What do you get when you mix a paper plate, a little paint, and a whole lot of imagination? A jungle full of fun!

Paper plate animals are one of the easiest (and cutest) DIY crafts for kids. They use materials you already have at home and open the door to creative play, storytelling, and learning.

Let’s jump into the animal kingdom—one paper plate at a time! 🐯🎨🦓

1. Why Paper Plate Crafts Are Great for Kids

• Inexpensive and easy to set up
• Encourages fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination
• Sparks creativity and storytelling
• Offers screen-free fun for all ages

2. What You’ll Need

You don’t need a fancy craft store haul. Just gather:

• Paper plates (white or colored)
• Crayons, markers, or paints
• Glue and scissors (child-safe)
• Construction paper, googly eyes, cotton balls, pipe cleaners
• Tape or stapler

Let kids use their imagination to turn each animal into something totally unique.

3. 5 Easy Paper Plate Animal Ideas

1. Paper Plate Lion 🦁

• Color the plate orange or yellow
• Glue strips of paper or yarn around the edge for the mane
• Add eyes, a nose, and whiskers

2. Paper Plate Panda 🐼

• Paint the plate white
• Use black paper for ears and circles around the eyes
• Glue on a cute nose and smile

3. Paper Plate Fish 🐠

• Cut a triangle from the plate and glue it to the opposite side to make a tail
• Decorate with bright colors or tissue paper scales
• Add a googly eye and draw bubbles

4. Paper Plate Frog 🐸

• Paint the plate green
• Fold two paper strips for springy legs
• Add big eyes on top and a long red paper tongue

5. Paper Plate Elephant 🐘

• Use gray paint or paper to cover the plate
• Attach large paper ears and a curled trunk
• Add cute eyes and tusks if you like

4. Make It a Learning Moment

Use the activity to talk about:

• Animal sounds and habitats
• Favorite zoo animals or jungle creatures
• Shapes, colors, and textures

Bonus Idea: Create a puppet show with your animals or build a mini “zoo” display at home!

Conclusion

Paper plate animals are more than crafts—they’re a gateway to creativity, learning, and laughter.

So grab those plates and get crafting. You’ll be amazed at the wild world your little artists create. 🐘🧡🐾

Sources:

• First Palette – Animal Craft Ideas
• The Best Ideas for Kids – Paper Plate Crafts
• Crayola – Kids DIY Projects