Step into the wild world of creativity with jungle animal crafts that will spark your toddler’s imagination!
Crafting is not just fun; it’s an incredible way for little ones to develop their motor skills, learn about animals, and express themselves.
From playful monkeys swinging through the trees to colorful parrots perched above, these 15 crafts are a fantastic way to bring the jungle right into your home. Get ready for hours of laughter and learning as you and your child create adorable jungle scenes together.
Grab your glue, scissors, and colorful paper, and let’s get crafting!
Contents
- 1. Paper Plate Jungle Masks
- 2. Toilet Paper Roll Animals
- 3. Nature Collage Safari
- 4. Sock Puppets Galore
- 5. Jungle Animal Fingerprints
- 6. Jungle Animal Egg Cartons
- 7. DIY Jungle Animal Stickers
- 8. Nature Play Dough Animals (A Must-Try!)
- 9. Jungle Animal Coloring Pages
- 10. Felt Jungle Animal Miniatures
- 11. Paper Bag Puppets
- 12. Jungle Sensory Bottles
- 13. Jungle Animal Stamps
- 14. Jungle-Themed Storybooks
- 15. Jungle Animal Wall Art
1. Paper Plate Jungle Masks
Transform simple paper plates into wild jungle animal masks that your toddlers will love wearing!
Start by gathering paper plates, colorful paints, and various craft supplies like feathers and stickers. Let your child paint the plates in bright colors representing their favorite jungle animals.
Once dry, you can cut out eye holes and add embellishments like yarn for hair or felt for ears. This craft not only encourages creativity but also gives your little one a fun prop for imaginative play.
A great tip: organize a little jungle parade afterward in your living room!
Materials needed:
– Paper plates
– Acrylic paints
– Scissors
– Craft glue
– Various decorations (feathers, googly eyes, etc.)
Let your toddler’s imagination run wild as they come to life with their new animal masks.
Product Recommendations:
2. Toilet Paper Roll Animals
Don’t throw away those toilet paper rolls! They’re the perfect base for creating adorable jungle animals.
With just a little paint and some craft supplies, you can turn those rolls into crafty critters like tigers, elephants, and giraffes. Start by painting the rolls with bright colors, then add features like ears, tails, and eyes using construction paper and glue.
These crafts are excellent for teaching your child about recycling while making memorable creations. Remember, each animal can have its own personality, so encourage your child to get creative!
Here’s what you’ll need:
– Empty toilet paper rolls
– Acrylic or washable paints
– Construction paper
– Scissors and glue
This project is not only fun but also a fantastic way to discuss the importance of recycling with your little ones.
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3. Nature Collage Safari
Bring the great outdoors into your crafting session with a nature collage safari!
Head outside with your toddler to collect leaves, twigs, and flowers. Once you have a good haul, spread out some paper and let your little one glue their treasures to create a jungle scene.
You can incorporate animal stickers or cutouts to add life to their artwork. This craft not only lets them explore nature but also teaches them about different plants and animals.
This activity is also great for sensory play—kids can feel the textures of leaves and twigs while learning about their environment.
Things to gather:
– Natural elements (leaves, flowers, etc.)
– Construction paper or cardboard
– Craft glue
Encourage storytelling with their collages to further enhance their imaginative play!
Product Recommendations:
• washable child-friendly glue
4. Sock Puppets Galore
Old socks can take on new life as jungle animal puppets!
Gather mismatched socks, fabric scraps, googly eyes, and other craft supplies to create fun and funky jungle animals. Your toddler can help choose colors and decorate their puppets by gluing on features like ears and tails.
Once their puppets are complete, encourage playtime! They can put on a puppet show depicting their favorite jungle stories. This craft promotes creativity and storytelling skills.
What you’ll need:
– Old socks
– Fabric scraps and felt
– Googly eyes
– Craft glue
This is a fantastic way for kids to express their creativity while learning about different jungle animals through pretend play.
