25 EASY Rainbow Crafts for Preschoolers (2023)

Looking for rainbow crafts for preschoolers?

Creating rainbow crafts are some of my favorites! I love seeing all the colors of the rainbow together.

Check out the entire article! I have some awesome FREE printables included that you have to check out.

Let’s get started with my 25 Rainbow Crafts for Preschoolers!

#1: Pom Rainbow Craft

I love seeing the colors of the rainbow. This rainbow craft for preschoolers is SO fun and colorful.

Painting with poms is such a fun way to make a rainbow craft for kids!

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

poms
clothespins
paper
washable paint
paint tray
markers
glue
cotton balls

B. Set-up

Draw a rainbow using markers on a piece of white paper. Then, add the same color paints to a paint tray. Lastly, put some clothespins on pom-poms and place them into the paint.

C. Activity

The kids will use color-matching skills to dab the poms on the rainbow! This is a fun way for the kids to paint.

It’s an excellent fine motor activity as well! After they are all done creating the colors on the rainbow, add some glue at the bottom of each side.

The kids will place white cotton balls at the ends to make the clouds for the rainbow!

#2: Fruit Loop Rainbow

This rainbow craft for preschoolers is PERFECT! Who doesn’t love a fun snack while crafting?

I love this craft for kids of ALL ages! We had some stale Fruit Loops and old mini marshmallows from the holidays that we used for this one.

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

cardstock paper
clear glue
markers
Fruit Loops
mini marshmallows

B. Set-up

You can have the kids color-sort the Fruit Loops before starting this craft. This will make it easier when it comes time to glue them on the paper!

Draw a rainbow shape on a piece of white cardstock paper. Have the kids outline the red line of the rainbow with clear glue.

C. Activity

The kids will begin sticking the red Fruit Loops onto the line. Then, they will continue this process for the entire rainbow! This is a great fine motor and color-matching activity for toddlers!

Once they are done using all the Fruit Loops, they will glue on mini marshmallows for the clouds.

This is such a fun and simple rainbow craft for kids!

#3: Rainbow Sponge Painting

Use my free printable to do this fun rainbow craft for preschoolers!

This sponge painting craft is fun and easy for kids to do.

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

washable paint
sponges
scissors
paint tray
cardstock
Shamrock Printable

Click HERE for your FREE Shamrock Printable

B. Set-up

Print off my shamrock shapes and cut them out. Use masking tape to tape them on paper.

Then, cut a sponge up into 6 different strips for the rainbow colors!

C. Activity

Have the kids dip the sponges into the paint and make prints all around the shamrock shapes! Make sure they get close to the shamrocks to see the whole shape show up.

Once they are done, peel off the shamrocks to show them what it looks like!

#4: Rainbow in a Jar Experiment

Here’s a simple experiment that’s perfect for St.Partick’s Day!

Make a rainbow in a jar using just a few supplies that you have right at home.

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

jar
water
foam shaving cream
food coloring
water
cups
droppers

B. Set-up

Add water to a jar and fill it almost all the way up! Top the jar off with some foam shaving cream.

In cups or small bowls, add a few drops of food coloring and a little bit of water. You want the color to be vibrant so the more water you add, the more it dilutes it.

C. Activity

Use the droppers to drop the colored liquid on top of the shaving cream. Do this in order of the rainbow. It will end up mixing together, but you’ll be able to see the separate colors for a bit!

Watch the colors slowly sink down into the water!

#5: Pot of Gold Plate Craft

Creating a pot of gold is a great rainbow craft for preschoolers! This one is perfect for St. Patrick’s Day.

It’s amazing what you can do with a simple paper plate. The kids will LOVE this pot of gold craft!

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

View Amazon’s Price

B. Set-up

Draw a semi-circle on a paper plate and cut it out. Paint the bottom of the plate black. Create some waves on yellow cardstock!

C. Activity

Have your little ones use markers to create the colors of the rainbow on the handle of the paper plate! Then, glue yellow cardstock to the back of the paper plate, so it shows a little.

Hot glue some gold coin to the yellow cardstock paper to look like treasure! Lastly, add a shamrock sticker on the front!

#6: St. Patrick’s Day Rainbow Treats

This St. Patrick’s Day activity will get your kids SO excited!

These graham cracker treats couldn’t be easier! The kids can help make them as well.

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

graham crackers
vanilla frosting
Airhead Xtremes
mini marshmallows

View Amazon’s Price

B. Set-up

Break a graham cracker in half and spread vanilla frosting on it!

C. Activity

Have the kids place an Airhead Xtreme on the vanilla frosting and several mini marshmallows on each side to look like a rainbow!

