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Paper Plate Santa Craft For Kids [FREE Template]

It’s after Thanksgiving, dreary and cold outside, and you need something to do with your kids.  There just happens to be some leftover paper plates from the big meal. 

What’s a mom to do?

How about make this cute and fun paper plate Santa craft for kids?!

It’s a simple way to keep the kids entertained and get in the Christmas spirit!

Read on below to see how easy it is to make with your kids. Also, be sure to check out all of our Santa activities for even more ideas!

Easy Santa Craft For Kids

paper plate Santa craft image collage with the words paper plate Santa

Supplies

  • Paper plate
  • Colored card stock
  • Scissors
  • Glue stick
  • Tape
  • Black marker
  • Santa craft template (enter your email in the form at the end of this page to have the link sent to you)

Directions

Download the free Santa Claus craft template, print, and cut out the pieces.

hand holding paper plate santa craft template

Glue the bottom of Santa’s hat to the red base.

hands gluing together paper santa claus hat

Glue the hat puff to the tip of the hat.

hand gluing pom to end of paper santa craft

Place the cream face piece at the top of the center circle of the paper plate and glue it in place.

hands gluing face to paper plate Santa craft

Put the tongue piece on the bottom of the black mouth and glue it down. Cut off any excess.

hands gluing Santa paper plate craft mouth

Position the mouth towards the bottom of the inner circle of the paper plate and glue.

hands gluing mouth onto Santa paper plate craft

Glue the eyebrows towards the top of the cream face piece.

hands gluing eyebrows onto Santa paper plate craft

Place the white mustache on the paper plate so it covers the bottom of the cream face and glue it in place.

hands gluing mustache onto Santa paper plate craft

Use a circle punch or scissors to cut out a small pink nose for Santa. Glue in the middle of the mustache, where it dips in the center.

hands gluing nose onto paper plate Santa craft

Use the black marker to draw Santa’s eyes.

hands drawing eyes on paper plate Santa craft

Use the scissors to cut a few slits on the top of the paper plate. This is to help flatten the plate and make it easier to secure the hat.

hands cutting top of Santa paper plate craft

Place the hat on the top of the paper plate, then flip the plate over (holding the hat in place) and secure it in place with tape.

hands taping paper Santa hat onto Santa paper plate craft

You’re finished! Wasn’t that so much fun?!

And did you know there are so many wonderful benefits to crafting with your children? Check out some of the best ones below.

Looking for some more fun Christmas activities to keep the kids busy? We’ve got you covered with this Christmas printables bundle! There are color by numbers, pattern block mats, do a dot printables, letters from Santa and so much more. No more hours of screen time – these activities will keep them engaged and happy!

closeup of Santa paper plate craft

Why is it important to do crafts with your kids?

1. It develops Imagination and Self-Expression

When children work on art projects, it stimulates creativity and imagination. 

Putting a paintbrush in the hand of a child to make a snowflake watercolor art project or anything else gives them the chance to express themselves in a way that they might not be able to do verbally. 

It is important to give your child the chance to participate both in art projects – which are free form and open-ended – and crafts, which are set with a particular goal in mind, like this paper plate Santa craft. 

2. It Strengthens Cognitive Abilities

Participating in art and crafts help children improve their decision-making abilities by giving them instant feedback on their choices. 

If they don’t use enough glue, for example, the pieces won’t stick.  Too much glue, however, leaves a soggy mess. 

Similarly, if they mix colors on a painting, they get an instant result, and then have to decide if they like that result while processing what happened.  

Creating arts and crafts also gives children a chance to practice problem-solving skills. 

two Santa Claus paper plate crafts

What should they do when they accidentally use too much glue or get a paint color they don’t like?  What steps can they take to fix it – even if it means starting over?

It is important for parents and teachers alike to allow children to make and learn from these experiments and not swoop in immediately to “fix it.” 

