10 Creative Activities for Kids (Easy and Cheap)

This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

When my girls were younger, I was always looking for something fun to do on those “I’m bored!” days. These ten creative activities use simple supplies and can easily become little learning moments too.

1. Salad spinner art

You’ll need: a salad spinner, paper plates or circles of paper, washable paint

1. Put the paper in the spinner basket.
2. Drip a few colors of paint on top.
3. Close, spin and open to see the swirl!

2. Color mixing bags

You’ll need: zip-top bags, red, yellow and blue paint, tape

1. Put two colors of paint in a bag.
2. Seal and tape it to the table.
3. Let kids squish the colors together and name the new color.

Tip: Mess-free for toddlers!

3. Homemade slime

You’ll need: 1/2 cup clear school glue, 1/2 cup water, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1 tbsp contact lens solution (with boric acid), food coloring

1. Mix glue, water, baking soda and coloring.
2. Add contact solution and stir until it pulls away from the bowl.
3. Knead with your hands.

Tip: Adults should measure the contact solution, and wash hands after playing.

4. Felt finger puppets

You’ll need: felt, fabric glue, markers, googly eyes

1. Cut two small rounded rectangles of felt.
2. Glue the edges, leaving the bottom open.
3. Add faces, ears and hair.

5. DIY travel chalk board

You’ll need: a metal cookie tin, chalkboard paint, chalk, magnets

1. Paint the inside of the lid with chalkboard paint (adults).
2. Store chalk and magnets inside for car trips.

6. Sorting game

You’ll need: a muffin tin, pom-poms or buttons, tongs

1. Sort by color, size or shape into the muffin cups.
2. Use tongs for extra fine-motor practice.

7. Fire-free fireworks

You’ll need: paper, paint, a fork or a cut-up paper towel tube

1. Dip a fork or the fringed end of a tube in paint.
2. Stamp bursts of “fireworks” on dark paper.

8. Paper cup animals

You’ll need: paper cups, paint, construction paper, glue

1. Paint a cup and let dry.
2. Add paper ears, fins or tails to make a whale, owl or bunny.

9. Watercolor resist

You’ll need: white crayon, watercolors, paper

1. Draw a secret picture with white crayon.
2. Paint over it with watercolors to reveal it!

10. Sensory bin

You’ll need: a bin, dry rice or pasta, scoops and small toys

1. Fill a bin with rice and hide small toys.
2. Let kids scoop, pour and find.

Tip: Supervise little ones and skip small parts for kids who still mouth things.

Craft-time tips

• Cover the table with newspaper or a cheap plastic tablecloth.
• Set out supplies before calling the kids over.
• Let kids make it their own; it doesn’t have to look like the example.
• Grown-ups handle hot glue, ovens and sharp tools.

Love a good printable? My Free Printables Library has planners, trackers and seasonal goodies, free when you join my email list.

FAQ

What are good activities for a bored child?

Simple art, sensory bins and building projects keep kids busy and creative.

Is homemade slime safe?

Use small amounts of contact solution, have an adult measure it, and wash hands after.

How do I make crafts educational?

Talk about colors, counting, shapes and patterns as you go.

You might also like:

• 25 Rainy Day Crafts for Kids
• 15 Toilet Paper Roll Crafts
• 10 Butterfly Crafts for Kids