Let’s embark on an adventure into the world of animals — on land and underwater — from the comforts of your home and with your little explorer with some animal craft activities.
How?
We have created an amazing trove of art and craft activities for your child to try — from painting, leaf art, paper crafts, paper folding, and much more!
So, off we go!
33 Must-try animal craft activities for your child
1) Fox Puppet
A fox is hidden somewhere among the coloured papers!
Here is one of the simple craft activities to create a puppet prop. Put on your creativity hats and create as many jungle animal props as possible.
Skills enhanced: Fine motor, Imagination, Symbolic play
2) Balloon Elephant Card
An easy craft idea for preschoolers, this card craft is sure to tickle your child’s imagination.
All you need are a chart, coloured papers, and a balloon!
Skills enhanced: Spatial reasoning, Creativity, Grip control
3) Spiral Snake
This twisty twirly craft idea will enhance your child’s coordination and spark their imagination.
Create friendly snakes out of coloured papers and paint and twirl away!
Skills enhanced: Sensory, Fine motor, Hand-eye coordination
4) Paper Plate Fish
One of those kindergarten crafts that help with fine motor development — grip and control.
This paper plate activity is engaging and definitely, colourful. Get ready to create a fish out of a paper plate and coloured papers.
Skills enhanced: Fine motor, Spatial reasoning, Coordination
5) 4-Fold Gummy Bear
Psst, there is a happy bear hidden in the coloured paper.
This is one of the simple crafts for your little one to try, an origami craft! Here is how to do it!
Skills enhanced: Fine motor control, Concentration, Creativity
6) Paper Plate Cow
Moo, where is the cow? Wouldn’t it be fun to create a cow out of a paper plate, paint, and some coloured papers?
Perhaps, it could be an excellent prop to moo and tell a story. Check out this animal craft idea!
Skills enhanced: Fine motor, Creativity, Logical reasoning
7) 4-Step Geometric Giraffes
Did you know that giraffes are considered to be vulnerable species?
Here is a wonderful chance to talk about giraffes with this simple craft. This activity is sure to enhance your child’s shape recognition too!
Skills enhanced: Coordination, Shape recognition, Spatial reasoning
RELATED: 73 Easy Paper Crafts For Kids That Are Absolute Fun!
8) Paper Plate Nemo Fish
Clownfish are indeed one of the most amazing underwater creatures!
Here is a fun activity referring to a beloved animated film. So, settle down with a paper plate and paint. You are set!
Skills enhanced: Concentration, Visual tracking, Creativity
9) Bunny Puppet
Hop, hop, hop around like the bunny!
This is one of those kindergarten crafts that can tickle your child’s creativity and communication. Let’s create one with a chart and some coloured papers!
Skills enhanced: Spatial inquiry, Cognition, Communication
10) Handmade Reindeer Paper Bag
Let’s head to the Arctic with this simple craft activity of a paper bag reindeer!
So, recycle a paper bag, use coloured papers, and your little one is all set to make a reindeer. This enhances their imagination.
Skill enhanced: Imagination, Fine Motor, Spatial inquiry
11) Origami Dog
Bow, bow, bow! Is the dog hidden in the coloured paper? Magic?!
This is one of those kindergarten craft ideas, which hones on kids’ fine motor control and concentration! So settled down for some origami fun!
Skill enhanced: Fine motor grip, Concentration, Creativity
12) King Of The Jungle
How can hearts of different sizes transform into a lion?
This craft activity for preschoolers shows you how! It is time to create a friendly lion with its majestic mane out of coloured papers and a pair of scissors.
Skills enhanced: Shape recognition, Creativity, Fine motor movement
13) Ba-ba Cotton Sheep
What sound does a sheep make?
It’s time to make this farm animal prop out of a used cardboard tube, cotton, and coloured paper. So, without much ado check out how to do this animal craft!
Skills enhanced: Sensory, Spatial inquiry, Pretend play
14) Origami Fish
Let’s fold some coloured papers and create a shoal of fish!
How about trying out to create an underwater scene with this origami activity? It will keep your child engaged for hours!
Skills enhanced: Fine Motor, Spatial Inquiry, Logical reasoning
15) Colourful Sea Turtle
Down in the ocean, what do we see? Sea turtles swimming through the weeds!
Check out this fascinating paper craft activity where your child creates weave patterns of the sea turtle shell.
Skills enhanced: Reasoning, Fine motor, Concentration
16) Elephant Handprint
This handprint activity is easy and messy!
Your child and you will have fun creating a colourful jungle with elephants of different sizes. Check out this sensorial art and craft activity!
Skills enhanced: Sensory, Creativity, Visual tracking
17) Leaf Art Animal Shapes
Here is a fun nature activity where your child reuses leaves that are dry or on the ground to create an animal craft!
So, get ready to create a jungle of animals.
