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Easy Rainbow Craft For Toddlers & Preschoolers

Learn how to create a fun rainbow craft using marshmallows. Our children had so much fun using supplies we already had at home.

toddler hands showing textured rainbow craft made from marshmallows.

If you are like my family, you are looking for anything to entertain your children. This easy marshmallow craft is so much fun. And it didn’t hurt that they got to eat some marshmallows in the process!

MOM TIP– Let the kids eat some marshmallows before the glue comes out. Or don’t glue the marshmallows if you are only looking for a temporary marshmallow craft.

cardboard, tropical colored marshmallows, rainbow out of cardboard and scissors.

Supplies you’ll need

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  • Marshmallow (white or colored)
  • Cardboard
  • Sharpie or Pencil
  • Glue
  • Optional: Food coloring

How To Dye Marshmallows With Food Coloring

Don’t have colored marshmallows at home? No problem. You can use food coloring to make colored marshmallows. Just give them enough time to dry before gluing them to your final craft.

Step 1: Make Baggies For Different Colors

red food coloring bottle with baggie of marshmallows in ziploc baggie.

Place the number of marshmallows you need for each color in a plastic bag. Add only a few drops of food coloring and a Tablespoon of water. 

Step 2: Add Food Coloring

child's hands dying marshmallows green in baggie over sink.

Zip the bag closed and move the marshmallows around. My toddlers loved seeing the marshmallows change colors.

Step 3: Let Marshmallows Dry

Once you have made your colored marshmallows, empty the bag into paper towels and leave the marshmallows there to dry for at least 30 minutes. I recommend having several layers of paper towels on your counter. 

dyed marshmallows in yellow, blue, green and red on paper towels.

Marshmallow Dying Tip

If you arrange the colors in the order of the rainbow, you can use fewer bags. Start with red marshmallows and dump them out. Then, place new white marshmallows in the bag and add two drops of yellow.

Repeat for all the colors of the rainbow going in ROYGBIV order!

child's hands holding baggie of marshmallows mixing blue and red food coloring.

Your children will not only have fun seeing the marshmallows change colors but also learn about color mixing. To make this even more educational, you could read one of my favorite color-mixing books!

Or you could also what my favorite color mixing video! Preschoolers and young children love this video!

Extra Color Theory Teaching Resources for Children

Marshmallow Craft Tutorial

Step 1: Cut The Arc Out

As marshmallows are drying, cut a rainbow arc shape out of cardboard. I took apart a cracker box. The back of the rainbow is the outside part of the box.

arc drawn on cardboard box with sharpie black marker.

Step 2: Sort By Colors

Once marshmallows are dry enough, have children sort them by colors. Sorting is a great activity in itself for preschoolers!

preschoolers sorting marshmallows in small bowls.

Step 3: Draw Rainbow Design

Draw rainbow lines and clouds if you want. Decide how many colors will be in your rainbow. Draw that many arced lines.

Step 4: Use Glue

Since my kids are preschool-aged, I put the glue down for them. This also helped because I worked in sections.

hand using glue bottle to add to cardboard rainbow.

Step 5: Continue Adding Marshmallow

Only put glue down for one color at a time. My daughter was so proud when she finished one of the colors.

preschooler's hand adding dyed marshmallows to cardboard cut out.

If you have elementary-aged children, they should be able to do everything for their rainbow craft themselves (from drawing the rainbow to gluing).

My preschoolers were so proud of what they created. The only thing is that you have to encourage your children not to eat marshmallows if they have glue on their fingers…

Oh, the joys of being a preschooler! Don’t eat the glue!

I promised a small bowl of fruity marshmallows once they finished their rainbow art project.

textured rainbow craft made from dyed marshmallows on cardboard.

Follow us on Pinterest, YouTube, Facebook & Flipboard for more free art and craft ideas!

Enjoy spending quality time with your toddlers and preschoolers.

When there is a lot of gloom in the world right now, this easy marshmallow rainbow sure made me smile. Being creative and spending time together is important.

Easy Toddler Rainbow Marshmallow Craft

Kids will love creating this easy marshmallow rainbow craft.
Print Tutorial
toddler hands showing textured rainbow craft made from marshmallows.
Prep:5 minutes
Creating:27 minutes
Dry Time:30 minutes
Total Time:1 hour 2 minutes

Equipment

  • Pair Of Scissors
  • Permanment Marker
  • Ziploc Baggies

Supplies

  • Cardboard Box
  • Tropical Marshmallows
  • White Marshmallows
  • Food Coloring
  • Liquid Glue

Instructions

  • Dye marshmallows following the insturctions above and let dry.
    dyed marshmallows in yellow, blue, green and red on paper towels.
  • Draw and cut out cardboard arc for the rainbow.
    arc drawn on cardboard box with sharpie black marker.
  • Sort colored marshmallows.
    preschoolers sorting marshmallows in small bowls.
  • Draw rainbow design with clouds.
    rainbow drawn on cut out cardboard.
  • Put glue in clouds and one stripe. Place colored marshmallows on cardboard.
    cardboard rainbow with glue and marshmallows with bowls of colored marshmallows on teal table.
  • Repeat until all the cardboard is covered.
    preschooler's hand adding dyed marshmallows to cardboard cut out.

Notes

Obviously, don’t let your children eat the glued marshmallows. 
Author: Erin Nutter
Cost: under $5

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