Simple Crafts for Kids: DIY Potholder

Rain, rain is here to stay—let’s find another way to play!

Here in Northeast Ohio, sunny days have been few and far between this year. After a long winter indoors, keeping my little ones entertained has been no small feat. But we’ve been making the most of it—baking cookies, playing games, and lately, my three-year-old has taken a new interest in crafting.

One of our favorite recent finds? A classic potholder loom from Lehman’s! It’s simple, timeless, and—best of all—just right for little hands.

At first, I thought it might be too tricky for her, but to my surprise, she took to it quickly. Her small fingers learned to stretch and weave the loops, and suddenly, what started as a rainy-day activity turned into a hands-on lesson packed with learning.

Here are just a few of the unexpected ways this little loom helped us pass the time—and sneak in some skill-building too:

1. Playing with Patterns

Lottie is just starting to understand the concept of patterns. My original plan was to guide her in creating a color pattern on her potholder—but my free-spirited little artist had other ideas! Instead of sticking to specific colors, she went for a more “chaos of color” design.

So, we shifted our focus to weaving patterns instead: over, under, over, under… the rhythm of the process itself became a pattern to learn. We even talked about opposites—over vs. under, front vs. back—a perfect fit for her curious mind.

2. Boosting Motor Skills and Problem Solving

The loom came with a hook tool, which Lottie was eager to try. Guiding the hook through each loop gave her fine motor skills a workout, and of course, not every attempt went perfectly. When she skipped a strand or went “over-over” instead of over-under, it became a gentle lesson in problem-solving: noticing the mistake, backing up, and trying again.

It was a good reminder that even crafts can help build real-life skills—and resilience.

3. Learning Patience

Like many three-year-olds, Lottie’s attention span has its limits. Ten minutes was about all she could manage at a time before needing a break. But what impressed me most was that she kept coming back to it. Little by little, loop by loop, her project took shape. And each time, she asked for help when she needed it, showing a growing sense of focus and persistence.

Crafts like these aren’t just about staying busy—they’re about slowing down, thinking through steps, enjoying the process and, of course, having some fun together.

Rainy summer days might keep us indoors, but they can still be filled with creativity, connection, and color. With a simple loom, a pile of loops, and a little imagination, we can add a little color to a grey summer day.