Looking for a fun, screen-free way to keep little ones busy on a rainy afternoon? Let them turn into farmers for the day. With a set of free printable templates, a couple of small boxes and some colouring materials, your child can build their own paper tractor, trailer and farmyard animals — perfect for imaginative play, “feeding the hens,” and “collecting the eggs” all afternoon long.
This is a lovely craft for toddlers and preschoolers who enjoy hands-on making and pretend play, and it’s easy enough to set up with things you probably already have at home.
Download Your Free Printable Farm Craft
You will need:
- Printer
- 2 small cardboard boxes
- Glue
- Colouring materials
Instructions
1. Download and print the farm craft templates from the list below. Choose the black and white version (which you colour in yourself) or the ready-coloured version.
There’s a front and back sheet for the animals, tractor and trailer in either version, so print off both front and back for everything you need. Print as many pages as you like to build a really big farm.
- Farm animals in colour – Front and Back
- Farm animals in black and white – Front and Back
- Tractor and trailer in colour – Front and Back
- Tractor and trailer in black and white – Front and Back
2. If you’ve chosen the black and white version, it’s easier to colour in all the images before cutting them out. Once ready, cut out all the animals and glue the front and back sides together to make a horse, a cow, a pig, a sheep, a dog and a chicken.
3. To make the tractor, you’ll need two small boxes (empty vitamin or supplement boxes work well) and some glue. Cut out the coloured images of the tractor and trailer and glue them to the sides of the boxes. Join the tractor and trailer together with a short piece of string.
4. If the weather’s nice, take the farm outside to the garden or park — real grass and flowers make great grazing for the animals.
5. Use the tractor to transport the animals or bring hay in from the fields to the barn. Feed carrots to the horse, apples to the pigs and corn to the hens. Collect the eggs from the henhouse and get milk from the cow. Don’t forget plenty of water for thirsty animals too — there’s always work to do on the farm!
6. Build a farm with stables, a piggery, a hen house and more using blocks or boxes. Bring the animals in at the end of the day to sleep, then let them out in the morning to graze.
7. Give the animals names — Daisy, Clementine, Sunshine, Charlie, Bessy, Millie, or whatever names you and your kids dream up together.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is this farm craft suitable for?
It works well for toddlers and preschoolers, especially with an adult or older sibling helping with cutting and gluing. Older children can manage the cutting and colouring independently.
Do I need the printable templates, or can we draw our own?
The free templates make it quick and easy, but you can also let your child draw and colour their own animals and vehicles on plain card if you’d prefer a more open-ended activity.
How long does this craft take?
Printing, colouring and assembling the farm usually takes 30–45 minutes, depending on how many animals you make. The play afterwards can last all afternoon!
What’s the best way to store the finished farm?
A shoebox or small storage box works well for keeping the animals, tractor and trailer safe between play sessions.
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