#7: Fruit Loop Rainbow Threading

Threading activities are great for fine motor development! This rainbow craft for preschoolers is a fun way for your kids to work on these skills.

Adding a snack to activities has always worked wonders for me. The kids get so excited to participate!

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

Fruit Loops
pipe cleaner
marshmallows

View Amazon’s Price

B. Set-up

Bend a pipe cleaner just slightly! Then, place one end of the pipe cleaner into a marshmallow.

C. Activity

Have the kids thread the Fruit Loops on the pipe cleaner. They should follow the colors of the rainbow in order. When they finish threading, place the other end of the pipe cleaner in the other marshmallow to look like a rainbow!

#8: St. Patrick’s Day Color by Code

This is a little bit of a different rainbow craft for preschoolers, but I wanted to add it in.

This FREE color-by-code St. Patrick’s Day activity is a fun way for kids to work on numbers.

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

Color by Code sheets
crayons
markers

Click HERE to grab your FREE St. Patrick’s Color by Code

B. Set-up

Print off the sheets that you want to use!

C. Activity

Make sure your child understands how to read the key at the top of the page. Then, they will color each number in the picture based on what the key says.

These are my kid’s favorite out of all the printables I create. They love revealing the picture at the end!

#9: Noodle Rainbow

This rainbow craft for preschoolers never gets old!

The process of dying the noodles is fun and simple.

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

cardstock paper
noodles
acrylic paint
ziplock bag
art tray
parchment paper
glue

B. Set-up

Add a cup of noodles into a ziplock bag and squirt some acrylic paint inside.

Shake it up and make sure the paint is covering all the noodles! Dump out to dry on parchment paper.

Make sure to separate the noodles, so they don’t stick together. Repeat this process for each color of the rainbow.

C. Activity

Wait for the noodles to dry. This process takes about 20 minutes for them to dry fully!

Then, have the kids use school glue to create a rainbow! Add a little glue to the noodle and stick it to the paper.

This is a great sensory craft for kids.

#10: Ripping a Rainbow

Ripping paper is another great way to work on fine motor skills. This rainbow craft for preschoolers turns out so cute.

We wanted to remember that moment and how she told us she was at peace by creating our own rainbows!

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

construction paper
white cardstock paper

View Amazon’s Price

B. Set-up

Create a rainbow shape on white cardstock paper and cut it out. Have the kids begin to rip the different colored construction paper.

C. Activity

Once the kids rip the paper, have them start to glue the construction paper on to form a rainbow! This is an excellent fine motor activity.

#11: DIY Rainbow Abacus

This rainbow craft for preschoolers is fun to build, and it’s a great way to work on counting skills!

How cute is this rainbow made out of pipe cleaners and play dough? The kids will LOVE it!

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

View Amazon’s Price

B. Set-up

Form large round circles with the white Play-Doh to make the clouds for the rainbow. Stick the pipe cleaners in order of the rainbow in the Play-Doh.

Then, thread 10 of the same colored beads on the pipe cleaner then stick the other end in the Play-Doh. Repeat this for all the colors!

C. Activity

Have the kids count the colored beads! They can practice counting to 10, 20, or all the way to 60!

This is a festive and fun way for the kids to work on some fine motor skills and count!

#12: Handprint Rainbow

This may be the cutest rainbow craft for preschoolers that we have done yet!

I LOVE handprint crafts. This time, I used both my daughter’s and my son’s handprint for this one, which was adorable!

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

cardboard/larger paper
washable paint
paintbrush
cardstock paper
scissors
glue
paper
tissue paper

B. Set-up

Paint your child’s hand red and have them make a print on a piece of white paper. Make sure to press down their hand to show the entire hand on the print.

Repeat this process for each color of the rainbow.

C. Activity

Once the handprints are dry, the kids can glue them in order of the rainbow on the cardboard/paper.

Draw a pot of gold using black paper. Then, have the kids scrunch up some yellow tissue paper to make the “gold” for the pot!

Add some fun St. Patrick’s Day stickers if you’d like!

#13: Salt-Painted Rainbow

Salt painting is REALLY addicting. Once you try it, you’ll want to find many different ways to do it.

This rainbow craft for preschoolers is so much fun because all the colors of the rainbow look so pretty together.

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

card stock paper
watercolors
paintbrush
salt
glue

B. Set-up

Draw some rainbows with a pencil on the paper. Then, outline it with glue! Lastly, dump salt on top of the glue.

C. Activity

You can either wait for the salt to dry, or you can do this activity right away. The kids will use watercolors to paint the colors of the rainbow!

