There’s something about rainbows that makes people smile. That flash of colour after the rain lifts everyone’s mood, and it’s the perfect excuse for a batch of cheerful, easy activities the whole family can enjoy together.
Rainbows have always carried a sense of hope and optimism – think of the old myth of a pot of gold waiting at the end of one. Whether you’re stuck indoors on a rainy day or just fancy a colourful project, these rainbow activities for kids are guaranteed to brighten the mood.
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Fun Rainbow Activities For Kids
Jump to a section:
- What are rainbows?
- Rainbow science experiments
- Make a window rainbow
- Rainbow scavenger hunt
- Rainbow slime
- Chalk rainbows
- Rainbow sidewalk paint
- 3D rainbow paper craft
- Rainbow M&M cookies
- No-churn rainbow ice cream
- A rainbow of cupcakes
What Are Rainbows?
A rainbow happens when light is reflected, refracted and dispersed by water droplets in the air, splitting sunlight into a spectrum of colour. Rainbows appear as multicoloured arcs in the sky, and a rainbow caused by sunlight always shows up in the part of the sky directly opposite the sun.
It’s a simple bit of science, but it never stops being magical to watch with the kids.
Rainbow Experiments: Make Your Own Rainbow
Fancy some science fun? Try your hand at making your own colourful creation with these simple rainbow experiments.
For the first one from Champak you’ll need:
- Water
- A bowl
- A small mirror
- A torch or a phone switched to the flashlight setting
Here’s another one using markers and a paper towel to make a rainbow that inches towards the sky!
You will need:
- A paper towel
- Water-based markers in rainbow colours (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue and Violet)
- Water
- A shallow dish
- Paper clip
- Thread
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Create a Rainbow For Your Window
Rainbow pictures in windows became a lovely tradition for spreading a bit of hope and cheer around the neighbourhood, and it’s still a wonderful way to brighten up your street.
Why not make a rainbow for your front window? And when you’re out for a walk, see how many you can spot in other people’s windows too.
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Try Our Fun Rainbow Scavenger Hunt
Have you ever been on a rainbow colour hunt? It’s a great way to get the kids active and exploring. You can download our free Rainbow Scavenger Hunt here, then just print it out and let the kids go searching.
Searching for the rainbow items can help reinforce colour learning with younger children, while older kids still enjoy the thrill of the hunt. From red to purple to grey, your kids will enjoy the challenge of ticking off all the items on the list.
You can make it more challenging by setting a theme – indoors could be items of clothing, toys or food, while outdoors the themes could be things in nature, cars on the road, shopfronts and so on.
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Make Rainbow Slime
Image: Sugar Spice and Glitter
Isn’t this rainbow slime amazing? The craze for slime shows no signs of slowing down, so if your child is looking for something new to make, this rainbow version is well worth a try.
You’ll need batches of slime in the different rainbow colours to build your rainbow effect, but don’t worry – you’ll find full instructions over at Sugar Spice and Glitter.
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Chalk Rainbows
Head outdoors for some chalking fun and make rainbows on the pavement or your garden paving stones – you could end up with a whole path or patio of rainbows!
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Rainbow Paint For Sidewalk Art
Image: Learn, Play, Imagine
How about making this fun rainbow-coloured outdoor paint? It’s easily made from cornflour, baking soda, water and food colouring, and you’ll find the details for getting started over at Learn, Play, Imagine.
3D Rainbow Paper Craft
We love these mini rainbows from Easy Peasy and Fun, sure to brighten up any room! Kids will enjoy creating them and cutting out the cloud shapes too.
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Rainbow M&M Cookies
These soft-baked rainbow cookies from Sally’s Baking Addiction are chewy and very more-ish! Great for a party, a treat day, or just because – they’re sure to go down well.
No-Churn Rainbow Ice Cream
There are lots of tasty ideas like this no-churn rainbow ice cream over at Creamish for making a really quick ice cream – no ice cream machine required, and it can be done in a matter of minutes.
A Rainbow of Cupcakes
Create your own rainbow with cupcakes, thanks to this clever and deceptively simple idea we found on Pinterest!
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Frequently Asked Questions
What causes a rainbow?
A rainbow forms when sunlight is reflected, refracted and dispersed by water droplets in the air, splitting the light into a spectrum of colour. It always appears in the part of the sky opposite the sun.
How can I make a rainbow at home with the kids?
You can try a simple water-and-mirror experiment using sunlight or a torch, or create a colourful “rainbow walking water” effect using markers, paper towels and a few glasses of water. Both are simple, mess-friendly experiments for a rainy afternoon.
What’s a fun rainbow activity for younger children?
A rainbow scavenger hunt is a great option – it reinforces colour recognition for younger kids while still being a fun challenge for older ones. Our free printable scavenger hunt is a handy place to start.
Looking for More Rainy Day Fun?
If this list has your kids in a colourful mood, why not bookmark it for the next wet afternoon? You’ll find plenty more rainy day inspiration, craft ideas and simple science experiments across MyKidsTime to keep everyone entertained whatever the weather.
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- 28 Fun Rainbow Desserts, Cakes and Treats to Brighten Your Day
- Simple Science Experiments for Kids to Try at Home
- Fluffy, Rainbow and Glow in the Dark! 10 Easy Homemade Slime Recipes
- 10 Simple DIY Garden Games and Activities for Kids
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What other fun rainbow activities can you suggest? Leave a comment below and let us know – we’d love to hear from you!
