Make this handprint chicken craft for fun or when learning all about farm animals.
All this week we’ve been diving into all things farm-related!
And if you’re new around here you might not know that we’re slightly obsessed with handprint art and crafts for kids.
Kids just love turning their handprint into fun little animals and this craft is no exception. Today we’re sharing our last craft in our farm series, this adorable handprint chicken craft.
Read on below to see how simple it is to make at home or in the classroom with your kids!
Chicken Art
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Supplies
- Canvas or white card stock
- Paint (in brown, blue & green)
- Paintbrush
- Black, yellow, red and orange sharpies
Directions
Paint some grass or hills with the green paint, along the bottom of the paper or canvas.
Use the blue paint to paint the sky above the grass. Let dry completely before moving on.
Use a paintbrush to brush the brown paint onto your child’s open hand. Firmly push your child’s hand down slightly above the grass (be sure to leave room to make the legs), with their fingers pointed upward.
Gently pull their hand straight up to avoid smearing any paint. Let the handprint dry completely.
Once dry, use the markers to draw on the wattle, comb, legs and beak.
Use the black marker to draw on a wing and outline the other parts of the chicken.
That’s it!
Related: Paper Bag Sheep Craft
Benefits Of Painting For Kids
Even though handprint art can sometimes get a bit messy, they’re so much fun for kids and it’s a great sensory experience.
One of the most obvious ways that kids benefit from painting is increased creativity. We cannot say enough about how painting helps kids express their creativity and imagination!
It takes forethought and mental planning for children to imagine what they want to appear on the paper and then create it physically on paper.
Additionally, kids can learn about color theory and experience first hand how mixing colors creates new colors.
Painting also helps children work on fine motor skills. Each time they place the paintbrush on the canvas, they’ll get practice placing it exactly where they want it to go.
An unexpected benefit that many parents don’t recognize is an increase in their child’s confidence. Being able to start with a blank canvas and create a masterpiece will help the child feel more confident in various aspects of their life.
Related: Popsicle Stick Tractor Craft
Keeping The Mess Under Control
If you’re hesitant about this art project because you’re worried about a big mess, know you’re not alone!
We definitely don’t do messy play daily but every once in awhile, messy play is exactly what kids need.
To minimize any messiness, we keep baby wipes nearby. After pressing your child’s hand down onto the canvas, we recommend you immediately wash their hands or cover them with baby wipes until they reach the sink.
If the thought of kids and paint really freaks you out, just go outside! You can do this craft in your backyard or front driveway and use an outdoor house to spray their hands once they’ve finished making their handprint.
If you want to do more handprint crafts with your kids or students, click on the links below for more ideas.
Share With Us
Did you make this activity with your kids or students? We’d love to feature them on our social media!
For a chance to have your child’s project featured, simply snap a picture of the completed project and post it to our Facebook page, email it to us directly by clicking here, or use #simpleeverydaymom on your social media!
Get Our Favorite Farm Animal Crafts!
Handprint Chicken Art Activity
Materials
- Canvas or white card stock
- Paint in brown, blue & green
- Black yellow, red and orange sharpies
Instructions
- Paint some grass or hills with the green paint, along the bottom of the paper or canvas.
- Use the blue paint to paint the sky above the grass. Let dry completely before moving on.
- Use a paintbrush to brush the brown paint onto your child’s open hand.
- Firmly push your child’s hand down slightly above the grass (be sure to leave room to make the legs), with their fingers pointed upward.
- Gently pull their hand straight up to avoid smearing any paint.
- Let the handprint dry completely.
- Once dry, use the markers to draw on the wattle, comb, legs and beak.
- Use the black marker to draw on a wing and outline the other parts of the chicken.
Sam is the crafter and founder of Simple Everyday Mom. She has been featured in Oprah Mag, Good Housekeeping, The Spruce Crafts, Country Living, The Bump and more. Read more.