Fun Animal Arts and Crafts for Kids

Create a Pocket-Sized Zoo from Walnut Shells

Jul 17, 2009

As delightful to create as they are to play with, these lovable animal friends will capture your child's imagination.

Summer vacation has arrived, and moms, dads, and caregivers are eager to explore creative new techniques for entertaining and teaching their little ones. These long, blissfully empty summer days have got the kids out building sandcastles at the park, learning to swim without water wings, and borrowing books from the library to discover new adventures every week. Indeed, summer is the season for an altogether different type of learning, outside the classroom!

For parents and kids who want to spend some quality time together in a “hands on” art project, why not try something simple and fun like crafting adorable animals from empty walnut shells? Provided the children’s craft box is stocked with a few basics such as colorful pipe cleaners, googly eyes, and tempera paint, this project can be a fun and diverting way for parents and children to spend at least a couple quarters of an hour.

Supplies Needed

Creating the Animals, Step by Step

Depending on the child’s age and dexterity, adults or kids can gently crack the walnuts into two halves. Remove the nutmeats and set aside to be used for snacking, or in a heart-healthy fruit and nut bar. Walnuts are a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids and plant-based protein. Combined with rolled oats, chopped dates, dried cranberries, and a little brown rice syrup and peanut butter, they add crunch and a delicious nutty flavor to yummy homemade granola.

After spreading a workspace with newspaper or a plastic tablecover, and bedecking the kids with painting smocks, get out the paints, brushes, and palette, and let them go to it with gusto! Don’t forget paper towels for accidental spills and smudges, and a cup of water to rinse brushes between color choices.

After the shell halves dry completely, the fun work of adding ears, eyes, tails, and whiskers can begin. Because of the glue, adults should supervise this process carefully – ensuring that the work area is well-ventilated to prevent the accumulation of any undesirable fumes.

Suggested Animals

The variety of animals which can be made is limited only by the imagination, so encourage your child in his creativity and fanciful ideas – even if it means making a “tiger mouse” – and enjoy this quality time spent together. These days won’t last forever.

The copyright of the article Fun Animal Arts and Crafts for Kids in Crafts is owned by Audrey Heald. Permission to republish Fun Animal Arts and Crafts for Kids in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.