Rainbow crafts are a fun way to brighten up a dull day and a great way to celebrate St Patrick's Day with kids of all ages. I've put together 25 different rainbow crafts for toddlers right through to teens. Kids can learn colours, practice fine motor skills and have fun exploring different materials while cutting, painting, weaving, stitching and sticking together lots of different rainbows.
RAINBOW CRAFTS FOR TODDLERS
These rainbow crafts are all easy to do for toddlers {some can be finished by adults}, but you may want an art smock on hand in case things get a bit messy. All of these activities are process art so the focus is more on creating rather than the finished piece, they can interpret it any way they like. Before you get started you'll need some basic supplies like washable paint and paper.
HAND PRINT RAINBOWS
These hand print rainbows are a great painting activity to do at daycare or kindy. These will require some adult assistance, painting the rainbow colours on their hands, however they'll make such cute keepsake art for parents. They're also a great St Patrick's Day craft activity. Follow the instructions over at Frugal Mom Eh to create your own.
RAINBOW CORK PAINTING
Rainbow cork painting is a super simple and fun craft activity to do with toddlers. Use the free template from Messy Little Monsters and let the kids decorate their own rainbow with dot painting. Use a different cork for each colour to avoid colour mixing. It doesn't matter if they do each line in one colour or just do rainbow spots, that's all part of the fun!
POP UP PAPER PLATE RAINBOWS
These pop up rainbow paper plates are a fun painting activity to do with toddlers and then they become a 3D craft. You'll only need watercolours, paper plates and scissors to make them. Follow the instructions at Pink Stripey Socks.
WASHI TAPE RAINBOWS
These washi tape rainbow cards are super easy for toddlers to make, especially if you have the washi tape cut to length and clouds cut out ready for them to just stick down. Follow the instructions at I Heart Crafty Things.
RAINBOW COTTON BALL PAINTING
These cotton ball rainbow paintings are an easy and fun way for toddlers to practice fine motor skills and make some pretty art at the same time. Using cotton balls attached to pegs the kids can dab the cotton balls into the paint then dot the colour in rainbow order. Find out more at ABC's Of Literacy.
UTENSIL RAINBOW PAINTING
This utensil rainbow painting activity from Happy Toddler Playtime looks like so much fun! Get the kids to use a different utensil for each colour row of the rainbow. Such a fun way to explore textures and make painting even more fun, just remember to use washable paint so your utensils clean up after.
RAINBOW SPONGE PAINTING
Sponge painting is a great process art activity for toddlers and these rainbow sponge paintings are easy to make with a little adult assistance. You'll need to squirt paint in rainbow order onto the sponge for the kids and then let them go crazy creating their own rainbows. Things may get messy but it's all part of the fun!
PUFFY RAINBOW
These puffy paper rainbows are a similar concept to making a cushion, however they use up old paper and scraps that are destined for the recycling or bin. They're also a fun way for younger kids to experience painting on a surface that isn't completely flat. Follow the instructions to make them at Sun Hats & Wellie Boots.
RAINBOW CRAFTS FOR PRESCHOOLERS
As children get a little bit older their fine motor skills and ability to follow direction increase so they can handle slightly more complicated crafts. These rainbow projects would all be great to do as group activities in pre-kind or kindy rooms at daycare. They're great activities to learn colours, rainbow sequencing and fine tuning fine motor skills like pincer grip.
YARN WRAPPED RAINBOWS
These yarn wrapped rainbows are a great craft and fine motor activity rolled into one. Kids will be working their fine motor skills carefully wrapping the yarn around the cardboard and also reinforcing colours as they match the yarn to the coloured cardboard sections. Find out how to make your own at School Time Snippets.
TISSUE PAPER RAINBOW
This tissue paper rainbow is a fun way to sneak in lots of fine motor practice! If you make the rainbow on a canvas it also makes great wall art for a bedroom or playroom. Follow the instructions at Crayons and Cravings.
CARDBOARD COLLAGE RAINBOW
This collage rainbow is a great way for preschoolers to practice fine motor skills and learn colour matching. You'll need cut up coloured paper, glitter glue and coloured styrofoam balls. Follow the instructions at Craft Bits.