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5. Jungle Animal Fingerprints
Capture your little one’s tiny fingers on paper with a fun jungle animal fingerprint craft!
Using washable ink pads, help your toddler create colorful fingerprints on a sheet of paper. These can be turned into various jungle animals with just a bit of creativity. For instance, they can add ears and tails to the fingerprints to create monkeys or lions.
This simple craft is perfect for developing fine motor skills and offers a delightful way to preserve those tiny hands forever!
What you’ll need:
– Washable ink pads in different colors
– White paper
– Colored pens or markers
Display their masterpieces on the fridge or create a mini-gallery at home! This craft also makes for a lovely keepsake.
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6. Jungle Animal Egg Cartons
Those empty egg cartons are about to become your child’s favorite jungle friends!
With some paint and creativity, your toddler can transform them into an array of jungle animals. Cut each egg section into individual pieces and let your little one paint them. These can be made into various animals, like crocodiles or turtles, simply by adding a few embellishments.
Not only is this a fun craft, but it also encourages recycling—teaching your child the importance of reusing materials.
Materials you will need:
– Empty egg cartons
– Acrylic paints
– Paintbrushes
– Craft supplies for decoration
Once done, they can create stories involving their new animal pals, which encourages imaginative play.
Product Recommendations:
• Craft supplies assortment for kids
7. DIY Jungle Animal Stickers
Get crafty and imaginative with DIY jungle animal stickers that are so simple and fun to make!
All you need are some sticker sheets, coloring materials, and images of jungle animals. Let your toddler color, decorate, and cut out their favorite animals. You can make them stickable by adding a small piece of tape or adhesive on the back.
These stickers can then be used to decorate their art projects or personal items. It’s a great way to encourage creativity and a sense of ownership over their creations!
Materials required:
– Blank sticker sheets
– Colored pencils or markers
– Scissors
Encouraging your child to use their stickers in different ways can enhance their play experience and foster imaginative storytelling.
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8. Nature Play Dough Animals (A Must-Try!)
This is hands down one of the most fun crafts you can try with your toddler!
You can make homemade play dough in different colors, and then use it to mold various jungle animals. This activity not only stimulates creativity but also helps enhance fine motor skills as they roll and shape the dough.
To make the play dough, mix flour, water, salt, and food coloring together until it reaches the desired consistency. Then let your toddler shape their favorite animals—like lions, monkeys, and even snakes!
Ingredients for homemade play dough:
– 2 cups flour
– 1 cup salt
– 2 cups water
– Food coloring
Once their jungle creatures are ready, they can create a whole jungle scene, fostering imaginative storytelling. This craft can keep them engaged for hours!
Product Recommendations:
• Melissa & Doug Animal Stamps
9. Jungle Animal Coloring Pages
Sometimes, a classic coloring session can spark so much joy!
Download and print jungle animal coloring pages featuring tigers, parrots, and elephants. Place some crayons or markers in front of your toddler and let them unleash their creativity. Encourage them to mix colors and even add their own elements to the coloring pages!
Coloring is a great way for kids to express themselves and enhance their hand-eye coordination. You can also turn this activity into a teaching moment by discussing the animals and their habitats as they color.
What you’ll need:
– Printed coloring pages (found online)
– Crayons or markers
Once completed, you can display their artwork around the house or create a little gallery wall. This simple activity can be a relaxing way to spend time together!
Product Recommendations:
• Crayola Ultra Clean Washable Crayons
• Melissa & Doug Jumbo Coloring Pads
• Crayola Markers Broad Line Classic Colors
10. Felt Jungle Animal Miniatures
Felt crafts are so much fun, and they make for adorable jungle animals your toddler can play with!
With some felt fabric, scissors, and a hot glue gun (for adult use), you can create miniatures of different jungle animals. Cut shapes for body parts and let your toddler help assemble their favorite creatures. This can be a fantastic way to teach them about colors and shapes while crafting.
