3 Rainy Day Crafts for Summer

Summer time usually means fun in the sun running around outdoors, but on a rainy day little ones can easily become bored and restless. Before your kiddos start climbing the walls, try these rainy day crafts to keep them occupied and entertained.

Cardboard Box House

Photo source: Say Yes

Materials needed:

• Cardboard boxes
• Scissors
• Masking tape
• Markers
• Construction paper
• Craft glue

Instructions:

1. Collect a few cardboard boxes, and select one to become the main structure of the house.
2. Arrange the box on a table so that the opening faces towards you.
3. Cut out windows and doors from the box using scissors along the backside of the box. If you cut out windows along all sides of the box, it could make the box too flimsy. If you prefer a door that opens and closes, leave one side of the door uncut to create a flap.
4. Bend another flat piece of cardboard in half to create a peak, then tape the peak on top of the main structure to form the roof.
5. Tape smaller sheets of cardboard horizontally inside of the main structure to form floors and room dividers. This step can allow your kids to become mini architects.
6. Decorate the cardboard house using markers and pieces of construction paper. For example, you can cut out singles from colorful construction paper, then attach them over the entire roof using craft glue.

Drinking Straw Marble Run

Photo source: Frugal Fun 4 Boys

Materials needed:

• Cardboard box
• Scissors
• Drinking straws
• Hot glue gun
• Marbles

Instructions:

1. Place a shallow cardboard box on a table or flat surface. If the box has flaps, cut them off with scissors.
2. Squeeze a line of hot glue along the length of a plastic drinking straw, then place the glued side of the straw against the bottom of the cardboard. Arrange the straw so that it sits at an angle. Consider using a low-temp hot glue gun if allowing your older children to use the glue gun with you.
3. Attach more straws on to the bottom of the box as before, angling them diagonally in a zig-zag pattern. As you place the straws, try to think about how a marble might travel once the box is standing at an incline. Allow the glue to cool and harden, which only takes about a minute.
4. Now it's time to have fun! Take turns placing marbles in the drinking straw marble run.

Salt Dough Shell Necklaces

Photo source: Red Ted Art

Materials needed:

• Large mixing bowl
• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup salt
• 1 cup water
• Large spoon
• Small mixing bowls
• Food coloring
• Shells
• Toothpick
• String, yarn, or thin ribbon

Instructions:

1. Create a batch of salt dough in a large mixing bowl by combining two parts flour, one part salt, and one part water. Mix well with your hands or a large spoon until completely combined.
2. Separate the salt dough into smaller mixing bowls, then add a few drops of food coloring into each bowl. Mix well until the food coloring has combined completely in each ball of dough.
3. Roll a quarter-sized piece of colored salt dough around in your palm to form a ball, then flatten the ball against a flat surface until it measures roughly 1/4-inch thick.
4. Press a small seashell into the flattened dough with the rounded side facing up.
5. Make a hole into the top of the flattened dough using a toothpick so that you can turn it into a pendant.
6. Allow the salt dough shell necklace to air dry completely, then hang it from a piece of string, yarn, or thin ribbon.

Need a few more rainy day crafts? Try out these tips for keeping your preschooler busy.