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Paper Plate Animal Masks

Child decorates a paper plate into an animal face. Parent cuts eye holes and ties string around the back so the child can wear it.

Cartoon illustration of a parent and child at home: child decorates a paper plate into an animal face.
  • Age3 to 6 years
  • Time15 to 30 minutes
  • EnergyCalm
  • CostLow cost
  • WhereIndoors
  • PrepNone

Turn a paper plate into a wearable mask. Your child picks an animal (or any character they're into), decorates the plate, and you cut eye holes and tie string so they can wear it.

How to do it

  1. Ask your child which animal they want to be.
  2. Hold the paper plate up to their face and mark where their eyes are with a light pencil dot. Set the plate down.
  3. Cut out the two eye holes yourself. Make them generous: better too big than too small.
  4. Hand over the plate and decorating materials. Let them decorate freely.
  5. Thread the string through two holes at the sides and tie behind their head. Done: they're ready to wear it.

What you need

  • Paper plate
  • Crayons
  • String
  • Scissors
  • Extras

Signs it is working

Your child names the animal before decorating. They stay engaged with the decorating for at least 3-5 minutes. They want to wear the mask when it's done, and may stay in character for a while after

If it is not quite clicking

Child can't pick an animal: Offer 2-3 specific options. Decorating loses steam after 1-2 minutes: Sit down and start decorating a second mask alongside them: kids often re-engage when you join. The mask doesn't look like the animal: Never point this out: the decorating is the point, not the realism

Make it yours

Younger, 2-3 years: Skip the eye holes entirely. The plate becomes a "face" the child holds up to look through (or just shows you), no string needed. Older, 5-7 years: Add ears cut from a second paper plate and taped on, or glue on yarn for mane/whiskers. Let them design the eye hole shape (round, almond, tear-drop) themselves. Siblings: Each child makes their own; this works for mixed ages because each works at their own complexity level. String and eye-hole safety: String must be checked by parent before wearing to ensure it is loose enough to slip over the child's head without tightening. Scissors (used by adult only) must be put away before the child wears the mask.

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