13+ Easy Paper Plate Crafts for Toddlers
Paper plates are one of the easiest and most toddler-friendly craft materials.
They’re lightweight, affordable, and perfect for little hands learning to paint, glue, and explore shapes.
These simple paper plate craft ideas are fun, colorful, and great for boosting creativity and motor skills in young children.
1. Paper Plate Sun With Rays
Toddlers can paint a plate bright yellow and glue strips of paper around the edges to create a cheerful sun.
Pro Tip: Use pre-cut strips so little hands can easily assemble the rays.
2. Animal Face Masks
With a little paint and marker details, toddlers can turn plates into lions, bears, cats, or any animal they love.
Pro Tip: Attach a craft stick as a handle instead of cutting eye holes for easier toddler play.
3. Rainbow Paper Plate Craft
Cut a plate in half and let toddlers paint or stick colored paper strips to create a bright rainbow.
Pro Tip: Add cotton balls on each end for soft, fluffy clouds.
4. Paper Plate Turtle
A green-painted plate becomes a turtle shell with simple cut-out legs and a head.
Pro Tip: Let toddlers press fingerprints on the shell for cute “spots.”
5. Paper Plate Flower Garden
Toddlers can decorate flower shapes cut from plates and glue them onto craft sticks for a mini garden.
Pro Tip: Use pastel colors to make the flowers look extra sweet.
6. Paper Plate Ladybug
A red-painted plate with black spots becomes an adorable toddler-friendly ladybug craft.
Pro Tip: Use a sponge dipped in black paint to make easy polka dots.
7. Paper Plate Fish
A simple triangle cut from the side of the plate becomes the tail when glued on the opposite side.
Pro Tip: Add shiny foil pieces for glittery scales.
8. Paper Plate Butterfly
Cut the plate in half to form wings and let toddlers decorate with dots, stripes, and stickers.
Pro Tip: Add a pipe-cleaner antenna for a fun 3D effect.
9. Paper Plate Drum
Two plates glued together with beans inside make a cute homemade toddler drum.
Pro Tip: Tape the edges before gluing to keep beans securely inside.
10. Paper Plate Jellyfish
Paint the plate and add curled paper strips to mimic jellyfish tentacles.
Pro Tip: Let toddlers use watercolor paints for soft, ocean-like colors.
11. Paper Plate Owl
Fold down two top edges for “ears” and decorate with big eyes and feather shapes.
Pro Tip: Use brown paper scraps for textured “feathers.”
12. Paper Plate Pizza Craft
Toddlers can paint the plate like a pizza base and glue on paper toppings like tomatoes, cheese, and mushrooms.
Pro Tip: Use torn paper pieces for toppings—great for strengthening tiny fingers.
13. Paper Plate Snail
A swirly painted plate becomes the snail shell, with a simple paper body glued underneath.
Pro Tip: Use glitter glue to trace a swirl for extra sparkle.
14. Paper Plate Weather Wheel
Draw weather icons on sections of the plate and attach an arrow spinner—fun and educational.
Pro Tip: Use Velcro dots if you want removable weather pieces.
Final Thoughts
Paper plate crafts are perfect for toddlers because they’re simple, colorful, and open-ended.
With just paint, glue, and a few basic supplies, little ones can create adorable animals, weather wheels, and playful decorations.
These easy projects make crafting stress-free for parents and exciting for kids—an ideal mix of fun and learning.
FAQs
1. Are paper plate crafts safe for toddlers?
Yes, just use child-safe paints, glues, and rounded scissors for supervised cutting.
2. What kind of paint works best?
Washable tempera or kids’ acrylic paint works great for toddlers.
3. How can I make cleanup easier?
Use a craft mat or old newspaper and keep wet wipes nearby.
4. Can these crafts be used in classrooms?
Absolutely, they’re affordable, quick to prep, and perfect for group activities.
5. What skills do paper plate crafts help develop?
Fine motor skills, color recognition, creativity, and hand-eye coordination.
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