Helping kids strengthen their fine motor skills doesn’t have to be boring—it can be fun, creative, and full of adorable animals! If you’re a parent, teacher, or caregiver looking for an easy and enjoyable activity to help young children improve their hand control and coordination, this animal craft is perfect for you.
In this post, I’m excited to share a simple fine motor activity that I created using animal templates. The best part? You get to use recycled paper like newspaper or old book pages, and your kids will absolutely love the process!
Let’s dive into this cute, hands-on craft that combines learning, play, and creativity.
What Is This Craft Activity?
This easy picture craft features 10 animal templates that kids can decorate using torn or cut paper pieces. Each animal is printed as a black outline on white paper. Children fill in the shape of the animal using small pieces of paper—like newspaper or recycled book pages—and glue them into place.
It’s simple, engaging, and a great opportunity to practice fine motor skills while also enjoying art and creativity.
What You’ll Need
You only need a few basic supplies to get started:
- Printed animal templates (free PDF provided below)
- Old newspapers or books (or any scrap paper)
- Glue stick or white glue
- Safety scissors (optional for older kids)
- Crayons or markers (optional for extra decorating)
If your child is younger, you can let them tear the paper with their fingers. Older kids can practice using scissors to cut small pieces of paper instead.
How to Do the Craft
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you and your kids complete this fun activity:
Step 1: Print the Templates
Download and print the free animal craft templates. You can print them all at once or choose your child’s favorite animals.
Step 2: Prepare Your Paper Pieces
Give your child some old newspaper, magazines, or book pages. Let them tear the paper into small pieces (about 1 inch or less). If your child is practicing with scissors, have them cut small squares or shapes instead.
This step is fantastic for strengthening finger muscles and improving hand coordination!
Step 3: Apply Glue
Help your child apply glue to the inside of the animal shape. You can work on one section at a time so the glue doesn’t dry too quickly.
Step 4: Fill in the Animal
Now comes the fun part! Your child will place the paper pieces inside the animal outline. Encourage them to cover the whole space and try not to go outside the lines. This helps with hand-eye coordination and focus.
[Download the FREE PDF here]: Download
