8 Fun Activities All About Pets

Do your kids love animals? Whether they’re fascinated by fish, obsessed with puppies, or dream of adopting a chirping parrot, these activities promote creativity, problem-solving, and empathy for animals while giving your family plenty of opportunities for quality time together. 

1. Create a Pet Portrait Gallery

At Home

Turn your living room into an art studio and invite your child to create colorful portraits of real or imaginary pets.

Supplies:

• Paper or cardstock
• Crayons, markers, or paints
• Googly eyes, feathers, or pom-poms

Instructions: 

Let your child draw or paint a picture of their favorite animal. Add fun accessories like feathers for birds or pipe cleaners for whiskers. Display the portraits in a "Pet Gallery” on your wall or fridge for everyone to admire!

In the Community

Visit an Animal Shelter – Take a trip to a local animal shelter and encourage your child to draw pictures of the animals they meet. Hang the artwork in their room to remember the experience, or even give the pictures to the shelter to brighten their space!

2. Host a Stuffed Animal Adoption Center

At Home

Set up an imaginative adoption center where stuffed animals “find their forever homes.”

Supplies:

• Stuffed animals
• Paper for “adoption certificates”
• Markers and stickers for decoration

Instructions:

Arrange the stuffed animals in a cozy space and let your child “adopt” one or more of them. They can fill out adoption certificates, give their pet a name, and create a bed or home for their new pal.

In the Community

Donate Toys to a Shelter – Encourage your child to donate gently used stuffed animals or pet supplies to a local animal shelter. This fosters empathy and introduces the importance of giving back to animals in need.

3. Make Pet-Themed Treats (for Humans!)

At Home

Get creative in the kitchen and whip up some tasty treats shaped like favorite pets.

Supplies:

• Sugar cookie dough or pre-made mix
• Animal-shaped cookie cutters (dog bones, fish, etc.)
• Icing and sprinkles for decoration

Instructions:

Roll out the dough, use cookie cutters to create fun pet shapes, and bake according to the instructions. Once cooled, let your child decorate the “pet treats” with colorful icing and sprinkles.

In the Community

Visit a Local Bakery – Head to a bakery that sells animal-shaped cookies or cupcakes and let your child choose a fun treat that reminds them of their favorite pet!

4. Build a Pet House Using Recyclables

At Home

Encourage problem-solving and creativity by designing a cozy home for a favorite stuffed animal or toy.

Supplies:

• Cardboard boxes
• Tape and glue
• Markers, fabric, and craft supplies

Instructions:

Build a pet house using recycled materials. Add doors, windows, and even a comfy bed inside. Let your child decorate it however they like and make a space for their pet to “live.”

In the Community

Explore Different Animal Habitats – Visit a local zoo or nature center and explore different animal enclosures. Discuss how the environments are designed to meet the needs of the animals and use what you learn to inspire new ideas for pet house designs!

5. Make a Pet Collage

At Home

Explore creativity while learning about different types of pets with a colorful collage.

Supplies:

•    Old magazines, newspapers, or printouts
•    Glue sticks and scissors
•    Large sheet of paper

Instructions:

Cut out pictures of pets and items related to their care (like food, toys, and bedding). Glue them onto a large sheet to create a vibrant pet collage. As you create, talk about the different types of pets and their needs.

In the Community

Visit a Pet Store – Explore the aisles of a pet store and let your child observe different animals and supplies. Use the visit as inspiration for adding new ideas to their collage.

6. Birdwatching Bingo

At Home

Have fun outdoors while learning about local bird species.

Supplies:

• Printable birdwatching bingo sheet or a homemade version
• Binoculars (optional)
• A cozy outdoor spot

Instructions:

Head outside and encourage your child to observe and identify birds in your backyard or neighborhood. Mark off each bird they spot on the bingo sheet.

In the Community

Visit a Nature Center – Explore trails and birdwatching spots where you might encounter different types of birds. Bring a checklist to track which species you see!

7. Write a Story About an Imaginary Pet

At Home

Foster creativity and literacy by helping your child write and illustrate a story about an imaginary pet.

Supplies:

• Paper and crayons
• Pencil or markers

Instructions:

Ask your child to imagine a pet they would love to have. What does it look like? What adventures does it go on? Help them write and illustrate the story, then read it aloud together.

In the Community

Visit the Library – Check out books about pets and animals for inspiration. Choose stories about unusual or imaginary pets and encourage your child to create a new tale based on their reading.

8. Create a Bird Feeder Science Experiment

At Home

Learn about birds and their eating habits while conducting a fun outdoor science experiment.

Supplies:

•    Pinecones or toilet paper rolls
•    Peanut butter or sunflower seed butter
•    Birdseed

Instructions:

Spread peanut butter over the pinecone or roll, then sprinkle the birdseed. Hang it outside and observe which birds come to visit. Discuss which types of birds prefer certain types of seeds.

In the Community

Join a Birdwatching Group – Look for a local birdwatching group that offers family-friendly outings where kids can learn more about local bird species and their habitats.