Crafting with Kids: Rainy Day Projects for Unpredictable UK Weather
Let’s face it—British summer isn’t always sunshine and sandals. When the rain clouds roll in and the kids are bouncing off the walls, it’s time to bring out the craft box! Here are some of our favourite indoor crafting projects that are fun, simple, and perfect for keeping little hands busy on a drizzly day.
Rainy Day Window Art
When the skies are grey, why not brighten them up from the inside? Window art is a magical way to bring colour into your home and keep little ones entertained. Plus, it’s mess-free and endlessly reusable!
What you need: Clear plastic wallets, washable markers, masking tape
How to: Tape the plastic wallet to a window and let your little ones draw directly onto it with markers. The light shining through makes their artwork glow, and it wipes clean for endless fun! If you’re feeling brave, then forgo the plastic wallet and go straight for the window! Afterall, it does clean off……
DIY Story Stones
Storytelling is a wonderful way to spark imagination—and story stones make it even more fun. These little painted pebbles are perfect for creating silly tales, quiet-time play, or even bedtime stories.
What you need: Smooth pebbles, paint or markers, clear varnish
How to: Paint simple images on each stone—animals, weather, people, objects. Once dry, use them to create silly stories together. Great for sparking imagination and storytelling skills.
Cardboard Box Creations
Never underestimate the power of a cardboard box! With a little imagination (and a lot of glue), it can become anything from a spaceship to a puppet theatre. This is a brilliant way to reuse packaging and let creativity run wild.
What you need: Old boxes, scissors, glue, paint, stickers
How to: Turn delivery boxes into castles, cars, planes or even a puppet theatre. Let the kids lead the design and get creative with decorating.
Nature Collage (Even if Collected Earlier!)
Just because it’s raining doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy nature. Bring the outdoors in with a nature collage using treasures collected on a dry day. It’s a lovely way to reflect on outdoor adventures and get crafty at the same time.
What you need: Leaves, twigs, flowers, glue, paper
How to: Use items collected on a dry day to create beautiful nature collages. Add labels or turn them into a nature journal page.
Salt Dough Keepsakes
Salt dough is a classic for a reason—it’s easy, cheap, and perfect for making keepsakes. Whether it’s a handprint, a heart, or a homemade ornament, these little creations are full of charm and memories.
What you need: 1 cup flour, ½ cup salt, ½ cup water
How to: Mix into a dough, shape into ornaments or handprints, and bake at a low temperature. Once cooled, paint and decorate. A lovely keepsake or gift idea! Check out my post on Salt Dough Trees for more detailed instructions. After that, the possibilities are endless.
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Recycled Robots
Turn your recycling bin into a treasure trove of creativity! Recycled robots are a brilliant way to teach kids about reusing materials while building their own quirky characters with bottle caps, foil, and imagination.
What you need: Toilet rolls, bottle caps, foil, glue, googly eyes
How to: Build your own robot army using bits from the recycling bin. Encourage kids to name their creations and invent their own robot powers.
Indoor Scavenger Hunt with a Crafty Twist
Scavenger hunts are always a hit—but why not add a crafty twist? Once the kids have found their items, challenge them to turn their finds into a masterpiece. It’s a great way to combine movement, problem-solving, and creativity. Plus it makes a craft session more fun, more engaging and makes it last longer! Great for rainy days!
What you need: A list of household items, craft supplies
How to: Once they’ve found the items, challenge them to use them in a craft project—like making a monster from a spoon, string, and buttons!
And that’s it! Why not give some a go. Rainy days don’t have to mean screen time overload. With a little imagination and a few supplies, you can turn a grey afternoon into a colourful, creative adventure. What are your go-to rainy day crafts? Share them in the comments—we’d love to try them!
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