COFFEE FILTER RAINBOWS
These coffee filter rainbows are such an easy craft that have such a vibrant results. You'll need some coffee filters and watercolour paints. Use pegs and string to turn the finished rainbows into a pretty garland as shown above. Follow the instructions at Our Kid Things.
RAINBOW CARD
This cute rainbow card is a fun way for preschoolers to learn rainbow colour order and practice colouring within lines. Print off the free template from Simple Everyday Mom and then the kids can colour it with markers, pencils or crayons.
PAPER PLATE RAINBOW GARDEN COLLAGE
This paper plate rainbow garden combines lots of different art processes including painting, decorating with stickers and embellishments and sand art. You'll need a few different flower stickers, washable paint, coloured sand and glue. This would be a great kindy classroom activity that can be done over a few days if the kids have a short attention span. Follow the instructions at Blue Bear Wood.
RAINBOW STRING PAINTING
String painting is a fun process art technique that results in many varied designs. Rainbow string painting is a great craft activity preschoolers can do with minimal adult assistance. They may need help covering the string in paint initially, but should be able to create their own art {use a heavy book to help if needed}. Follow the step by step instructions at Twitchetts.
YARN RAINBOWS
These yarn rainbows are a simple cutting and gluing activity to get fine motor muscles working. Add some cotton balls at the end of the rainbow for clouds. Follow the instructions at 3 Dinosaurs.
TORN PAPER RAINBOWS
Torn paper rainbows are a great way to use up all the left over random pieces of coloured paper from previous craft sessions. The kids can tear or cut the paper and then glue them down into a rainbow collage using our free printable rainbow template.
BUTTON RAINBOW
This colourful button rainbow card is a great way for preschoolers to practice fine motor skills and colour sorting. It comes with a free template from The Craft At Home Family which will help them with line spacing and where to glue for the rainbow. It's also a fun way to use up those jars of buttons we all seem to have hiding away.
DECONSTRUCTED RAINBOW COLLAGE
Another fun way to get creative with rainbows is to make some deconstructed rainbow collages. Using the free template from Barley and Birch, kids can practice their cutting skills carefully cutting out each arch and then play around with different compositions of the arches.
PAPER PLATE AND YARN RAINBOWS
This paper plate rainbow with clouds and yarn is a great classroom art activity. Kids will practice fine motor skills while painting, cutting the clouds and tying the yarn. It can also be done in stages over a few days in group time. Find out how to make them and get the free template at Non Toy Gifts.
RAINBOW CRAFTS FOR OLDER KIDS
These rainbow crafts are best suited for kids 8+ to teens as they'll require a much longer attention span and some may need to be done in more than one sitting. They also require basic sewing skills and some use materials such as hot glue or needles which are too dangerous for younger kids. All of these crafts also make great décor pieces once finished.
POPSICLE RAINBOW WITH FELT CLOUD
This adorable paddle pop stick rainbow with felt cloud is a fun craft for older kids and would make a cute piece of room décor once finished. This craft will teach kids how to hand sew a simple softie and how to use a hot glue gun {although there are no sew options too}. Find out how to make one at Darcy and Brian.
NEEDLE FELTED RAINBOW
This needle felted rainbow will be relatively easy for a teenager {or adult} to create if you have the right needle felting tools and roving. Follow the instructions at Blue Bear Wood. Needle felting is also a relaxing mindfulness activity.
YARN WALL HANGING
These yarn wall hanging clouds with rainbows are a great activity for tweens and teens and would make cute wall décor for their rooms. They're also a great way to use up any excess bits of yarn you have laying around. Follow the instructions at Red Ted Art to make your own.
FUSED BEAD RAINBOW SUN CATCHER
This fused bead rainbow sun catcher is a really cool take on a traditional sun catcher. Instead of using contact, to create this sun catcher you'll need to thread rainbow beads onto pipe cleaners then melt them in the oven to fuse them together. Follow the instructions at Fireflies and Mudpies. While younger children can do the threading part of this craft, it is recommended that the beads are melted by an adult.
FINGER KNITTED RAINBOW
When I was younger I loved finger knitting lots of different creations, I would of loved to make this finger knitted rainbow. Finger knitting does take a lot of concentration which is why I've added it under ideas for older kids. To find step by step instructions and watch the rainbow being made, head over to this post at Red Ted Art.
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