April Showers Crafts for Kids (Part 1 of 2): Rainy-Day STEAM Fun
April showers crafts are basically a parenting superpower: when the weather turns gray, you can turn a rainy day into a cozy, creative reset. In this first post of our two-part “April Showers Bring May Flowers” series, we’re leaning into rain crafts and rainy day crafts for kids that keep hands busy, minds curious, and moods lighter—while still sneaking in real STEAM learning (science, technology, engineering, art, and math). The best part: you don’t need to grab your galoshes and run to the store for an expensive kit. All of these projects use supplies you probably already have at home.
Want these rainy-day ideas saved in one place (with step-by-step directions your kid can follow)? Create a GlueStick account to bookmark favorites, track your supplies, and pick the perfect rainy-day project in minutes. We’ll even encourage the kids to clean up when they’re done.
GlueStick has dozens of rain crafts, rain experiments for kids, and easy spring activities all for one low subscription price. You can explore our library with a FREE account today.
“April showers bring May flowers” (and how to make it personal)
The phrase “April showers bring May flowers” dates back to the 1500s, and it makes a lot of sense in the UK, where April tends to be much wetter than other months.
Here in Minnesota, where GlueStick is based, April is actually one of our least rainy months—six other months typically get more rain. It is, however, the first month of the year where we get more rain than snow, so we happily embrace the saying to cheer us up when we’re just longing for a little more color outside.
Want to make this saying personal for your family? Take a minute to check your own local patterns and see how rainy April really is where you live. Here’s a helpful place to start: US Climate Data for Minnesota.
(And if April isn’t rainy where you live? No problem—these rainy day crafts still work anytime you’re stuck indoors.)
Rainy-Day STEAM Activities: Pour on the Learning
Rainy days are perfect for hands-on learning because kids naturally slow down and focus. A cloud craft can turn into a weather chat. A rainbow project can become a color-mixing experiment. A “rain in a bag” experiment can make the water cycle click in a way a worksheet never will.
Below are eight GlueStick projects that celebrate clouds, rain, and that hopeful moment after the storm—each with a quick description that includes recommended ages and time to complete so you can pick what fits your family.
Short on time? Create your GlueStick account to save these April Showers crafts to your favorites so you can come back to them anytime.
April Showers Kids Activities Using Household Supplies
Ages: 5-10 | Time: 20-40 minutes
Make a happy rain cloud mobile that “rains” rainbow-colored drops—perfect for hanging in a window and brightening up a gloomy afternoon. This one is great for practicing sequencing (steps in order) and fine-motor skills while kids design their own color pattern.
Author: In the Bag Kids Crafts
Ages: 3-10 | Time: 20-40 minutes
This cloud craft is all about imagination and observation: kids paint a cloud shape, then look closely and draw what they “see” inside it—just like spotting shapes in real clouds. It’s a sneaky way to practice visual thinking and storytelling.
Author: In the Bag Kids Crafts
Ages: 3-12 | Time: 5-10 minutes
A classic rainy-day science activity: make a fluffy “cloud,” then watch it “rain” right in front of your eyes. It’s a simple, memorable way to explore how clouds hold water and what happens when they get too full—plus it connects naturally to the water cycle.
Ages: 5-7 | Time: 20-40 minutes
A simple rain cloud craft that adds lacing beads and knot-tying—so it’s part art, part fine-motor workout. It’s also a natural lead-in to talk about weather (and easy to customize with snowflakes or a rainbow).
Author: In the Bag Kids Crafts
Want an easy rainy-day win? Sign up so you can save these crafts for easy access the next time the clouds roll in.
Ages: 5-10 | Time: 45-90 minutes
This mixed-media project combines lacing with collage-style creativity—kids can build a happy cloud scene with yarn and add a rainbow or sun. It’s a great “rainy day to bright day” transition craft.
Author: In the Bag Kids Crafts
Rain in a Bag
Ages: 3-10 | Time: 5-10 minutes + waiting
Tape a bag to a sunny window and watch the water cycle happen: evaporation, condensation, and “rain” falling back down. This is one of those projects that keeps teaching long after the setup is done.
Ages: 5-7 | Time: 20-40 minutes
An umbrella craft that’s also a pouch—because kids love making something they can actually use. This one is a fun way to practice cutting, assembling, and decorating while leaning into the April showers theme.
Author: In the Bag Kids Crafts
Ages: 3-10 | Time: 5-10 minutes
After the rain, everyone hopes for a rainbow—and this one delivers. Kids use markers, coffee filters, and a little water to watch colors blend and spread. It’s basically color theory + a tiny science experiment wrapped in a pretty result.
Author: A Little Pinch of Perfect
Afraid to make a mess on a rainy day?
You’re not alone. Rainy day crafts can feel like a recipe for extra cleanup, especially when everyone’s already cooped up.
That’s exactly why GlueStick is built around the full creative journey (not just the “make” part). Inside the app, kids can follow steps at their own pace, and when they’re done, GlueStick encourages them to clean up with age-appropriate, step-by-step checklists and friendly creative buddies to unlock when they’re done.
If you want more creating and less chaos, create a GlueStick account today.
Want more? May Flowers are coming soon!
In part two (coming soon!), we’ll switch from clouds and rain to the next phase of spring: May flowers. Think bright spring colors, blooms, and projects that celebrate the season after the storm.
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