Rabbit Handprint Craft: Feed the Hungry Bunny and Count

A few days before Easter, my neighbor’s daughter Mira, age 5, came over to craft. She made a bunny handprint and was proud of it. But it was only a picture. 

Then she held it up and asked, “What does he eat?” I wrote a 3 on the page and told her he wanted three carrots. She pressed three orange fingerprints in a row and counted them out loud. Then she asked for a bigger number. 

We ended up with five rows, and she fed that bunny all afternoon. This rabbit handprint craft turns a cute picture into a counting game. Here is how you make it.

What You Need for a Rabbit Handprint Craft

You need white cardstock, two colors of washable paint, and a few markers. Most families already own these.

• White cardstock, one sheet per child
• Kids’ non-toxic, washable paint in brown and orange
• Two paper plates for the paint
• A sponge brush
• One cotton ball
• A black marker, a pink marker, and a green marker
• A pencil and a ruler
• Wet wipes
• A plastic tablecloth and an old shirt

Brown paint matters here. White paint would vanish on white cardstock. Cardstock also holds wet paint without curling, so the page stays flat while you count. The cotton ball is a helper.

It keeps the extra fingers tucked in so only the palm and two ears print. Skip it for any child under 3, since small items can be a choking risk.

How to Set Up the Counting Page

Turn the cardstock sideways and draw the rows before any paint comes out. The adult does this part. It takes about three minutes.

Draw a light pencil box on the left third of the page. That is the bunny’s spot. Use the ruler to draw five straight lines across the right side, about an inch and a half apart. Write a number at the start of each row with the black marker. 

Use 1 through 5 for most kids. Rows that are too small make fingerprints hard to count, so I stop at five rows per sheet. For bigger numbers, make a second sheet and number it 6 through 10.

How to Make a Hungry Bunny Rabbit Handprint Craft Step by Step

This craft takes about 30 minutes, plus drying time. Your child makes one bunny and then feeds it with fingerprints. Follow the steps in order.

1. Cover the table with the plastic cloth. Put the old shirt on your child. Squeeze a thin layer of brown paint on one plate and orange paint on the other.
2. Check the page. The bunny box should be on the left, and the numbered rows should be on the right.
3. Ask your child to make a peace sign with the right hand. Place the cotton ball in the palm. Fold the ring finger, pinky, and thumb over it. Only the index and middle fingers stay up.
4. Dab brown paint on the palm and the two raised fingers with the sponge brush. Keep the layer thin. Do not paint the folded fingers.
5. Press the hand inside the pencil box with the two fingers pointing up. Count to three together. Rest your hand lightly on the back of theirs so it does not slide.
6. Lift the hand straight up. Drop the cotton ball in the trash. Wipe the hand with a wet wipe right away.
7. Let the bunny dry for about 20 minutes. Rushing this step smears the ears.
8. Add the face with markers. Draw two eyes on the palm with the black marker. Add a small pink nose and a few whiskers. Color a pink stripe inside each ear.
9. Dip one fingertip in the orange paint. Dab off the extra on the edge of the plate. One fingertip makes one carrot.
10. Point to the number at the start of row one. Your child presses that many orange fingerprints along the row and counts out loud. Wipe the finger, then move to the next row.
11. Let the carrots dry for about 15 minutes. Draw a short green line at the top of each one for a stem. Then count each row together to feed the bunny.

If the bunny print looks faint or the ears are uneven, wait until it dries. Trace around the shape with a brown marker. The outline fills small gaps and straightens crooked ears.

The bunny print is the hard part, and it happens only once. The fingerprints that follow are easy, and every one of them gets counted.

Counting Games to Play With Your Finished Page

The finished page is a game board, so use it right away. Keep the math simple and the mood playful.

• Count and point. Ask your child to touch each carrot and count out loud, one row at a time.
• Find the biggest row. Ask which row has the most carrots. Then ask which has the fewest.
• Let the bunny eat. Place a small sticker over a carrot each time the bunny takes a bite. Count how many are left.
• Add two rows. Point to row 2 and row 3, and ask how many carrots there are in all. Count them together.

Mira asked for a bigger number right away, so I kept adding rows. Kids often want one more round, and the page gives them a reason to ask.

How to Make It Easier or Harder by Age

Match the number of rows and the size of the numbers to your child’s age. A page that feels doable keeps the fun going.

Age 3

Use three rows numbered 1, 2, and 3. You paint the hand and guide the press. Your child makes the fingerprints.

Age 4

Use five rows numbered 1 to 5. Your child can hold the peace sign with a little help. Let them count each fingerprint out loud.

Ages 5 to 6

Use five rows, or ten rows across two sheets. Mix up the order, such as 4, 1, 5, 2, 3. Let your child write the numbers.

Tips for a Clean Rabbit Print

A thin layer of paint and one firm press give the clearest ears. Thick paint blobs and slides smear them.

Practice the peace sign on the table before any paint comes out. Dab the sponge brush lightly, and wipe the extra off on the plate. Keep the folded fingers curled around the cotton ball. Lift the hand straight up instead of dragging it. 

If the ears blur, too much paint is the most common cause. Wipe the hand and try again on a scrap sheet. Keep wet wipes in your free hand so you can clean the hand the moment it lifts.

Turn Your Bunny Into an Easter Card for Grandparents

Make a second bunny on a spare sheet, then cut it out and glue it to a card. Grandparents love keepsakes like this.

After the print dries and the face is added, cut around the ears and head. Fold a sheet of cardstock in half. Glue the bunny to the front with a glue stick.

Ask your child what to say, and write the words inside. Try, “Happy Easter, Grandma! I counted five carrots for you.” Add the date on the back. A child’s own words make the card feel special.

FAQs

Is a rabbit handprint craft safe for kids?
Yes, with the right supplies and close supervision. Use paint labeled non-toxic and washable. Wipe hands right after printing so paint stays away from mouths.

What if my child cannot hold two fingers up?
Practice the peace sign first without paint. If it is still hard, gently hold the folded fingers in place yourself. You can also leave out the cotton ball and let your hand do the tucking.

How can I use this in a classroom?
Draw the rows and numbers ahead of time. Set up one paint station for every three or four children. Let the pages dry flat on a table or shelf.

Does it work after Easter?
Yes. A bunny in a carrot patch fits spring, garden, and farm units. Change the numbers or add more rows to keep it fresh.

What can I do for a child under 3?
Skip the cotton ball and hold the folded fingers gently yourself. Use one or two rows only. Do the writing and marker work, and keep an eye on them the whole time.

You now have a bunny that does more than sit on the page. Save this pin for your next spring activity. Then grab brown and orange paint, write a few numbers, and ask your child, “What does he eat?”