* This post is sponsored by Disney Junior’s, The Lion Guard.
We all grew up watching The Lion King and fell in love with all the characters including Simba, Nala, Timon, and Pumba. Watching this classic again and again is always is nostalgic, especially when sharing the experience with our own children.
Just like we grew up and started families of our own, so did The Lion King characters. Disney Junior’s newest show, The Lion Guard (debuting on January 15, 2016 at 9:30am/8:30c on Disney Junior on Disney Channel), follows Simba and Nala’s son, Kion, and his friends as they protect the Pride Lands of the African savanna.
Kion assembles a group of friends with various talents and forms The Lion Guard, determined to protect the Pride Lands and the Circle of Life. In addition to Kion (the fiercest), you’ll meet Bunga the honey badger (the bravest), Fuli the cheetah (the fastest), Ono the egret (with the keenest of sight), and Beshte the hippo (the strongest). Together they form the Lion Guard!
Activities and Crafts Inspired by The Lion Guard
Kion-Inspired Paper Megaphone Craft
This megaphone craft only requires a few materials and is a fun way for children to explore the power of their own voice. Your child can use it for imaginative play or to roar right along with Kion while watching The Lion Guard!
Materials for Megaphone Craft
- Large sheet of paper or poster board
- Tape
- Scissors
- Small, red boa or fluffy, red yarn
- Glue
- Construction paper
Directions for Megaphone Craft
- Roll a large piece of paper or poster board into a cone shape. Tape into place.
- Cut off the top and bottom of your cone to level both sides and create your megaphone shape.
- Glue fluffy red yarn or a small red boa down one side of your megaphone to create Kion’s mohawk.
- Cut out some paper ears from construction paper. Make a snip in the bottom of the ears. Fold the two resulting tabs together creating a 3-d effect.
- Glue or tape the ears onto your megaphone.
- Use your megaphone to roar along with Kion!
Parent and Child Lion Handprint Artwork
- White paper
- Paintbrush
- Yellow tempera paint
- Markers
- Colored construction paper
- Scissors
- Glue
Directions for Lion Handprint Artwork
- Use a paintbrush to paint the surface of your hand with yellow paint. Press your hand onto white paper to make a handprint. Do the same thing with your child’s hand. Let the paint dry.
- Use markers to draw in details on your lion handprints: claws on the paws, a nose, mouth, and whiskers. Draw in eyes or glue on some googly eyes.
- Add the fur to your lions. To do this, cut up strips of tiny strips of colored paper and glue them onto your lion’s tail and head.
- Once your lions have dried completely, frame your artwork and display!
Binoculars Craft Inspired by Ono the Egret
In The Lion Guard, Ono’s unique ability is having the keenest of sight. Help your child focus on the sense of sight by making some Ono-inspired binoculars! The finished binoculars are perfect for imaginative play or to take out on a walk around your neighborhood. Use them to look for different birds, observe the clouds, or to spot other interesting things on your walk.
Materials for Binoculars Craft
- Two empty cardboard tubes
- White paint
- Colored tape (or paint)
- Glue
- Construction paper
- Scissors
- Single hole punch
- Yarn or string
Directions for Binoculars Craft
- Paint two cardboard tubes white and let dry.
- Wrap one end of each tube with black tape and purple or orange tape. (If you don’t have colored tape, you can also paint the ends of your tubes.)
- Glue your cardboard tubes together to create binoculars.
- Make some feathers from construction paper or cardstock. First, cut out a feather shape. Then, make lots of snips along each end of your paper feather to create fringe.
- Glue or tape your paper feathers to your binoculars.
- Punch one hole on both sides of your binoculars. Tie a piece of yarn through the holes.
DIY Foam Cheetah Feet and Counting Race Game
- 2 sheets of yellow craft foam
- Scissors
- Brown foam and glue (or a brown permanent marker)
- Dice
Directions for Making Foam Cheetah Feet
- Cut out two paw-shaped feet from your foam sheets. (You can use your child’s shoe as a guide for sizing.)
- Cut two slits, forming an ‘x’, in the heel area of each foot. This is where your child will slip his/her feet through the foam paws to wear them.
- To make your cheetah paws resemble Fuli, cut out brown shapes from craft foam and glue them onto the paws. Cut out white toes from your foam and glue them onto the paws. (You could also use a permanent marker to draw your brown pattern onto the yellow foam paws.)
- Slip your foot through the slits and wear your cheetah paws!
How to Play the Cheetah Races Counting Game
- Have each child put on his or her foam cheetah feet.
- Designate a start and finish line.
- Have all the players stand at the starting line.
- Have the first player roll a die and take that many steps. Continue with the next player.
- Continue until all players reach the finish line!
Bunga Bravery Journal
Bunga the honey badger brings the special strength of bravery to The Lion Guard. You can help your child focus on self-esteem and confidence by making a Bunga bravery journal together. Use it to record all the times your child has shown bravery and perseverance. Journaling with your child is a great way to model and discuss problem solving and share moments of pride in overcoming obstacles.
Materials for Bunga Bravery Journal
- Construction paper in gray, black, brown, red, and white
- Paper for writing
- Scissors
- Glue
- White yarn
- Single hole punch
Directions for Bunga Bravery Journal
- Cut two pieces of gray construction paper into the shape of Bunga’s head. (You can simply round off the corners of the paper.)
- Cut your writing paper into the same shape.
- Decorate the front of your bravery journal to look like Bunga. To do this, cut out his hairline, eyes, eyebrows, a nose, mouth, and teeth from the construction paper. Glue them onto the journal cover.
- Line up your journal cover, writing paper, and back cover into a stack. Punch holes down the side.
- Tie white yarn through the holes to secure your journal.
- Use your journal to write or draw all the times your child is brave like Bunga!
Even More Activities Inspired by The Lion Guard
Looking for more activities inspired by The Lion Guard? Be sure to check out these activities created by some amazing bloggers!
Pride Rocks
Show your pride and determination by writing it down and creating a beautiful reminder of what these words mean to you. Just like the members of The Lion Guard, you are “brave, strong, and fast”!
Pride Lands Play Doh
The Lion is king of the Pride Lands. Adorn play dough lions and hippos with little treasures to make them totally royal!
Power Collage Art
Make a fun DIY collage project inspired by the diverse characters in The Lion Guard! “Be Fierce.” “Believe In Who You Are.” What powerful message will you portray in your collage?
Awesome Together Family Journal
Create a treasured family keepsake by celebrating the unique qualities of your awesome family members with an Awesome Together Family Journal, inspired by The Lion Guard.
Animals of the Serengeti Art Project
Celebrate the animals of the Serengeti with this simple and fun art project inspired by The Lion Guard.
Even More Activities
For even more DIY activities and ideas inspired by Disney Junior’s The Lion Guard, please check out these fun printables!
Be sure to check out the premiere of Disney Junior’s The Lion Guard on Friday, January 15 at 9:30am/8:30c on Disney Junior on Disney Channel!