Once created, these felt animals can be used in storytelling or playtime, adding a unique touch to their imaginative adventures!
Materials needed:
– Colorful felt fabric
– Scissors
– Hot glue gun (adult supervision)
These delightful miniatures can also be used as toys, encouraging your child to think creatively about how their animals interact.
Product Recommendations:
• Hot glue gun with glue sticks
11. Paper Bag Puppets
Turn ordinary paper bags into lively jungle animal puppets that spark your toddler’s imagination!
With some crafty supplies like colored paper, scissors, and glue, you can create fun puppets representing various jungle animals. Help your child cut shapes for heads, tails, and ears, then glue them onto the bags.
These puppets are perfect for playtime performances—encourage your little one to create stories with their jungle friends. This craft promotes creativity, storytelling, and fine motor skills.
What to gather:
– Brown paper bags
– Colored paper
– Scissors and craft glue
The joy of seeing their characters come to life will be unforgettable! This craft can be combined with a puppet show for extra fun.
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12. Jungle Sensory Bottles
These sensory bottles are not only a fun craft but also a wonderful way to calm and engage your toddler.
Take clear bottles, fill them with water, and add colorful glitter, small jungle animal toys, and even some food coloring. Seal the bottles tightly and let your child explore the magical underwater jungle world inside!
This craft enhances sensory exploration, as they watch the glitter swirl and settle, while also learning about various jungle animals.
Materials needed:
– Clear plastic bottles
– Water
– Glitter and small animal toys
– Food coloring (optional)
These bottles can be used for calming moments or as a playful activity to kickstart their imaginations.
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13. Jungle Animal Stamps
Create unique jungle animal stamps using household items for playful art sessions!
Cut shapes from potatoes or sponges to represent different animals, then dip them in paint to create fun stamps. Your toddler can stamp their creations on paper, adding details with markers afterward.
This is a hands-on activity that’s great for developing fine motor skills and creative expression. You can even make a game out of it by asking your child to identify the animals they’ve stamped!
What you’ll need:
– Potatoes or sponges
– Tempera paint
– Paper or canvas
Encourage your little one to share their stamped art with family and friends to showcase their creativity!
Product Recommendations:
14. Jungle-Themed Storybooks
Pair your crafting with some jungle-themed storytime for an immersive experience!
Choose books that highlight various jungle animals, which can inspire your craft sessions. This is a fantastic way to introduce your child to reading while simultaneously engaging them in craft activities.
After reading, you can encourage them to create crafts based on the stories you shared. Ask questions about the animals and their adventures—this helps develop their language skills and love for storytelling!
Recommended jungle-themed books:
– ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ by Giles Andreae
– ‘The Jungle Book’ by Rudyard Kipling
Connecting stories with crafts can make for memorable and educational moments together! Many libraries also have fantastic selections of these themes.
Product Recommendations:
• Jungle-Themed Craft Supplies Set
• Animal Finger Puppets Craft Kit
15. Jungle Animal Wall Art
Let your little one create stunning wall art that celebrates jungle animals!
Provide them with canvases or thick cardboard, and let them paint, draw, or collage their favorite jungle creatures. You can even use mixed media, such as fabric, glitter, and paper, to enhance their artwork.
This not only promotes creativity but also allows them to take pride in displaying their masterpieces around the house! It’s a great way to liven up their play space and make them feel special about their work.
Materials you will need:
– Canvas or cardboard
– Paints, markers, fabric, and glue
Encourage fun themes, like “The Jungle Safari” or “My Favorite Jungle Animal,” to inspire creativity!
Product Recommendations:
• assorted craft paper and glue sticks
Conclusion
Crafting jungle animals provides endless joy and learning opportunities for toddlers.
From playful masks to engaging storybooks, these activities foster creativity, motor skills, and a sense of wonder about nature. Encourage your little one to explore various materials and ideas—who knows what incredible creatures they’ll create!
So grab those craft supplies and let the jungle fun begin!
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