Rainy Day Art Projects for Kids

Creative Rainy Day Art Projects for Kids (That You’ll Love Too!)

Does looking out the window and seeing rain make you think, “f*ck, my kids are going to destroy the house today.”?

Same.

While I AM a self-prescribed happy hermit and introvert, and the idea of a rainy day *should* make me think of curling up with a good book, I know that actually if I am stuck inside all day with unhinged children I am going to be losing my marbles thinking about the book I am most certainly NOT getting to read.

UNLESS I put on my quick thinking cap (which admittedly requires a LARGE dose of caffeine) and toss out an art invitation for my kids!

If you also dread rainy days and don’t want to pay $20/child to head to the trampoline park or watch TV all day, here are some ideas for you to try next time it rains!

Rainy days inside can actually feel like magic when you’re prepared with a few simple, open-ended art ideas like these (and even outside, if you’re up for a puddle adventure!).

These rainy day art projects are easy to set up, mostly using supplies you already have on hand, and perfect for sparking curiosity and play when the weather keeps you inside.

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Drawing or painting on windows!

Whaaat no I did not lose my mind, I swear. In our Delaware home we had a giant sliding glass door that took up one of the 4 walls in our small playroom, so I learned a few ways to embrace that like setting up a window easel for painting. We also used these amazing window crayons we bought in Japan (you can also use this US brand). The cover photo on this blog shows my daughter using them! Just hand them over, set ground rules (window glass only), and watch what they create! The best part is they clean up really easily, and you can include your kiddos in that task too.

Rain Potions in Recycled Jars

IDK about you my kiddo LOVES putting water in jars. Don’t ask me why, but do ask yours if they want to make rain potions and try this:

Supplies Needed:

  • Recycled glass or plastic jars with lids
  • Water
  • Food coloring or liquid watercolor
  • Glitter, sequins, flower petals, or other fun “ingredients”
  • Spoons or funnels

How to Do It:

  1. Set out clean jars (or gather rain water, lol) and fill them halfway with water.
  2. Invite your child to add drops of food coloring to make “magic rainwater.”
  3. Offer glitter (AT YOUR OWN RISK! haha), tiny beads, flower petals, or bits of nature they find outside to mix in.
  4. Give the jar a good shake, swirl, or stir and watch the “rain potion” come to life.

DIY Rain River Boats

This is something we have only managed to once but it was SO FUN and I was so involved I got zero photos of it, of course! But think of the “gutter” areas on your neighborhood street where the water runs during rain, and imagine making boats to run down that! It’s a little bit STEAM as well, because they’ll figure out quickly what materials work in the water and what don’t, what topples over and what balances, etc.

Supplies Needed:

  • Recyclables: corks, bottle caps, small plastic containers, or cardboard
  • Craft sticks or straws
  • Tape or glue
  • Paper or foam sheets for sails

How to Do It:

  1. Gather your materials and challenge your kids to design a tiny boat that can float.
  2. Attach a mast (craft stick or straw) and add a simple sail made from paper or a foam sheet.
  3. Head outside in rain boots to find a curbside stream or puddle and test your boats!
  4. See whose design floats the longest or goes the farthest, bring tiny toys to ride in the boats, they will be so entertained, I promise!
earth day process art

Recycled Cardboard Collages & Creations

This is a bit like my last minute earth day project post! Gather up random recycled materials, add scissors and glue (hot glue only if you’d trained them up on that, lol) and see what they create!

Supplies Needed:

  • Clean cardboard (cereal boxes, shipping boxes, or scraps)
  • Scissors
  • Glue or tape
  • Paint Sticks (work so well on cardboard!)
  • Stickers
  • Bits and bobs from the recycling bin

How to Do It:

  1. Cut cardboard into shapes, pieces, or buildable parts.
  2. Invite your child to layer, stack, and glue pieces together to create anything from robots to rain clouds to entire 3D scenes.
  3. Add color, stickers, or drawn-on details to bring it to life. Paint sticks work really well on cardboard!

Keep the Creativity Going!

Rainy days can be some of the best days for slowing down, making art, and leaning into your kids’ natural curiosity. Looking for more simple ideas to try next? You might also love:

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