Build a paper bridge
Use two books as banks and a strip of folded paper as the bridge. Test it with a lightweight eraser, then revise the folds.
Try asking: Compare versions; avoid heavy objects and sharp edges.
Create • Learn • Explore
Rainy-day creative lab: fun ideas without screens
Turn an indoor afternoon into a maker studio. Practical projects for 5–13.
At home • Screen-free
Make something together.
Children can practise trying ideas, seeing what happens and adapting plans with everyday household supplies.
Ages 5–1315–45 minutesAdult-guided
Gather: Paper, tape, clean packaging, pencils and a small box of scrap card.
Start the activities ↓
Try these together01 02 03
Three creative projects, step by step.
Make weather characters
Invent a cloud, rainbow or raindrop character. Draw three facial expressions and tell a short story.
Try asking: What did the character want, and how did it change?
Make your own animation cards
Draw a bouncing ball on six cards with a small movement each frame. Flip them and decide whether to add more frames.
Try asking: Change one frame at a time; do not claim the result will match professional animation.
Beyond the fun
What children can practise
Problem solving, resilience, experimentation and storytelling. The aim is to practise these habits, not to promise better marks or a specific profession.
Connect it to school
Measurement, sequences, design decisions and language.
Adult notes & age adjustments
Lay out only a few materials to reduce clutter. Celebrate a revision rather than a perfect product; supervise any sharp objects.
Ages 5–6: draw weather faces. Ages 7–9: simple bridge testing. Ages 10–13: record a hypothesis and two iterations.
Free printable
Download PDF ↓Take a simple worksheet with you
One-page print-friendly activity sheet. No email or account required.
For parents • Optional next step
Enjoyed making this? Build the skill as a hobby.
The fun here connects to Animation, drawing and coding. Arts Film Academy publishes creative classes combining traditional and digital learning. Ask about age eligibility, class formats, sample work and the teaching team before choosing a hobby class.
Ages under 7: enjoy the home activities with an adult; check Arts Film Academy’s published eligibility and current batches before enquiring. Contact information must be confirmed by the website owner.
Want to go further with drawing and creative hobbies?
Enjoyed making something? See how a guided drawing hobby class could help. Compare suitable options, check actual class availability and decide whether a guided class is right for your family. AtFunky activities remain free.