This Paper Plate Bird Craft is simple, adorable, and perfect for spring or an Easter activity with kids.
Spring has arrived in spirit, and my toddlers and preschoolers have been busy with a variety of spring crafts. Today we made a colourful paper plate bird craft that’s part of our A–Z paper plate crafts. These birds are brighter and more eclectic than the paper plate robins we made last year, and the kids had a blast creating them.
We didn’t actually have enough paper plates, so I traced a child’s plate and cut circles from white cardboard instead. A cereal box works well in a pinch and gives the same sturdy base for painting and decorating.
I’m in love with how these little birdies turned out — such a cheerful burst of colour while we wait for spring!
For our paper plate bird craft, you’ll need:
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- White 9″ paper plates or cardboard circles (cut from a cereal box)
- Googly eyes
- Cardstock for beaks
- Thin strips of coloured construction paper
- Craft feathers (or crumpled squares of tissue paper)
- Paint (acrylic works well)
- Glue
To make our paper plate birds:
Begin by folding each paper plate or cardboard circle in half to form the bird’s body.
Set out a palette of acrylic paints in assorted colours and let the children paint their birds however they like. To speed drying, a quick blast with a hair dryer works well — it helps little ones move on to the next step sooner. If you craft frequently with kids, keeping a hair dryer in your craft area can be handy.
Once the paint is dry, glue on feathers, googly eyes, and a cardstock beak. For the tail, gather several strips of construction paper, fold them in half, fan them slightly, and attach them to the tail end of the bird with a staple or glue.
Fold your bird back in half, and it’s ready. If it won’t stay folded on its own, tape a short piece of yarn or string inside to hold the halves together while leaving about an inch and a half gap between them. That gap lets the bird rock back and forth when placed on a flat surface.
So simple and so sweet — these rocking birds make a delightful springtime craft for kids.
BRING ON SPRING!
More bird crafts for kids:
- Adorable Owls
- Easter Peeps (toilet roll peeps)
- Paper Plate Owls