Paper plates are one of those craft supplies that somehow always end up in the back of the pantry, and it turns out they are one of the most versatile materials you can put in front of a toddler or preschooler. They are sturdy enough for little hands to work with, the right size for small projects, and the rounded shape opens up a world of possibilities from animals to flowers to seasonal decorations.
This post is packed with 20 easy paper plate crafts for toddlers and preschoolers that require minimal prep, minimal mess, and minimal supplies. Most of these use things you already have at home. No trip to the craft store required.
All of these crafts are appropriate for children ages 2 through 5, though some are better suited to older preschoolers than younger toddlers. Notes are included throughout so you can match the right project to your child’s current skill level.
What You Need to Get Started
Before diving into the project list, here is a simple supply list that covers almost every craft in this post. If you have these basics on hand you are set for weeks of paper plate crafting.
- Paper plates, both standard sized and smaller dessert plates
- Washable paint in basic colors
- Crayons and markers
- Child-safe scissors
- A glue stick and a bottle of school glue
- Construction paper in assorted colors
- Googly eyes in a few sizes
- Pipe cleaners
- Pom poms
- Yarn or string
- Tissue paper
That is it. With those supplies and a stack of paper plates you have everything you need for every project on this list.
Animal Paper Plate Crafts for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Animal crafts are consistently the most popular paper plate projects for this age group. Children are naturally drawn to animals and the round shape of a paper plate lends itself perfectly to faces, bodies, and all kinds of creatures.
1. Paper Plate Lion
This is one of the most classic paper plate crafts for a reason. It is simple, satisfying, and the end result genuinely looks impressive for how little effort it takes.
What you need: one paper plate, yellow and orange paint or crayons, orange or brown construction paper, googly eyes, markers.
Paint or color the center of the plate yellow for the lion’s face. Cut strips of orange or brown construction paper and glue them around the edge of the plate to create the mane. Add googly eyes, draw on a nose and mouth with marker, and your lion is done. This one works well for children as young as 2 with some help on the cutting.
Skills practiced: fine motor skills, color recognition, following simple directions.
2. Paper Plate Frog
Perfect for a spring theme or an insect and amphibian unit, and kids love how the frog seems to be peeking over something.
What you need: one paper plate, green paint, green construction paper, googly eyes, red pipe cleaner or red paper.
Paint the plate green and let it dry. Cut two circles from green construction paper for the eyes and glue them to the top edge of the plate so they stick up above the rim. Add googly eyes to the circles. Cut a wide smile from red paper or curl a red pipe cleaner into a smile shape and glue it on. Simple and adorable.
Skills practiced: painting, gluing, color recognition.
3. Paper Plate Bee
This cheerful bee is one of the best spring and summer paper plate crafts for toddlers because it doubles as a handprint activity if you use your child’s painted handprints for the wings.
What you need: one paper plate, yellow and black paint, black construction paper, googly eyes, yellow tissue paper or handprint wings.
Paint the plate with yellow and black stripes. For the wings, either cut oval shapes from white or yellow tissue paper or use your child’s handprints painted in yellow on white paper. Add googly eyes and black antennae cut from construction paper. The handprint wings make this a genuine keepsake as well as a craft.
Skills practiced: painting stripes, fine motor gluing, creative expression.
4. Paper Plate Elephant
This one uses two plates and is slightly more involved but still completely manageable for ages 3 and up.
What you need: two paper plates, grey paint, grey or white construction paper, googly eyes, markers.
Paint both plates grey. Use one as the face and cut the second into an ear shape and a trunk. Fold the trunk slightly so it curves and glue it to the bottom center of the face plate. Glue the ear to the side. Add googly eyes and use a marker to draw details. Elephants are one of the most searched animal crafts for preschoolers and this version is genuinely achievable at home.
Skills practiced: cutting, assembling multi-piece projects, spatial reasoning.
5. Paper Plate Turtle
A turtle is a wonderful craft for learning about shapes since the shell is naturally full of geometric sections to color or decorate.
What you need: one paper plate, green paint, green construction paper, googly eyes, markers.
Paint the plate green and draw a hexagonal shell pattern on top with marker once dry. Cut a head, four legs, and a tail from green construction paper and glue them to the back of the plate so they peek out from the edges. Add a googly eye to the head. A gentle and simple project that works beautifully for a nature theme.
Skills practiced: pattern recognition, coloring, assembling.
6. Paper Plate Fish
Great for a under the sea theme and very easy for even the youngest toddlers to participate in.
What you need: one paper plate, paint in any bright color, a triangle cut from the same plate, googly eye, markers or tissue paper for scales.
Cut a triangle from one side of the paper plate to create the mouth opening. Flip the triangle around and glue it to the opposite side as the tail. Paint the whole fish in a bright color. Add a googly eye and use markers or torn tissue paper pieces to create scales on the body. One of the easiest and most effective paper plate crafts on this list.
Skills practiced: shape recognition, painting, fine motor gluing.
