Step into a world of creativity with these 13 Simple Sea Animal Crafts for KIDS!
As a parent who loves crafting with my child, I find these projects incredibly engaging.
Picture your little one crafting a wiggly paper plate fish or a squishy sock seahorse, each activity blending fun with learning.
Whether they’re painting seashells for a cheeky crab or shaping playdough into a playful starfish, every craft sparks imagination and curiosity about ocean creatures.
These hands-on activities not only entertain but also educate in an enjoyable way.
Get ready to explore a creative avenue that will captivate your child’s interest and nurture a love for crafting and discovering the wonders of the sea.
Wiggly Paper Plate Fish
Ready for a splash of fun? Your kids will adore making this wiggly paper plate fish.
First, cut a playful fish shape out of construction paper (Don’t worry about perfection, every fish is unique).
Next, grab those markers or crayons and let your kids’ imaginations run wild as they decorate their fish.
Glue this colorful creation onto a paper plate to give it a sturdy base (In my case I have chosen a paper plate which I painted in blue).
Now, here’s where the fun really starts, add some wiggly eyes to bring your fish to life.
Finally, cut out fins in all sorts of bright colors and glue them on the sides.
Shaking Seashell Crab
This craft is fairly straightforward and the major element here is a sea shell.
So, start by finding an empty seashell (this is a great opportunity for a little beachcombing with adult supervision).
Once you’ve got your shell, it’s time to paint it a bright, cheerful color.
Red, orange, or yellow are perfect choices to make your crab stand out (In our case we’ve painted it red).
After the paint dries, glue on a pair of googly eyes to give your crab some character.
Next, carefully poke holes in the underside of the shell followed by threading some colorful pipe cleaners or sturdy thread through these holes to create your crab’s legs, securing them with a dab of glue.
Squeezy Playdough Starfish
To create a fun, squishy starfish, give your toddler some bright orange playdough. Roll it together into a flat circle, this will form the base of the starfish.
Now, the exciting part: gently shape the clay to form five limbs for your starfish.
Spiky Paper Plate Pufferfish
This paper plate craft is super simple as you have to just cut a white circle just a bit smaller than half of a paper plate (this will be the body of your pufferfish).
Glue the white circle right in the center of the paper plate followed by cutting out small black circles from construction paper.
Now comes the fun part: help your toddler glue these black circles all over the plate (in our case it’s a yellow paper plate).
Then, cut the construction papers in such a way that it resembles spikes followed by sticking them to the edges of the paper plate.
Floppy Fin Felt Whale
In order to make a floppy fin felt whale start by cutting out two large whale shapes from light blue felt (these will be the front and back of your softie).
Next, cut a smaller oval shape from white felt for the whale’s belly (as shown in above image).
Glue the white belly onto one of the blue whale shapes to give your whale a cute, cuddly look.
Now, cut out a small triangular fin from black felt followed by gluing this fin onto the back of one of the blue whale shapes.
Finally, glue the two blue whale shapes together, but leave a small opening at the top.
If you want your whale to be extra squishy, stuff it with cotton before sealing the opening.
Rainbow Fish Paper Cup
You first need to cut out several circles from different colored construction paper.
Don’t worry about making them perfect, different sizes add to the charm.
Help your toddler glue these colorful circles around the outside of a paper cup, overlapping them slightly to create the fish’s scales.
Once the scales are in place, add a pair of googly eyes to give your fish some personality and finally, draw a cute little mouth with a marker.
This simple yet delightful craft will have your little one giggling with joy as their colorful fish comes to life.
Squishy Sock Seahorse
To make this squishy sea horse turn a clean sock inside out, this will be the base of your seahorse.
Next, stuff the sock with cotton balls until it reaches the desired size and shape for your seahorse body.
Once it’s filled just right, tie the open end of the sock with a string or ribbon to secure the stuffing inside.
