Today, we have a fantastic selection of Cow Crafts for kids and preschool children. My son is completely obsessed with cows (I have no idea why, but he adores them). As a result, we have created several cow-themed crafts over the years and thought it was finally time to share them. They are ideal for a farm animal study unit or for children who love farm animals!
We first put together this collection of simple Cow Crafts for the Year of the Ox and Lunar New Year (the most recent one was in 2020!!). I have kept the Year of the Ox details for you because I find them genuinely fascinating.. simply scroll down to read them below!
If you need Ox or Bull Crafts to accompany the wonderful Ferdinand, the Bull story… choose any of today’s projects and create it in black… perhaps include a gold nose ring as well, and you will have fantastic Ferdinand crafts too!
Gather your scissors, glue and craft materials, then let’s explore these adorable cow crafts and spark your imagination!
Let’s begin:
Easy Cow Crafts for Kids
Let’s start with our wonderfully entertaining and much-loved Corner Bookmark Crafts. And yes, we truly have a corner bookmark for every occasion, including this Year of the Ox Corner Bookmark DIY! I think he bears quite a resemblance to Ferdinand too!!
We also have some delightful Cow Origami Envelopes! Simply change the colours for the Year of the Ox and use our complimentary Happy New Year printable.
My children required a cow mask for a school performance.. they worked together and created this brilliant Paper Plate Cow Mask all on their own! They used the basic paper plate mask shape, then attached ovals with nostrils to transform it into a cow! You could even add a pair of cow ears! So adorable. I love it.
Toilet Paper Roll crafts work in much the same way. We have created numerous projects from this simple material. In particular, we designed this Toilet Paper Roll Yak Craft for a Paper Tube Animal ABC series. The colours are also ideal for making a Toilet Paper Roll Highland Cow, don’t you think!? Highland cows definitely deserve a place in any farm animal craft collection! Preschoolers, especially, will enjoy this straightforward cow paper craft.
This free Year of the Ox Greeting card download combines a simple drawing prompt with a card – and you can learn about Chinese characters along the way!
A couple of years ago, I created this Cow Pop UP Card for my son (he adores cows… it’s a long story). The craft centres on the cow’s pop up head, while the body is uncomplicated – white with a few black patches.. and finished! Once again, making it in black or brown would turn it into a wonderful Ox Craft or Highland cow craft too, don’t you think?
Preschoolers will also enjoy creating a handprint cow. And yes… my Yak craft inspiration carries on… this Y is for Yak Handprint Craft is another project from one of our craft collections – this time, our Animal Handprint Alphabet! Once again, making this craft black (with white hooves) would create a brilliant Ferdinand Bull craft too! I adore how sensory handprint crafts can be. My children particularly enjoyed the brush gently tickling them as they applied the paint!
More Cute Cow Crafts from around the Web
I really ought to make more Red Ted Art cow crafts! Until then, here are a few entertaining ideas from across the web!
Craft Project Ideas creates this artistic Ox, complete with cow templates available to download!
Learn Create Love also offers a wonderful bull craft/ Year of the Ox printable template that you can print, colour and put together for Chinese New Year! I love this bull’s horns! Such fun!
Dltk’s paper bag ox craft looks fantastic too! This cow puppet is an incredibly cute project that children will enjoy playing with!
You could also give Dltk’s paper plate bull craft a try! It is another excellent project for preschoolers. Let them develop their fine motor and cutting abilities before adding the cow’s features to the paper plate!
Artists Helping Children offer this fabulous little Stand Up Cow Printable Craft.
This project originally came from Michaels, although the tutorial is no longer accessible. I still found it adorable and wanted to share it!
A straightforward Wooden Spoon Ox from Activity Village
All About Learning Press offers this easy O is for Ox activity!
Isn’t this recycled-container Ox craft from Free Kids Crafts adorable? Sorting through the recycling box while discovering containers and shapes is such an enjoyable activity. It leads to wonderfully original creations.
This Cowboy outfit cow from 3 Boys and a Dog made me grin—what an entertaining way to play dress-up! All you need to begin is a large box!
