Sunshine Coast Libraries banner

3 easy craft activities for kids to take away those rainy day blues

Do you need activities for kids to fill those long rainy days? Rain, hail or shine, these easy craft activities for kids will keep the little ones busy for hours. They’re cute and clever. They’re also perfect if you’re someone who holds on to toilet rolls or cardboard tubes and is in need of some inspiration.

 

3 easy craft activities for kids

Paper plate rainbow fish

Have you read the adorable children’s book The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister? This is one of the easiest craft activities for kids and it’s inspired by the book. If you’re the kind of person who likes their craft activities to come with a theme, this paper plate rainbow fish is ideal.

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • 1x white paper plate
  • Craft paint
  • A foam paintbrush
  • Multi-coloured card paper
  • Scissors
  • Glue stick
  • Glitter
  • 1x Googly eye

 

Instructions

  1. Paint the bottom side of the paper plate and let it dry completely.
  2. Cut out a triangle shape from the right side of the plate and glue this onto the left side of the plate. This is your fish tail. The opening from the cut out is your fish mouth.
  3. Using the colour card paper, cut two [2] small fins. Glue one to each side of the plate.
  4. Glue on the googly eye.
  5. Using the coloured card paper (again), trace circles about 2cm to 3cm in diameter. You’ll need 25 of these for your fish scales.
  6. Cut the circles and fold them in half.
  7. Glue one side of the half-circle and sprinkle with glitter. Do this for all the circles.
  8. Then, glue the fish scales onto your paper plate fish. Start in the middle of the plate and work backwards to the tail. The folded side will face the fish mouth. There should be around four [4] or [5] scales in a row, with about six [6] rows. The last row of scales will only have two [2].
  9. Allow the scales to dry.

Toilet roll dragon

Got a few toilet rolls (or cardboard tubes) about the house? Turn them into ferocious fire-breathing beasts – one of the most popular craft activities for kids in our house.

This activity is perfect for young kids, toddlers, preschoolers, kindy kids etc. The fun thing about this craft is that when you blow into the top end of the tube, the tissue paper at the bottom is designed to look like flames coming from the dragon’s mouth.

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Scissors
  • Glue stick
  • Glue dots
  • Toilet rolls or cardboard tubes
  • Coloured paper
  • 2cm pom poms
  • 1cm pom poms
  • 2x Googly eyes (about 1cm diameter)
  • Tissue paper in red, yellow and orange

 

Instructions

  1. Gather your supplies. Then cut a piece of coloured paper to be the exact length of your cardboard tube.
  2. Apply glue to the paper. Then line up the ends of the paper with the ends of the tube and wrap the paper around the roll so that it’s completely covered.
  3. Using glue dots, attach one of the googly eyes to the middle of the 2cm pom pom. These are your dragon’s eyes. Repeat so you have two eyes.
  4. Using glue dots, attach the dragon eyes to one end of the tube.
  5. Attach the two smaller pom poms to the opposite end of the tub using glue dots. These make your dragon’s nose.
  6. Cut the tissue paper into 25m strips with a pointed end. Then, spread glue onto the non-pointy end of the tissue paper and attach it to the inside of the roll. Work your way around the tube, gluing and sticking the tissue paper.
  7. When your dragon is complete, Take a deep breath and blow on the end of the cardboard roll where the eyes are.

 

Egg carton turtles

As far as craft activities for kids go, this would have to be one of the cutest. Recycle your egg cartons to create an adorable family of turtles. (Anyone humming the theme music to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles about now?)

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Egg cartons
  • Craft paint
  • Pom poms
  • Googly eyes (small ones)
  • Pipe cleaners
  • Scissors
  • Hot glue gun (you’ll need to be hands-on for this activity)

 

Instructions

  1. Cut out one egg cup section for each of the turtles you are planning on making.
  2. Paint the egg carton pieces green. Allow to dry thoroughly, then apply a second coat of paint.
  3. Once the paint is dry, add finer details (like the turtle’s shell) to the upside down egg carton.
  4. To assemble, use a pom pom for the turtle’s head, googly eyes, and the pipe cleaners for its legs and tail.
  5. Using the hot glue gun, apply a dot of glue to the reverse of the google eyes and attach to the pom pom.
  6. Then, use the hot glue gun to apply glue to the pom pom so you can apply it to the egg carton for the turtle’s head.
  7. Fold each piece of the pipe cleaner in half and twist together. Using the hot glue gun, glue the twisted end to the inside of the shell.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Sarah Dees (@sarahfrugalfunforboys)

These easy craft activities for kids are going to double as toys or decorations, so you won’t want to throw them away. Also, your child will be having such a good time making and playing that they won’t even notice the weather outside. It’s a win for everyone!

 


Related Stories

Kids craft ideas for the non-crafty parent
Best ever slime and play dough recipes


Servicing Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and beyond, Kids on the Coast is an online guide for parents with kids events, attractions & things to do with kids, schools and education, school holiday guides, health & wellbeing for families, parenting and lifestyle news located on Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast & Brisbane, QLD.

 

Search tags: Craft
By Angela Sutherland
After spending many years hustling stories on busy editorial desks around the world, Angela is now mum of two little ones and owner/editor at Kids on the Coast / Kids in the City. She is an atrocious cook and loves cutting shapes to 90s dance music. Angela is the editor of Kids on the Coast - a free family magazine whats on guide for Kids: things to do, school holiday fun and free activities for kids... Fun attractions, family food & travel, kids health & wellbeing, kids parties venues, parenting, pregnancy & babies, guide for parents. Servicing Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and beyond, Kids on the Coast is an online guide for parents with kids things to do with kids, schools and education and lifestyle news located on Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast & Brisbane, QLD.

You might also like…