Seasonal and Holiday Paper Plate Crafts
Paper plate crafts are especially popular for seasonal themes because they come together quickly and make great decorations that children are proud to display. Here are some of the most searched seasonal paper plate ideas for toddlers and preschoolers.
7. Paper Plate Sunflower
One of the most popular summer crafts for preschoolers and easy to adapt for a nature or garden theme.
What you need: one paper plate, yellow and brown paint, yellow construction paper, real sunflower seeds optional.
Paint the center of the plate dark brown. Cut petal shapes from yellow construction paper and glue them around the back edge of the plate so they fan out. If you want to add a sensory element, have your child glue real sunflower seeds to the brown center while the paint is still tacky. Beautiful, simple, and genuinely impressive on a wall.
Skills practiced: fine motor cutting and gluing, nature exploration.
8. Paper Plate Rainbow
Rainbow crafts are among the most searched kids craft ideas year round and this version is one of the simplest.
What you need: one paper plate, paint in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple, white cotton balls.
Cut the plate in half. Have your child paint arching stripes across the cut side in rainbow order. Once dry, glue cotton ball clouds to each end of the rainbow. This is a wonderful rainy day craft that looks beautiful hanging in a window and works as an introduction to color order and the sequence of the rainbow.
Skills practiced: color sequence, painting, fine motor work.
9. Paper Plate Pumpkin
This autumn craft is one of the most saved paper plate projects on Pinterest every fall and for good reason. It is quick, mess-friendly, and children love the result.
What you need: one paper plate, orange paint, green and brown construction paper, markers.
Paint the plate orange. Once dry, draw or cut a jack-o-lantern face from the painted plate or from black construction paper. Cut a stem from brown paper and a curling vine from green paper. Glue everything on. You can also skip the face for a simple harvest pumpkin decoration.
Skills practiced: painting, design thinking, seasonal vocabulary.
10. Paper Plate Penguin
A winter favorite that toddlers can genuinely complete independently with just a little setup.
What you need: one paper plate, black and white paint or construction paper, orange paper, googly eyes.
Paint the outer rim of the plate black and leave the center white, or glue black construction paper around the edges. Cut a small orange triangle for the beak and two orange ovals for the feet. Add googly eyes. The contrast between black and white makes this one of the most visually striking paper plate crafts on the list and it doubles as a great winter decoration.
Skills practiced: color contrast, fine motor gluing, winter theme vocabulary.
Creative and Process-Based Paper Plate Crafts
Not every craft needs to be a recognizable object. Some of the best paper plate activities for toddlers are open-ended and process-focused, meaning the experience of making it matters more than what it looks like at the end.
11. Paper Plate Weaving
This is a more advanced project suited to children ages 4 and up but it is one of the most satisfying fine motor activities you can do with a paper plate.
What you need: one paper plate, scissors for an adult, yarn in various colors.
An adult cuts slits around the edge of the paper plate at regular intervals. Thread a piece of yarn through one slit and tape the end to the back. Your child then weaves the yarn over and under around the plate, switching colors whenever they like. The woven plate becomes a beautiful circular artwork that looks genuinely impressive.
Skills practiced: hand-eye coordination, over and under patterning, perseverance.
12. Paper Plate Suncatcher
One of the most beautiful and satisfying paper plate crafts for preschoolers and the result looks genuinely stunning in a window.
What you need: one paper plate, scissors, tissue paper in various colors, school glue diluted with a little water.
Cut out the center of the paper plate leaving just the rim. Have your child tear small pieces of tissue paper and layer them across the opening using diluted glue. Once dry the tissue paper creates a stained glass effect when light shines through it. Hang in a window for maximum effect.
Skills practiced: tearing, layering, color mixing through overlapping tissue.
13. Paper Plate Spin Art
This one requires a paper plate spinner or a lazy Susan but the results are so dramatic that children ask to do it over and over.
What you need: paper plates, washable paint in squeeze bottles, a lazy Susan or spinning plate.
Place a paper plate on the spinning surface. Have your child squeeze drops of paint onto the center while slowly spinning the plate. The paint spreads into beautiful circular patterns that look like professional spin art. Each plate is completely unique and the process is endlessly satisfying for toddlers.
Skills practiced: cause and effect, color mixing, creative expression.
Paper Plate Crafts That Are Also Learning Activities
Some of the best paper plate crafts for preschoolers double as genuine learning tools. These are projects where the making process builds a specific skill or concept.
14. Paper Plate Clock
A wonderful craft for children who are beginning to learn about time and numbers.
What you need: one paper plate, markers or paint, a brass fastener, two strips of cardstock.
Write the numbers 1 through 12 around the plate to create a clock face. Cut two arrow shapes from cardstock for the clock hands and attach them to the center of the plate with a brass fastener so they can be moved. Your child can practice setting the clock to different times throughout the day. Learning and crafting in one activity.
Skills practiced: number recognition, understanding of time, fine motor.
15. Paper Plate Color Wheel
A simple and beautiful introduction to color theory for preschoolers.
