Wintertime is the perfect time for crafting with the kids!

Of course, we think any time is great for crafting, but winter is especially good.

Kids aren’t able to play outside as much and they’re home more for Christmas break that you’ll need some fun indoor activities to keep them occupied.

Today we’re sharing one of the simplest and cutest crafts to date, this paper plate penguin craft! It’s a fun and easy winter animal craft for kids!

Read on below or watch or detailed video tutorial to see exactly how to make this penguin craft with your kids or students.

Penguin Craft Idea

We love paper plate crafts for kids based on so many reasons, but one of our favorites is how darn easy they are to make!

This paper plate penguin craft idea is super simple. There’s a bit of everything from painting, cutting and gluing so it’s great fun for the kids.

Plus, you only need a few supplies that you likely already have in your craft closet!

Supplies

• Paper plate
• Black paint
• Colored cardstock
• Black marker
• Scissors
• Glue stick
• Paintbrush
• Penguin template (enter your email in the form at the end of this post to have the link sent to you)

Directions

Download the paper plate penguin template, print, and cut out the pieces.

Paint the paper plate black. You don’t need to paint the whole paper plate, just the outside and a small portion by the top. Let dry completely.

Draw the eyes on the top of the white penguin piece.

Glue the white penguin piece to the middle of the black paper plate.

Glue the penguin’s beak at the end of the dip on the white center.

Position the penguin’s feet on either side of the white belly and glue in place.

Place each flipper, pointing outward, on either side of the paper plate and glue in place.

Your kids will love this cute paper plate craft!

If you’re looking to make this craft even simpler, like for toddlers, you can use a store-bought black paper plate instead of painting them. This will save you drying time, plus they’ll be much less messy!

Crafting Benefits For Kids

Did you know that crafting with kids is not only fun but also helps kids develop in lots of ways?!

I know! It’s a win-win. First, crafting helps kids learn to follow directions.

Whether you’re making this craft next to them and showing them the next step or they’re reading from a tutorial, they’ll need to learn to go in order to complete the craft correctly.

Second, crafting helps kids develop their fine motor skills. If they’re able to use scissors by themselves, they’ll need to follow along the template lines and cut each piece out.

If they’re not yet ready to cut the pieces out themselves, they’ll use fine motor skills to place the glue on the pieces and place them in the right spot on the paper plate.

Crafting also allows children another form of self-expression. While the craft will give kids an example of what the finished project can look like, children are free to adapt and change to what they want.

Is your child’s favorite color blue? Perfect. Paint the paper plate blue instead and make a rainbow of penguins! With every craft, there are countless ways to help your child express themselves!

Finally, crafting helps build your child’s self-confidence.

Have you ever seen the way your child’s face is beaming after they finish a project? They can’t wait to show everyone in the family their newest creation.

Starting from a few supplies and creating something that didn’t exist helps a child recognize they can create! This, in turn, fosters creativity and self-confidence that can expand to other areas of their life!

More Winter Fun

These winter books for kids are a fun way to keep up with the winter theme! Grab them from your local library or buy them on Amazon to add to your home library!

The Biggest Snowman Ever – When the mayor of Mouseville announces the town snowman contest, Clayton and Desmond claim that they will each make the biggest snowman ever.

The Snowy Day – This story shows a child’s wonder at a new world and the hope of capturing and keeping that wonder forever.

Sneezy The Snowman– Sneezy is COLD! And he’s trying to warm up without success. But, the kids know exactly how to help him!

Kids’ Winter Crafts

For even more crafting fun, bundle up inside and try these ideas:

Snowman Snowglobe Craft – This snowman snowglobe craft for kids is sure to bring a smile to their faces! It’s simple to make and only requires paper, scissors, glue, and our free template.

Paper Plate Walrus Craft – Kids who love arctic animals will want to add this craft to their winter activity list! Break out the paint and crafting supplies and your kids will be ready to go.

Sponge Painted Snowy Owl Craft – There’s just something about this adorable sponge painted snowy owl craft for kids that makes it irresistible. Maybe it’s the big, fluffy feathers, or the big, bright eyes. Whatever the reason, kids will want to make this craft again and again.

Eskimo Craft For Kids – Even though it’s cold outside, that doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun with winter crafts! This winter photo craft is perfect for kids who love to be creative. With just a few simple supplies, they can transform themselves into a bundled up Eskimo.

Winter Kids Activities

These polar bear do a dot printables for kids are not only fun, but educational as well! With their bright white fur and friendly faces, these bears are sure to capture your child’s attention. And what’s more, they help with counting, fine motor skills, and letter recognition.

These free printable snowman coloring pages for kids are a great way to keep them entertained during the winter months. And what’s more, they have some great benefits too! Coloring is a great way to improve fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. It can also help to boost concentration and attention span.

Use these cute snowman worksheets when your kids need a no-prep learning activity! They’re fun and engaging and can help with handwriting, scissor skills, and letter recognition.

Share With Us

Did you make this cute penguin craft with your kids or students?

We’d love to see how they turned out! Snap a picture of them then post it to our Facebook wall or in our private Facebook group!

More Winter Ideas For Kids

Paper Plate Penguin Template