Creative Activities for Kids: Fun, Educational, and Delicious

Engaging kids in creative activities is really important for their development. It not only keeps them entertained but also nurtures their imagination and problem-solving skills. If you're looking for some brilliant ideas, especially those involving baking, you've come to the right place! This blog post will explore lots of different creative activities for kids, with a focus on our favourite activity of them all… baking! Our activities are perfect for rainy days, weekends, or school holidays.. keeping little hands busy whilst having lots of fun!

Arts and Crafts

1. DIY Art Station

Setting up a DIY art station at home can be a wonderful way to inspire creativity. Add lots of  crayons, felt tips, coloured paper, glue, scissors, and other crafting supplies… we like using jam jars for storage. Encourage your kids to create whatever they like, whether it's drawing, painting, or making collages.

2. Nature Collages

Take your kids on a nature walk and encourage them to collect leaves, flowers, and small twigs in a bag. Once you have a good collection, bring them home and use them to create beautiful nature collages on paper. This activity not only boosts creativity but also helps kids appreciate nature.

3. Homemade Playdough

Making homemade playdough is a fun and simple activity. You only need flour, salt, water, and food colouring. Mix 125g flour, 300g salt, 240ml of water, and a few drops of food colouring to create a dough. Kids can shape and mould it into whatever they imagine, providing hours of creative play.

Educational Activities

4. Science Experiments

Simple science experiments can be both educational and exciting. Try making a volcano using  baking soda and vinegar. Mix baking soda with a few drops of food colouring in a small container, then pour vinegar over it to watch the volcanic eruption. Or try our edible slime recipe HERE.

5. DIY Bird Feeders

Creating bird feeders is a fun and educational activity - a great way for kids to learn about different bird species.. All you need is pine cones, peanut butter, and birdseed to make simple bird feeders. Hang them in your garden and the kids will love to watch birds come and visit.

6. Reading and Storytelling

Encourage your kids to read by setting up a cosy reading nook with a pile of their favourite books. After reading, ask them to narrate the story in their own words or create an alternative ending.

Baking Fun

Baking is a wonderful way to combine creativity and learning. It teaches kids about measurements, following instructions, and the science of cooking. You can bake with your kids without the faff using our baking kits that also include a craft activity to do while the ovens on … why not try making our delicious meringues or brownies? Here are some simple and fun recipes you can also try…

7. Decorating Cupcakes

Decorating cupcakes is a fun and tasty activity. Bake a batch of plain cupcakes and set up a decorating station with various icings, sprinkles, and edible decorations. Let your kids unleash their creativity by designing their own cupcakes. Here’s a simple cupcake recipe to get you started:

Basic Cupcake Recipe

Ingredients:

• 150g unsalted butter, softened
• 150g caster sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 150g self-raising flour
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp milk

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan)/350°F/Gas Mark 4 and line a 12-hole cupcake tray with paper cases.
2. Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
3. Beat in the eggs one at a time, adding a little flour with each egg to prevent curdling.
4. Fold in the remaining flour, then stir in the vanilla extract and milk.
5. Divide the mixture evenly between the paper cases.
6. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre of a cupcake comes out clean.
7. Allow to cool completely before decorating.

8. Biscuit Decorating

Biscuit decorating is another enjoyable baking activity. Bake a batch of plain biscuits and let your kids decorate them with icing, chocolate chips, and sprinkles. You can make this easy by buying one of our kits or follow this  simple biscuit recipe:

Basic Biscuit Recipe

Ingredients:

• 200g unsalted butter, softened
• 200g caster sugar
• 1 large egg
• 400g plain flour
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan)/350°F/Gas Mark 4 and line a baking tray with baking parchment.
2. Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
3. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract.
4. Gradually mix in the flour to form a dough.
5. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface and cut out shapes using biscuit cutters.
6. Place the biscuits on the prepared baking tray and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown.
7. Allow to cool completely before decorating.

9. Pizza Making
10. 

Making homemade pizza can be a fun family activity. Kids can choose their own toppings and design their pizzas. Here’s a simple pizza dough recipe: Why not shaping the dough base into your favourite animal.. you could try a bear or monkey.. just add cut up olives or an icing writer for the eyes.

Pizza Dough Recipe

Ingredients:

• 500g strong white bread flour
• 7g sachet fast-action yeast
• 1 tsp salt
• 325ml warm water
• 2 tbsp olive oil

Instructions:

1. Mix the flour, yeast, and salt in a large bowl.
2. Make a well in the centre and add the warm water and olive oil.
3. Mix to form a soft dough, then knead on a lightly floured surface for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
4. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and leave to rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
5. Preheat your oven to 220°C (200°C fan)/425°F/Gas Mark 7.
6. Knock back the dough and divide it into 2-3 pieces. Roll out each piece on a lightly floured surface to your desired thickness.
7. Transfer the rolled-out dough to a baking sheet and add your favourite toppings.
8. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbling.

10. Sweetie crafts

Making edible jewellery is a creative and tasty activity – you can buy one of our sweetie kits and the kids will love to get creative making sweetie jewellery bands and rings or even robots made out of craft and sweets.

Outdoor Creative Activities

11. Nature Art

Take your kids outside and give them a bag to gather leaves, flowers, and twigs. Use these natural materials to create beautiful pieces of art. You can make simple leaf rubbings or twig sculptures. This activity helps kids connect with nature and develop their creativity.

12. Pavement Chalk Art

Provide your kids with a set of colourful chalks and let them create masterpieces on the pavement or patio . They can draw pictures, create hopscotch grids, or write messages. This activity is great for encouraging outdoor play and creativity.

13. Garden Planting

Gardening is a wonderful way to teach kids about plant life cycles and how to care for plants.  Let them plant their own flowers, herbs, or vegetables. They can then decorate plant pots and take care of their plants, watching them grow over time.

Conclusion

Creative activities are so important  for children's development, providing them with much needed time to express themselves, learn new skills, and have fun along the way. By incorporating a mix of arts and crafts, educational activities, and baking, you can ensure that your kids stay engaged and entertained. Baking, in particular, is a brilliant way to combine creativity with practical skills, making it one of the most beneficial activities for kids of all ages.

Whether it's decorating cupcakes, making homemade pizza, or creating nature art, these activities inspire your kids and provide endless hours of enjoyment. So, grab your materials, roll up your sleeves, and get ready to embark on a creative adventure with your little ones!

Happy creating!