18 Paper Craft Ideas for Kids
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Quick answer: 18 Paper Craft Ideas for Kids. This guide gives 18 ideas in 4 sections: Quick folds and snips; Make it and display it; Tear, layer and build; Paper to play with. Budget: Mostly under 拢10 for supplies. Best for: Ages 4 and up, with help for younger ones.
- Time: 15 to 45 minutes each
- Budget: Mostly under 拢10 for supplies
- Best for: Ages 4 and up, with help for younger ones
The recycling box is overflowing, the rain is tapping the window, and somebody has just announced they are bored. Before you reach for a screen, look at that pile of paper: it is the cheapest craft kit in the house.
This guide gives you 18 paper crafts in four groups, from quick folds to rainy-day projects that take an afternoon. Each one needs only a few supplies, and most can be made from things you already have.
Top tip: Keep a “scrap tray” on the kitchen table: wrapping paper offcuts, junk mail, cereal boxes and old magazines. Kids reach for it without asking, and nothing precious gets cut up by mistake.
Quick folds and snips
These need almost no setup, so they are perfect for the ten minutes before tea.
- Paper chains: Cut strips about 3cm wide and loop them through each other. Use one colour per child and race to see whose chain reaches the door first. You will need: coloured craft paper, child safe scissors, glue sticks.
- Origami boats: The classic hat-then-boat fold takes five minutes. Test them in the bath or a washing-up bowl, then try waxy paper for a boat that floats longer. You will need: origami paper squares.
- Paper snowflakes: Fold a square into sixths, then snip shapes from every edge. Hold it up to the window to see the pattern. Round-tip scissors keep little fingers safe. You will need: round tip scissors, white copier paper.
- Fortune tellers: Fold, flip and write silly futures under each flap, such as “you will eat a sandwich on the moon”. Great for waiting rooms because they fit in a pocket. You will need: felt tip pens.
- Paper aeroplane contest: Make three designs and measure each flight with a tape measure. Adding a paper clip to the nose changes how far it flies, which turns play into a mini experiment. You will need: paper clips, measuring tape.
Make it and display it
Crafts that end up on the wall or in the toy box give children a real sense of pride.
- Paper lanterns: Fold a sheet in half, cut slits from the fold almost to the edge, open it out and staple into a tube with a paper handle. Adults should do the stapling. You will need: staplers, patterned paper.
- Pop-up cards: Two parallel cuts in the fold, pushed inwards, make a stage for a paper heart, cake or dinosaur. Ideal for birthdays and keeps the grandparents very happy. You will need: blank greeting cards, stick on gems.
- Paper bag puppets: Lunch bags make ready-made heads, with the flap as a mouth. Draw faces, glue on wool hair, then put on a show behind the sofa. You will need: paper lunch bags, googly eyes.
- Woven paper mats: Cut slits in one sheet, weave strips of another colour through and glue the ends. A good first lesson in over and under patterns for ages five to eight. You will need: construction paper.
- Paper plate masks: Cut eye holes (adult job), then decorate with paper scraps and ribbon ties. Animal ears made from folded card give any face instant personality. You will need: paper plates, craft ribbon.
Tear, layer and build
Slower, more absorbing projects for a long afternoon.
- Torn paper collage: Tearing gives soft, fluffy edges that cutting cannot. Sort scraps by colour first, then build a landscape with a sunset sky. Great for fine motor skills. You will need: PVA glue, card backing sheets.
- Tissue paper stained glass: Stick tissue squares onto clear sticky film inside a black card frame, then tape it to a sunny window. The colours glow in daylight. You will need: tissue paper, sticky back plastic.
- Paper mache bowl: Layer newspaper strips dipped in flour and water paste over an upturned bowl lined with cling film. It needs a day to dry, so start it on day one of the holidays. You will need: plain flour paint, paint brushes.
- Paper roll sculptures: Slice kitchen roll tubes into rings, then bend and glue them into flowers, snakes or towers. Tubes are free if you save them for a week or two. You will need: masking tape.
Paper to play with
Finish with crafts that become toys, games and keepsakes.
- Paper dolls chain: Fold a long strip like a concertina, draw a figure with arms touching the edges, cut around it and unfold a whole family. Dress them with scrap fabric. You will need: coloured pencils.
- Mini books: One sheet folded and cut into an eight page book fits a pocket. Children can write a tiny story or fill it with a comic about the dog. You will need: hole punch, wool.
- Corner bookmarks: Fold a square into a triangle, then tuck it over the corner of a page. Add eyes and ears and the bookmark becomes a little animal that hugs the page. You will need: markers.
- Paper cup phones: Poke a hole in the bottom of two paper cups, thread string through, knot inside and pull tight. Whisper messages between rooms. Wonderful with two siblings. You will need: paper cups, string.
Helpful links and further reading
A few trusted places to find out more.
- NHS Healthier Families: Simple recipes, food swaps and active ideas for the whole family.
- National Trust: Find gardens, parks and historic places for a day out.
Frequently asked questions
What paper is best for kids crafts?
Plain printer paper suits folding, while thicker card or construction paper handles glue better. Keep tissue paper and thin paper for collage so it does not tear under wet glue.
How do I keep glue under control?
Use glue sticks for younger children and put PVA in a small lid with a brush. A wipeable placemat or old tray catches drips so clearing up is quick.
Are paper crafts safe for toddlers?
Toddlers can tear and scrunch paper under close supervision. Avoid small items such as gems and googly eyes for under 3s, because they are a choking hazard.
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