follow and all the supplies were beautiful and such great quality. It was amazing watching her create this and a highlight of our winter break!
Mom from Salt Lake City, UT
Kiddo: Age 9
FAQ
Are the paints washable from skin, clothing, and furniture?
Yes, the paints included in the kit are washable, water-based gouache paints from Himi. Though they are designed to wipe up and wash out, is advised to use a covered surface to reduce risk of staining.
Can my child do this independently, or will they need adult help?
Most kids ages 7+ can complete the Mini Theater independently, depending on their comfort with scissors, basic craft materials, and following written instructions.
Younger children (around 3.5–6) will likely enjoy the project more with adult guidance. Many families treat it as a shared activity—a fun way to spend focused creative time together, whether with a parent, grandparent, or babysitter.
Are these materials safe for kids?
Yes - this kit includes washable, non-toxic paints, kid-safe craft materials, and adhesives that comply with U.S. and European safety standards. This kit also includes child-safe scissors and small craft components, so adult supervision is recommended for younger children.
Is everything I need included in the kit?
Yes. The Mini Theater includes everything your child needs to make the project.
We recommend having a few extra items on hand to make the experience smoother: a cup of water, a paint palette (or small plate), and a surface cover for painting. Paper towels are also helpful for minimizing mess.
Kids are also welcome to introduce materials they already have at home if they’d like to expand or personalize their creation.
Is there replay value, or is it a one-and-done project?
Yes! While the Mini Theater begins as an art project, it becomes a homemade toy your child can play with again and again.
The instruction booklet includes prompts for imagining stories and performances using the settings and characters they create. It also shows kids how to recreate the project later using simple materials from the recycling bin.
There’s also a good chance your child will have leftover art supplies to keep experimenting with on future projects.
Will my child be following strict instructions or creating their own designs?
Our instruction booklet includes step-by-step guidance and plenty of examples to inspire. Aside from assembling the theater structure, everything is open-ended—designed to highlight your child’s vision.
They choose the colors, themes, materials, and characters—shaping a creation that feels entirely their own.
We want your child’s personality to shine.
What makes this art kit different from others?
Many art kits look and feel pre-designed by adults. Ours are different—we believe the most important design work should be done by kids.
They shape the look, feel, and story of their own creations. Developed by a practicing artist and licensed, experienced educator, each kit is designed to offer structure without limiting creativity—so kids can take the materials we provide and make something that truly belongs in their world.
What if my child isn’t very ‘artsy’?
That’s completely okay! Many kids who enjoy this kit might not start out seeing themselves as artists.
Mini Theater draws on storytelling as much as art, so kids who love books, movies, or imaginative play can build a world inspired by stories they already enjoy. The instruction booklet also includes examples, prompts, and step-by-step ideas for kids who prefer more guidance rather than starting from a blank slate.
Along the way, kids naturally build dexterity, creative problem-solving, sequencing skills, and confidence as they bring their theater to life.
Created by Artists for Artists
Summer Squash Art Kits are designed by Brooklynn Johnson, a practicing artist and experienced educator with this simple belief: kids are artists, too. Instead of guiding them toward a polished, adult-looking result, these kits are built to celebrate the choices kids naturally make—the colors they choose, the marks they draw, and the way they see the world.
Directions to start, freedom to go anywhere
Our instruction booklet is designed for all kinds of makers—kids who crave clear steps and kids who prefer to do things their own way. We offer simple, step-by-step guidance and plenty of open-ended prompts, examples, and ideas so they can layer in their own interests and style—there’s no “wrong way” to bring their stories to life.
Create again with supplies from home
In the instruction booklet, there is a section that invites kids to remix their theater using found materials. It shows them how a project like this can be made from everyday objects—old boxes, scraps, and whatever catches their eye.
It encourages kids to see creative potential in ordinary, even discarded things—and to feel confident recreating what they’ve learned, with or without the kit.
Learn while you play
Working with their hands helps kids slow down, focus, and learn the patience of making. As they cut, paint, glue, and build, they develop confidence with materials and the satisfaction of creating something real.
Along the way, they begin to think like storytellers—shaping characters, settings, and themes as their ideas take form—while building fine motor skills, strengthening creative problem-solving abilities, and cultivating an understanding of how materials behave.