Once they do that, they can use blue watercolors to paint the background of the white paper for the sky!

Watercolor painting is always so pretty! This is a must-try activity for the spring.

#14: Recycled Rainbow

Creating a recycled rainbow is such a fun rainbow craft for preschoolers!

They come in handy for so many activities! Plus, It’s a free way to teach your kids! We collected a bunch of TP rolls to do this recycled rainbow activity!

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

rice
parchment paper
baking sheet
liquid watercolors/ food coloring
ziplock bag
bowls
pouring cups
cardboard
cut TP rolls

View Amazon’s Price

B. Set-up

Set up the TP rolls on the cardboard in a rainbow shape. I didn’t glue any of these down, to be honest, it would take along time to do that, and it worked just fine without it.

Dump the rainbow rice into separate bowls so it can be poured in easily!

C. Activity

Have the kids use the pouring cup to scoop and pour the colored rice into the correct spots to make a rainbow! Pouring and scooping are great practice life skills.

Continue pouring and scooping to make the entire rainbow. Once it’s all done, you can lift the TP rolls up to see what it would look like! It’s so cool to see the final product!

Once you are done, put the rainbow rice into a ziplock bag! It can be kept for months to play and do other sensory activities with!

#15: Rainbow Writing Tray

Writing trays are a frustration-free writing activity for kids! They don’t have to stay within the lines, and they can try their best to learn how to form the letters.

This is a fun St. Patrick’s Day activity for kids to practice handwriting skills.

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

tray
Shamrock Tracibles (upper and lowered case included)
rainbow sprinkles
paintbrush

Click here to grab your St. Patrick’s Day Tracibles

View Amazons Price

B. Set-up

Print off the letters you want to work on so your child knows how to create each letter! Then, in a tray, dump some green and gold-colored sprinkles in.

C. Activity

Your child can use a paintbrush to create the letters in the sprinkles, or they can use their fingers. They should identify the letter that you place in the tray and then create it! Repeat for all the letters.

#16: Edible Fingerpaint Rainbow

This fun rainbow craft for preschoolers is fun because the paint is edible!

Make rainbows or other fun art using this simple recipe.

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

cool whip
food coloring
muffin tin
spoon

View Amazons Price

B. Set up

In a muffin tin, add two or three tablespoons of cool whip and drop 2 drops of food coloring in each spot! Mix with a spoon.

Also, draw a pot of gold at the bottom of the paper with a black marker!

C. Activity

Have your little one dip their fingers in the red color and put it on the paper! They should make a strand for each color of the rainbow.

When they are done, they can have a small treat by trying the edible paint!

#17: Rainbow Lava Lamps

Lava lamp experiments are our favorite easy kid’s science experiment.

We have done a bunch of variations of lava lamp experiments for holidays and seasons, but the rainbow lava lamps are my favorite.

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

cups/sensory bottles
Alka Seltzer tablets
food coloring
baby oil/vegetable oil
water

View Amazon’s Price

B. Set-up

Fill the sensory bottles or jars up 1/2 way with baby oil. We used baby oil for this specific experiment because you can see the colors more clear. You can use vegetable oil, and it will work the same way.

Add 1/4 cup of water on top of the oil.

C. Activity

Drop in a few drops of food coloring into each of the bottles. Lastly, have the kids drop in an Alka Seltzer tablet.

Prepare to be amazed! A few seconds later, you will see the mixture begin to bubble and start to look like a lava lamp!

This reaction will go on for a few minutes. You can continue this experiment by adding another tablet, and it will keep going!

#18: Sticky Wall Rainbow

Sticky wall activities are ALWAYS a hit! It’s so fun to watch the objects stick to the wall!

This rainbow craft for preschoolers is so much fun! This can be done at home or in the classroom!

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

View Amazons Price

B. Set-up

Cut a piece of contact paper off to create and peel the paper off. Grab some painter’s tape and stick it up to the wall with the sticky side facing out.

While you are doing this step, have the kids start ripping or cutting pieces of colored construction paper out!

Lastly, create a semi-circle on black construction paper to be the pot of gold!

C. Activity

Have the kids place the construction paper on the sticky wall in the shape of a rainbow! Also, they will place the pot of gold, plastic coins, and cotton balls on the sticky wall to create a rainbow with treasure at the end of it!

#19: Painted Pom Rainbow

Have you ever tried using cotton balls for painting? This activity is a little different and SO much fun!

This is a fun rainbow craft for preschoolers that’s SUPER easy to set up.

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

cotton balls
liquid watercolors
cups
art tray
droppers

B. Set-up

Set the cotton balls up in a tray in a rainbow shape. Then, in cups add liquid watercolors or food coloring and water together.