In fact, “fixing” the child’s artwork can have some detrimental repercussions.  When a parent or teacher changes the child’s art to make it look more “perfect,” it sends a message to the child that their efforts weren’t good enough on their own, which demolishes their self-confidence. 

Instead, praise their wonky-nosed reindeer and crooked-hat Santa, and watch them shine with pride.

closeup of Santa paper plate craft

3. It Reinforces Physical Skills

Working on an art or craft project also helps a child hone some important physical skills. Using scissors and squeezing glue out of a bottle improves hand strength and awareness. 

Manipulating small pieces improves fine motor skills. Coloring provides some great pre-writing practice.  And seeing the completed steps is a great confidence boost for a child who is learning a new skill!

closeup of Santa paper plate craft

Emotional Benefits of Doing Arts and Crafts

Even children feel the stress around the holidays.  Schedules are inconsistent with holiday parties and days off school. 

Busy holiday stores are a sensory overload waiting to happen.  Relatives from out of town come to visit. 

Projects such as the paper plate Santa can help children hit the “reset” button.  It’s been found that focusing on a quiet activity, even for a short time, can help children lower their stress levels and feel more in control of their emotions. 

Doing these crafts alongside children gives them the message that they are important and loved.  

Isn’t it amazing how a simple craft can have so many amazing benefits?!

More Holiday Crafts

Share With Us

Did you make this paper plate Santa Claus with your children or students? If so, we’d love to see how they look!

Snap a picture of the completed project and share them with us on our Facebook wall or in our private Facebook group.

More Christmas Ideas For Kids

closeup of Santa paper plate craft

Paper Plate Santa Craft For Kids

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Active Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 18 minutes
Difficulty: Easy

This paper plate Santa is a simple and fun Christmas craft kids will love creating!

Materials

  • Paper plate
  • Colored card stock
  • Glue stick
  • Tape
  • Black marker
  • Santa craft template

Instructions

  1. Download the free Santa Claus craft template, print, and cut out the pieces.
  2. Glue the bottom of Santa's hat to the red base.
  3. Glue the hat puff to the tip of the hat.
  4. Place the cream face piece at the top of the center circle of the paper plate and glue it in place.
  5. Put the tongue piece on the bottom of the black mouth and glue it down. Cut off any excess.
  6. Position the mouth towards the bottom of the inner circle of the paper plate and glue.
  7. Glue the eyebrows towards the top of the cream face piece.
  8. Place the white mustache on the paper plate so it covers the bottom of the cream face and glue in place.
  9. Use a circle punch or scissors to cut out a small pink nose for Santa. Glue in the middle of the mustache, where it dips in the center.
  10. Use the black marker to draw in Santa's eyes.
  11. Use the scissors to cut a few slits in the top of the paper plate. This is to help flatten the plate and make it easier to secure the hat.
  12. Place the hat on the top of the paper plate, then flip the plate over (holding the hat in place) and secure it in place with tape.

Did you make this craft?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

Free Santa Template

⬇️ Enter your email in the form below to get the template link sent to you. ⬇️

 Santa Template

Enter your email below to download your free Santa craft template and join the email list.

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Lana

Thursday 29th of December 2022

Could you please send me the Paper Plate Santa Craft for Kinds tample? Thank you.

Sam

Thursday 29th of December 2022

Of course! All you need to do is enter your email in the form at the end of this post to have the link sent to you ?

Jinal

Monday 26th of December 2022

Nice craft

Sam

Wednesday 28th of December 2022

Thank you!

Yana

Tuesday 13th of December 2022

Looking forward to making this craft! :)

Sam

Tuesday 13th of December 2022

Yay! Have fun!

Alejandra

Wednesday 7th of December 2022

?

Sam

Thursday 8th of December 2022

?

Sabrina

Wednesday 7th of December 2022

Paper plate Santa craft for kids

Sam

Thursday 8th of December 2022

If you’re looking for the template, all you need to do is enter your email in the form at the end of this post to have the link sent to you ?

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

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