Cut out small shapes for the seahorse’s fins, a dorsal fin for the back and a pectoral fin for the sides.
Glue these fins onto the sock to give your seahorse its distinctive silhouette.
Add googly eyes for a playful touch and draw a tiny mouth with a marker to complete its adorable face.
Bobbing Bottle Cap Jellyfish
To make this craft you will need to find a plastic bottle cap. If you have a plastic bottle cap handy, half of your craft is already completed.
Here’s how to complete the second half of this craft:
- Cut several strips of colorful ribbon in different lengths.
- Tie all the ribbon ends together to create a bunch.
- Now, glue the tied end of the ribbons to the center of the bottle cap. This will create the jellyfish’s flowing tentacles.
- Hang your jellyfish creation and watch it bob and sway with the gentlest breeze, it’s a delightful addition to any underwater-themed decor
Crinkly Paper Turtle
In order to craft this delightful Crinkly Paper Turtle, start by cutting out a turtle shape from green construction paper (think oval body, a small head, and four legs).
Next, crumple up a piece of white tissue paper into a ball.
This crumpled tissue paper ball will serve as your turtle’s shell.
Glue it securely onto the back of the turtle, adding a charming crinkly texture to its shell.
Now, bring your turtle to life with googly eyes and a cheerful smile drawn with a marker.
Also Read: Paper Plate Turtle Craft for KIDS (Free Template Included)
Swirling Paper Bag Shark
To create a playful Swirling Paper Bag Shark, open a brown paper lunch bag and lay it flat.
Cut out triangular fins from black construction paper and glue them onto each side of the bag’s bottom.
Next, cut a crescent moon shape from white construction paper to form the Shark’s mouth.
Draw sharp teeth on the white paper and secure it to the front of the bag with glue.
This craft transforms a simple lunch bag into an adorable shark, perfect for imaginative play or as a cute decoration for a themed party.
Popping Popcorn Box Dolphin
For a charming Popping Popcorn Box Dolphin, start by painting a small popcorn box grey with adult supervision.
Cut out a triangular fin from black construction paper and glue it to the side of the popcorn box to give it that classic dolphin silhouette.
Next, add googly eyes to the front of the box for an adorable face that will surely make a splash! For an extra touch, you can also attach construction paper circles as flippers on the sides.
This craft is not only fun to make but also makes a delightful addition to any ocean-themed party or as a whimsical decoration in a child’s room.
Pinchy Lobster Claw Craft
To craft your Pinchy Lobster Claw, paint a clothespin red and allow it to dry completely.
Once dry, glue googly eyes onto the middle of the clothespin, ensuring the claws can still open and close freely.
This simple yet engaging craft is perfect for sparking creativity and fine motor skills in children.
Also Read: Paper Shrimp Craft for KIDS (Cuteness Overloaded)
Floaty Felt Flounder
To make this cute floaty flounder begin by cutting out a large yellow circle from felt to form the flounder’s body.
Next, cut two smaller orange ovals for the fins and glue them on either side of the yellow circle.
Then, cut out a small crescent moon shape from an orange felt to create a smiling mouth and glue it in place.
Finally, add googly eyes to give your flounder its adorable expression.
This colorful and whimsical craft is perfect for sparking creativity and imaginative play.
Whether displayed as part of marine-themed room decor or used for storytelling adventures, your Floaty Felt Flounder is sure to make a splash.
Final Thoughts
These delightful sea animal crafts offer a wonderful way to ignite children’s imaginations and connect them with the wonders of the ocean world.
By involving children in hands-on activities like these, we can nurture their curiosity and love for the natural world.
I highly recommend trying out a few of these crafts, as they can serve as delightful bonding experiences for families.
Additionally, they can be incorporated into educational activities, teaching kids about different sea creatures while allowing them to express their artistic flair.
Overall, these crafts strike a perfect balance between entertainment and learning, making them a must-try for any parent or educator seeking fun and enriching activities for children.
