Paper plate crafts for kids

Safety first

Scissors and hole-punches are for grown-ups only, and children can tear paper, colour and glue instead. A mask must never block breathing or vision, so cut large eye holes, keep it on for short spells and supervise throughout. Keep string and elastic away from necks, and hang anything with string well out of children's reach. Cover the sharp ends of paper fasteners with tape. Avoid small decorations such as beads, buttons and tiny paper pieces for children under three, who may put things in their mouths. Age hints are only a guide, so you know your child best.

1. Rainbow wheel

Age hint: 3 and up, with a grown-up for the cutting.

Materials: one plate, crayons or washable paints, a glue stick, scrap paper.

1. Draw curved stripes across the plate in rainbow order, from the rim towards the middle.
2. Colour each stripe in a different colour, pressing firmly and filling the gaps.
3. Glue the finished plate onto a sheet of blue paper, so the rainbow sits in the sky.
4. Tear scrap paper into pieces and glue them on as clouds. Avoid tiny pieces for children under three.

Notice: Which colour sits in the middle of your rainbow, and which one is on the outside?

2. Sun and cloud mobile

Age hint: 5 and up, grown-up hangs it.

Materials: two plates, yellow and white or blue paint, a glue stick, string.

1. Colour one plate yellow for the sun and draw a face. Colour the other plate white or pale blue for a cloud.
2. A grown-up cuts straight rays from scrap paper, or children tear them, and glue them around the sun.
3. A grown-up makes a hole at the top of each plate with a hole-punch and ties on a short length of string.
4. Hang the mobile from a hook or a curtain rail well out of children's reach, never over a cot, bed or a place where a child sits or sleeps.

Notice: If the wind moved your mobile, which way would the sun swing?

3. Plate mask

Age hint: 5 and up, grown-up cuts and fits.

Materials: one plate, crayons, a glue stick, scrap paper, soft elastic.

1. Hold the plate gently up to the face while a grown-up marks where the eyes are.
2. A grown-up cuts out generous eye holes, bigger than the eyes so that vision is never blocked, and smooths the edges.
3. Colour the plate as an animal, a moon or a sun and glue on paper ears or whiskers.
4. A grown-up adds soft elastic through two punched holes, loose enough to slip off easily and not tight. Supervise the whole time.

Notice: What sound or movement does your mask character make?

4. Clock face

Age hint: 6 and up, grown-up fixes the hands.

Materials: one plate, a marker, card, one paper fastener, tape.

1. Write the numbers 1 to 12 around the rim, like the face of a clock. Start with 12 at the top and 6 at the bottom.
2. Cut two hands from card: a short one for hours and a longer one for minutes. A grown-up does the cutting.
3. A grown-up pokes a hole in the middle of the plate and the hands, and fixes them with a paper fastener.
4. Cover the sharp ends of the fastener with tape on the back. Move the hands and say each o'clock together, such as three o'clock.

Notice: Where does the short hand point at breakfast time, and where at bedtime?

5. Folded-mouth fish

Age hint: 4 and up, with help.

Materials: one plate, crayons, a glue stick, scrap paper.

1. Fold the plate in half, then open it again.
2. Colour both sides in bright scales, stripes or spots.
3. Tear a tail shape from scrap paper, or let a grown-up cut one, and glue it to the back edge of the plate.
4. Fold the plate again and hold the two halves so the mouth opens and closes. Glue on a big paper eye, not a small bead.

Notice: What would your fish say with its mouth open?

6. Plate spinner

Age hint: 6 and up, grown-up prepares it.

Materials: two plates, crayons, a glue stick, tape, a short length of string.

1. Colour the inside of each plate with spirals, stripes or dots, with no loose beads or rice.
2. Glue the two plates rim to rim with the coloured sides facing out, and press until dry.
3. A grown-up punches two holes close to the centre and threads a short loop of string through, tied securely.
4. Hold both ends of the string, twist the disc, then gently pull and relax. Keep the string off the neck and away from other children.

Notice: What happens to the colours when the plate spins fast?

More to do on Rangooo

Fold and cut more projects in easy paper crafts for kids, reuse household items with recycled crafts for kids, and send a gift with handmade cards for kids. Put your mask to use in pretend play ideas, practise sums with counting games, browse more stories and activities, or see resources for teachers.

Questions

What do we need for paper plate crafts?

Plain paper plates, crayons or washable paints, a glue stick and some scrap paper. A few projects also need string, soft elastic, tape or a paper fastener, and a grown-up handles those along with the scissors and hole-punch.

Which crafts suit children under three?

Colouring a plate and gluing on large paper shapes suit toddlers, with a grown-up close by. Skip small decorations, string, elastic and fasteners for under threes, and let a grown-up finish the cutting and fixing.

Is the mask safe to wear?

With care, yes. A grown-up cuts large eye holes and checks that the child can see clearly and breathe easily, and the mask is worn only briefly while supervised. Use soft, loose elastic, or hold the mask by a paper handle instead.

Can the crafts be used again?

Yes. The clock and the fish make good props for pretend play, and a plain plate can be coloured on the back once the front is full. When a craft is worn out, put the plate in the paper recycling if it is clean and dry.