What you need: one paper plate, paint in red, yellow, and blue, plus orange, green, and purple if available.
Divide the plate into six sections by drawing lines with pencil. Have your child paint each section a different color working around the wheel. Talk about which colors are next to each other and which colors are made by mixing neighbors. A hands-on art lesson that doubles as a beautiful finished piece.
Skills practiced: color recognition, color theory basics, painting precision.
16. Paper Plate Shape Sorting
This one connects beautifully to the shape printables from the free preschool printable series.
What you need: one paper plate divided into sections, construction paper shapes in different colors.
Draw or tape lines to divide the plate into four sections and label each section with a shape name. Cut out multiple shapes from construction paper and have your child sort them onto the correct section of the plate. You can also do this with colors instead of shapes for a simpler version for younger toddlers.
Skills practiced: shape recognition, sorting, matching, early math concepts.
Paper Plate Crafts for Specific Themes
17. Paper Plate Ocean Aquarium
A favorite for summer or an under the sea theme and one of the most visually rich paper plate projects on this list.
What you need: one paper plate, blue paint, construction paper, tissue paper, googly eyes, optional gravel or sand.
Paint the plate blue for the water. Cut fish, seaweed, starfish, and bubbles from construction paper and tissue paper. Arrange and glue everything onto the plate to create an underwater scene. If you have access to a little sand or aquarium gravel, glue some along the bottom of the plate for a beautiful texture element.
Skills practiced: scene building, creative thinking, fine motor work.
18. Paper Plate Pizza
A playful dramatic play craft that children love because they can pretend to eat it afterward.
What you need: one paper plate, red and yellow paint, construction paper, pom poms.
Paint the plate with a red sauce layer and a yellow cheese layer. Cut toppings from construction paper such as circles for pepperoni, green strips for peppers, and brown ovals for mushrooms. Add pom poms for olives or meatballs. Let your child design their own pizza and talk about their favorite toppings. A wonderfully silly craft that sparks conversation.
Skills practiced: imaginative play, color and shape identification, fine motor.
19. Paper Plate Butterfly
One of the most beautiful and satisfying spring crafts for preschoolers.
What you need: two paper plates, paint, pipe cleaners, clothespin.
Paint both plates in bright patterns or colors. Once dry, fold each plate in half and clip them together at the fold with a clothespin to create the butterfly body. Curl two pipe cleaners and attach them to the top of the clothespin as antennae. The result is a three-dimensional butterfly that stands on its own and looks beautiful displayed on a windowsill or shelf.
Skills practiced: symmetry concepts, painting, assembling a 3D object.
20. Paper Plate Crown
Every child wants to be royalty at some point and this is the easiest crown you will ever make.
What you need: one paper plate, scissors, paint or markers, gems and stickers for decorating.
Cut a zigzag pattern around the outer edge of the plate. Cut out the center of the plate leaving just the crown rim with its points. Have your child decorate the crown with paint, markers, gems, and stickers. Size it to fit their head and tape or staple the ends together if needed. The paper plate crown is a quick confidence-boosting craft that children wear all day.
Skills practiced: decorating, self-expression, measuring and sizing.
Tips for Paper Plate Crafting With Toddlers and Preschoolers
- Set up your workspace before bringing your child to the table so everything is ready the moment they sit down
- Use washable paint for everything and keep a damp cloth nearby
- Let your child choose which animal or project to make whenever possible to build ownership and excitement
- Do not worry about the result looking like the example. Process matters more than product at this age
- Paper plates can be prepped in advance by an adult, cutting shapes and setting out colors, to make the session smoother
- Keep sessions to 15 or 20 minutes maximum and always end while your child is still engaged
- Display finished crafts on the fridge or hang them on a gallery wall to show your child their work is valued
Frequently Asked Questions
What age are paper plate crafts appropriate for?
Paper plate crafts can be adapted for children as young as 18 months with simple activities like painting a plate or gluing large pieces. The projects on this list are primarily designed for ages 2 through 5, with notes throughout on which are better for younger toddlers versus older preschoolers.
How do I make paper plate crafts less messy?
The easiest approach is to use crayons and markers instead of paint for younger children or on days when you need a low-mess option. When using paint, a smock or old t-shirt over your child’s clothes and a plastic tablecloth or trash bag under the work surface makes cleanup much more manageable. Foam brushes tend to produce less mess than regular paintbrushes for young children.
Can I use paper bowls instead of paper plates?
Absolutely. Paper bowls work especially well for projects that benefit from a three-dimensional shape, like turtle shells, bee bodies, or small animals. They are slightly harder for young children to paint because of the curved surface but they add a great dimensional quality to finished crafts.
How do I display paper plate crafts?
Most paper plate crafts can be hung directly on the wall with a small piece of tape or a thumbtack through the top. For heavier crafts with multiple glued pieces, hot glue a ribbon loop to the back before displaying. A simple gallery wall section in a playroom or bedroom where you rotate your child’s artwork makes a wonderful ongoing display that celebrates their creativity.