Paper Box World features an adorable collection of box-animal printables, including this cow or bull design. Isn’t it sweet? Make it with sturdier card and turn it into a money box!
In the Children’s Room offers an enjoyable collection of cow-themed activities, including these wonderfully simple cow masks! Use our Paper Plate Pig Mask templates and even transform them into a 3-D version!
Buggy and Buddy created a sweet, simple Paper Cow—ideal for anyone looking for a quicker project!
Kids Activities Blog also has a fantastic PAPER (!) Cup Cow craft for you (please avoid using environmentally harmful foam cups).
With this wonderfully quirky Golf Ball Cow, Craft Klatch proves that almost anything can be upcycled!
Thrifty Fun demonstrates how to create a cow bookmark from a lolly stick. Projects made with lolly sticks have long been a beloved childhood favourite.
Etsy Printables
To finish, here are two Bull Projects from Etsy that I simply had to share!!! We created the mask during the summer, and my son absolutely LOVED it.
If you decide to buy through these links, I receive a small commission!
Wintercroft designed this Bull mask!
EcoGami created this wonderfully unusual Paper bull!
More Farm Yard Animal Craft For Kids Collections:
These charming Sheep Crafts are particularly popular during the spring!
You can also have a look at these incredibly cute Pig Crafts and Chicken Crafts, which are naturally wonderful for spring and Easter projects too!!!
Everything About the Year of the Ox
Celebrating Chinese New Year with the children is something we truly enjoy. It provides a wonderful opportunity to discover different cultures, crafts, and foods, and we always include a visit to Chinatown. We already have plenty of Animal Zodiac crafts, but today our focus is on Year of the Ox Crafts & Ideas!
These Year of the Ox crafts can also work beautifully as “Cow Crafts” for anyone studying farmyard crafts this year. Some of the projects below may actually look more like a “cow” than an “ox” or “bull,” but simply changing the colours can create a lovely cow craft for Chinese New Year!
What Dates Are the Year of the Ox?
- 11th February 1937 – 30th January 1938
- 29th January 1949 – 16th February 1950
- 15th February 1961 – 4rd February 1962
- 3rd February 1973 – 22th January 1974
- 20th February 1985 – 8th February 1986
- 7th February 1997 – 27th January 1998
- 26th January 2009 – 13th February 2010
- 12th February 2021 – 31th January 2022
Which 12 Animals Are in the Chinese Zodiac?
As noted, the 12 Chinese Zodiac Animals appear in this sequence:Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.
Discover more about the power of the Chinese Animal Zodiac here.
When Does Chinese New Year Take Place?
Chinese New Year 2021 falls on 12th February 2021, marking the Year of the Ox!
When Will the Next Year of the Ox Occur?
As mentioned earlier, Chinese New Year 2021 is the Year of the Ox and begins on 12th February 2021. The following Year of the Ox will arrive 12 years later, in 2033.
What Is the Meaning of the Year of the Ox?
The Ox ranks as the second animal in the Chinese Animal Zodiac. It holds this position because, in a legendary race, the kind Ox allowed the Rat to ride on its back. However, the Rat leapt off and raced ahead at the last moment, taking first place and stealing the Ox’s victory. A clever Rat and a trusting Ox.
What Traits Define the Ox?
The Ox was once a vital farmyard animal, and it remains so in many developing nations. It represents qualities such as calmness, perseverance, and honesty. This animal is incredibly powerful and capable. Those born under the Ox sign are diligent, loyal, and supportive.
Year of the Ox Crafts & Activity Ideas
Now let’s explore our Year of the Ox crafts and activity suggestions. As noted, many of today’s projects are also excellent for farmyard craft sessions. Alter the colours and features to transform the same template from Ox to Cow, Cow to Highland Cow, Highland Cow to Bull, or Bull to Yak. They are generally similar basic projects, and the colours can be adapted. In fact, a few of my projects today are actually YAK Crafts, which also work surprisingly well as Highland Cow crafts. And there you have it!
Additional Animal Zodiac Crafts for Chinese New Year:
More broad Chinese New Year Craft Ideas for Children:
