Magical creatures and mythical beasts are always fun and fascinating elements of stories. Whether they’re protecting hidden treasure, healing wounded warriors or asking explorers cunning riddles, they add intrigue and excitement to any tale. Dragons are arguably the mythical beast we love best, and appear in cultures from Medieval Wales to ancient China. If you love these scaly beasts, here are some craft ideas that will keep you busy on rainy days.

Dragon masks

Whether you want to scare your siblings or celebrate Lunar New Year, dragon masks are fun to make and a great way to let your imagination run wild. You can find plenty of templates and tutorials online - from cut-out masks that can be secured with elastic to elaborate 3D head pieces - allowing you to pick something that suits your abilities.

Dragon spoon puppet

This super-simple yet fun craft requires very little - just a wooden spoon, some paint and some coloured card or felt. You’ll be making a dragon soar around the house in no time!

Cardboard tube dragon

Everyone has a spare toilet roll tube available at some point, and next time you spot one, why not use it to make a dragon? Paint it or wrap it in the coloured card of your choice, then cut out a head, wings and a tail from coloured card. Stick these on and draw on eyes, a nose, a mouth and any other details you want. 

Dragon glitter picture

Make a sparkly dragon picture for your bedroom wall with this quick and easy idea. Print a dragon template onto coloured card or draw your own design. Next, go over the lines with PVA glue, ensuring the glue is thick enough to be visible. Finally, shake coloured glitter of your choice onto the lines and carefully tap off the excess, leaving a beautiful sparkly dragon. 

Dragon paper chain

Perfect for celebrating Lunar New Year, a dragon paper chain is easy to make. All you need is some shiny paper or card in the colour of your choice and a template of a dragon head and tail to stick at either end of your paper chain. You can get creative with colours, glitter, sequins and more to make your dragon as elaborate as you choose. 

Dragon eggs

Why not make a dragon’s nest full of glittering eggs? Great for preschoolers, this craft idea turns polystyrene eggs into rare and magical treasures with the help of paint, sequins, stick-on jewels and more. If it’s Easter you can even hide them around the house or garden for siblings or friends to find. 

See a dragon live

If you’ve always wanted to see dragons live, don’t miss the Dragons and Mythical Beasts stage show. Ideal for kids aged three and up, it uses stunning puppetry to introduce the whole family to a host of fantastic creatures, from the beautiful unicorn and the majestic griffin to the mysterious indrik and Japanese baku. Just be sure not to wake the dragon…

Book your tickets for USA performances today.