Looking for a simple autumn craft to do with the kids? This handprint hedgehog craft is a fun and easy hedgehog craft for kids that uses our free printable hedgehog template and a little brown paint to create adorable hedgehog spines. It’s a wonderful woodland animal craft for toddlers, preschoolers and young children.
Why You’ll Love This Hedgehog Craft
- Perfect hedgehog activity for preschoolers
- Uses just a few supplies
- Great for fall and woodland animal themes
- Encourages creativity and sensory play
- Ideal for nature-themed learning activities
- Includes a free printable hedgehog template
Supplies Needed for This Hedgehog Craft for Kids
- Free printable hedgehog template
- Brown washable paint
- Paintbrush or sponge brush
- White printer paper or cardstock
- Wet wipes or paper towels for clean-up
How to Make a Handprint Hedgehog
Step 1: Print the Hedgehog Template
Download and print the free printable hedgehog template onto white paper or cardstock. This simple template makes an excellent preschool hedgehog craft and is suitable for a range of ages.
Step 2: Paint Your Child’s Hand
Using a paintbrush or sponge, carefully cover the palm and fingers with brown paint.
Don’t worry if the coverage isn’t perfect. Real handprints often have little gaps and uneven patches, which help create a more natural-looking hedgehog.
Step 3: Make the First Handprint
Press the painted hand onto the paper so that the palm overlaps the hedgehog’s back.Lift the hand carefully to reveal the first set of spines.
Step 4: Add More Handprints
Repeat the process several times, overlapping the handprints slightly.
Position some handprints higher and some lower to create a fuller hedgehog shape. This also helps the fingers vary in length, making the spines look more realistic.
Step 5: Finish Your Hedgehog
Continue adding handprints until the hedgehog’s back is covered with spines. Allow the paint to dry completely before displaying your finished artwork.
Learning Opportunities
This handprint hedgehog craft is a great way to support early learning through play and is one of our favourite woodland animal crafts.
Children can:
- Explore colours and textures
- Develop fine motor skills
- Learn about woodland animals
- Practise following instructions
- Express creativity through art
Variations to Try
Why not experiment with different colours and materials?
- Use orange, red and yellow paint for an autumn-themed hedgehog.
- Sprinkle on a little brown glitter while the paint is wet.
- Create a whole family of hedgehogs using different-sized handprints.
- Turn this activity into a fun nature craft for kids by collecting real leaves, twigs and pinecones during an autumn walk and using them to decorate your hedgehog.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is this craft suitable for?
This activity is ideal for toddlers, preschoolers and primary school children. Younger children may need help applying the paint.
Can I use cardstock?
Yes. Cardstock works particularly well because it prevents the paper from wrinkling when paint is applied.
How many handprints do I need?
Most children will need around four to six overlapping handprints to create a full set of hedgehog spines.
More Autumn Crafts for Kids
If your children enjoyed this handprint hedgehog craft, they might also love:
Download Your Free Hedgehog Template
Ready to get started? Download the free printable hedgehog template and create your own adorable handprint hedgehog today!
Download your template here!
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Great fun for my great neices to try – we love our hedgehogs
Love a cute craft session
Adorable! We did something similar one time but used leaves of all sizes/colors in the fall.
Love how easy it is and how good it looks when finished!
That is such a cute idea! I love this! Thank you for sharing this creative idea.
Oh my goodness this is so cute! What a great idea
I LOVE hedgehogs and this project is adorable!
I love this idea
That’s very cute!
This is so cute and looks like fun! Thanks for sharing!
This is such a cute idea!