Entertain furry friends with an easy craft.
Helping animals is a surefire way to get your child excited about doing good.
Crafty kids and their families can make toys for dogs, cats, and even guinea pigs and bunnies!
Possible recipients
Entertain neighborhood pet friends or donate them to your local animal shelter.
What you’ll need:
FOR CAT TOYS
Infant or child-size crew socks (make sure they are new!)
Cotton balls or craft stuffing
Dried catnip
Non-toxic permanent fabric markers
Non-toxic washable fabric glue (unless you prefer tying a knot)
FOR DOG TOYS
3 pieces of fleece (about 7-10 inches) per toy
FOR GUINEA PIG OR BUNNY TOYS
Toilet paper rolls
Timothy Hay (available at pet stores)
Non-toxic permanent markers
Instructions
Before you begin, call your local animal shelter. Find out what their immediate needs are and ask if they can use pet toys.
CAT TOYS
Stuff the sock’s toe with 1 tablespoon of catnip. Stuff the foot of the sock with cotton balls or craft stuffing. Squeeze fabric glue on the inside of the sock’s ribbing to glue the sock closed, or knot the top of the sock. Decorate with fabric markers.
DOG TOYS
Take 3 pieces of fleece, knot at one end, braid, and knot at the other end. See more specific instructions here.
When you deliver the toys, see if you can play with the animals or get a tour.
GUINEA PIG OR BUNNY TOYS
Decorate the toilet paper tubes.
Stuff empty toilet paper tubes with Timothy Hay.
See more specific instructions here.
Reflections
What do you like about being around animals?
How do you think the dog or cat that receives your toy will feel?
Why is it important to help out living things other than people?
What are other ways we can show animals we love them?
Resources
Before You Were Mine by Maribeth Boelts (Putnam Juvenile, 2007). Ages 4-8. A young boy thinks about the life of his dog before he adopted him from an animal shelter.
Shelter Dogs: Amazing Stories of Adopted Strays by Peg Kehret (Albert Whitman & Company, 1999). Ages 8-12. A collection of stories about previously stray dogs that became heroes.
Kind News A fun interactive website from the Humane Society of the United States about how kids can get involved in animal rights issues.
Take it further
When you deliver the toys, ask about other ways you can help at the shelter.
Gather a group of friends to make more toys, and deliver them together.
Throw an animal-themed birthday party. Make animal toys and dog biscuits. Other ideas: hang a puppy or kitten piñata, make dog houses from graham crackers, make dog and cat ear headbands, and have guests bring donations for your local animal shelter in lieu of gifts.
Browse the projects in our Big-Hearted Families Tookit!
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The recommendations we offer are based solely on our mission to empower parents to raise children who care and contribute.