C. Activity

Have the kids use medicine droppers or fine-motor droppers to squeeze the liquid onto the cotton balls.

They should do it in order of the colors of the rainbow! They will love seeing the colors soak through the cotton balls!

This is such a fun craft for St. Patrick’s Day!

#20: Rainbow Cutting Craft

Cutting activities are important for kids to work on, and they improve fine motor skills!

This simple rainbow craft for preschoolers is great for cutting practice, and it’s a cute St. Patrick’s Day craft for kids.

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

B. Set-up

Create a cloud shape and cut it out! Then, create the rainbow by cutting strips of colored paper.

Attach the colored paper to the back of the cloud by using tape or a glue stick. Lastly, draw some lines on the strips. You can create them as easy or hard as you’d like depending on the skills of your little one.

C. Activity

Have your child use scissors to cut along the lines you created! They should try to stay on the lines the best they can.

To make it easier for them to cut, tape down the cloud to a flat surface.

#21: Rainbow Name Craft

Name crafts are a great way for kids to practice building their name!

This rainbow craft for preschoolers is easy and fun to do for spring!

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

construction paper
glue stick
scissors
marker

B. Set-up

Create a cloud shape from white paper and cut it out. Then, make strips of colored paper for the rainbow!

Create the amount of strips that your child will need to build their name.

C. Activity

Either you or your little one can write the letters of their name on the strips of paper! They will then use a glue stick to glue them onto the cloud in order of their name.

Add a face to the cloud if you want!

#22: Rainbow Sponge Craft

These rainbow sponges couldn’t be easier to make, and they turn out so cool!

The kids will have a blast making rainbow prints on the paper with these.

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

sponges
scissors
washable paint
paper
paintbrush

B. Set-up

Cut a sponge into a semi-circle shape.

C. Activity

Paint the colors of the rainbow on the sponge. Then, flip it around and make prints on paper!

Simple and cute rainbow craft for kids!

#23: Fingerprint Rainbow

I love this simple and fun rainbow craft for preschoolers! Fingerprinting art is fun for the kids to do.

I love keeping these crafts to look back on the kid’s little prints.

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

cardstock paper
washable paint
cotton balls
glue
markers

B. Set-up

Create a rainbow on paper using markers! This will help your child know where they have to make fingerprints.

C. Activity

They will dip their finger in 1 color at a time and make prints along the lines you drew. They can use a paper towel to wipe off their finger between colors.

Then, they will add a little glue at the bottom of the paper to add cotton balls for the clouds!

#24: Streamer Plate Rainbow

The streamers for this craft are amazing! Your kids will love to hang this craft up around the house when they are done.

This is a great rainbow craft for preschoolers to do for St. Patrick’s Day!

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

paper plate
scissors
cotton balls
poms
paint
glue
tape
streamers
clothespins

B. Set-up

Cut 1/3 of the paper plate off. Then, add paint to a paint tray and attach craft poms to clothespins.

C. Activity

The kids will dip the poms attached to the clothespins into paint and make a rainbow on the paper plate.

You can draw a start and ending point at the bottom of the plates, so the kids know where to paint.

Glue on cotton balls at the bottom of the plate for the clouds.

Once the plate is dry, you can cut the streamer and tape it to the back, matching the colors up!

#25: Puffy Paint Rainbow

Making your own puffy paint is fun and easy! It feels really awesome when it dries too.

This rainbow craft for preschoolers is a must-try with your kids.

How to do this activity

A. Materials you need

cardstock paper
shaving cream (foam)
cotton balls
food color
paint brush
glue

B. Set-up

Draw a rainbow on the paper using markers so your little one will know when to start and stop painting the colors.

To make puffy paint, mix together equal parts of foam shaving cream and glue. If you want it extra puffy, add extra shaving cream.

To make the colors, add food coloring and mix it together with a spoon.

C. Activity

Have the kids scoop the paint out with a spoon and spread it out using a paintbrush. They will do this for each color!

I typically keep a cup of water close by so they can rinse the spoon off between colors.

Add cotton balls at the bottom of the clouds! Wait a day for it to dry, and check out how it feels.

Final Thoughts and Conclusion

I hope you found some rainbow crafts for preschoolers that you will try!

These rainbow crafts for kids are perfect for St. Patrick’s Day, springtime, and well really in my opinion any time of the year because you can work on identifying colors/color matching skills!

Let me know what your favorite rainbow craft was in the comments below in the comments! Also, let me know if you try any of the crafts. I’d love to hear about how it went.

Happy Crafting!

Deena