Skills enhanced: Fine motor control, Coordination, Curiosity
18) Sheep Mask
With a meh-meh here, and meh-meh there!
With a paper plate, some cotton, and a chart, your child can create a simple sheep mask. This is a preschooler-friendly craft!
Skills enhanced: Sensory, Hand-eye coordination, Interaction
19) Abstract Alligator
Snap, snap, snap! There is an alligator in the clothespin!
This is one of the simplest craft activities that your kindergarten child would love to create from scratch. It is a wonderful prop.
Skills enhanced: Sensory, Coordination, Pretend play
RELATED: [Recommended] 20 Must-Try Activities For Nursery Kids
20) Paper Fish Aquarium
This paper craft activity is about creating an underwater scape using coloured papers, paint, and oodles of imagination.
So, sit down with your child and create away!
Skills enhanced: Fine motor, Creativity, Concentration
21) My Sock Bunny
Let’s create storytelling or pretend play props using some rice and a pair of socks!
This art and craft activity will enhance your child’s kinaesthetic experience. Time to make a pair of bunnies!
Skills enhanced: Creativity, Sensory, Pretend play
22) Rainbow Snake
How about creating a rainbow-coloured snake? This is finger-painting, which engages their tactile senses.
This activity is suitable for your preschooler. So, cut a spiral out of a paper plate, finger-paint and finger-print to create patterns, and create a colourful snake!
Skills enhanced: Shape recognition, Sensory, Coordination
23) Octo-cup
Did you know an octopus has three hearts?
This paper cup activity is interactive and great for parent-child engagement. All you need are paper cups, paint, string, and you are set!
Skills enhanced: Creativity, Fine motor control, Visual tracking
24) Paper Fish
Here is one of those easy craft ideas, which will engage your child’s fine motor movements and concentration.
So, let’s make a shoal of happy and colourful fish.
Skills enhanced: Imagination, Fine motor, Creativity
25) Dino Paw
Dinosaurs are extinct but they still hold a lot of fancy for kids and adults, alike!
So, this dino paw activity is simple — use cardboard and coloured papers — to create baby and parent dinosaurs.
Skills enhanced: Imagination, Sensory, Coordination
26) Chomping Bunny
Chomp, chomp, the bunny is ready to chomp on a carrot! This is one of those easy crafts, which is interactive.
Check out the chomping bunny craft and create one with your child using a paper plate, ice cream stick, and some coloured papers.
Skills enhanced: Spatial inquiry, Coordination, Interaction
27) Tiger Mask
Roooaaar!!! There is a tiger hidden in your home! Create a mask with paint, coloured paper, and string.
How about narrating a story of a little tiger and your little one pretends to be one?
Skills enhanced: Sensory, Pretend play, Interaction
28) Farm Animal Hats
Some farm animals are awaiting your little one and you!
Take some chart, turn them into cones and add on the features of animals. So come on, it’s time to go to the farm!
Skills enhanced: Spatial reasoning, Shape recognition, Pretend play
29) Weave A Fish
This is a simple weaving craft idea, which will enhance your child’s focus and fine motor movements.
Weave a colourful fish using strips of coloured papers and introduce your child to different patterns.
Skills enhanced: Fine motor grip, Hand-eye coordination, Concentration
30) Paper Cup Bunny
Hoppity, hop, hop! There is a bunny hiding in a cup.
Sit down with your child and help them create this paper cup bunny with a paper cup, paint, and pipe cleaners. So, let’s begin!
Skills enhanced: Coordination, Fine motor movement, Creativity
31) Happy Cow
How does a happy cow moo? Create this paper plate cow prop and pretend-play with your child and explore.
This sensorial activity enhances your child’s ability to create patterns using cotton and paint.
Skills enhanced: Visual tracking, Sensory, Pretend play
32) Shark Attack
This animal craft activity is sure to keep your little learner engaged for hours!
After all, this activity is a wonderful storytelling prop. Check out the simple craft idea and go on an underwater adventure with a shark or many sharks.
Skills enhanced: Cognitive, Fine motor control, Interaction
33) Go Fish Project!
Time to go fishing with some coloured papers.
This simple art and craft project is sure to enhance your little one’s imagination and creativity. You can create your fishing set-up and fish away!
Skill enhanced: Fine motor, Imagination, Creativity
Conclusion: Animal crafts to tickle your child’s skills
Roar, bleat, grrr…what all animals sounds can you hear?
Animal craft activities make for excellent pretend play and bonding time with your child! (Also, lesser screen time for your child!)
These simple craft ideas will also enhance their other skills such as fine motor, communication, etc.
So, go ahead and create a tent full of animals!
Do tell us which all activities your child loved doing in the ‘Comments’ section.
View Comments (2)
fabulous job... useful art-craft activities... thank you!
Thank you Nethra.