Scarecrow Paper Plate Craft for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Nothing says fall fun like a good old scarecrow paper plate craft! 🍁

It’s simple. It’s adorable. And best of all, it’s toddler-approved.

All you need is a paper plate, crayons, glue, scissors, and the free printable template (you can grab it below!).

We did this one with our two- and three-year-olds, and let me tell you, they nailed it. Straw hair, stitched smiles, and more personality than a pumpkin patch.

Why We Love This Craft

If you’ve been around Learn · Play · Explore for a while, you know I’m all about playful learning that’s doable with multi ages.

This craft checks every box:
✅ Easy to prep
✅ Engaging for multiple ages
✅ Encourages fine motor practice
✅ Looks adorable when it’s done

You can set it up in five minutes and adapt it for any age group.

While I did the cutting for this group as there got to be some cutting fatigue with all the pieces, coloring and gluing can be independent.

Everyone left with a finished scarecrow they were proud of.

Step One: Color All the Pieces

We started by coloring the background of our scarecrow’s face (just the paper plate part) in a light tan. Think burlap vibes.

Then we moved on to the printable pieces: the hat, the hair, the nose, the scarf, the cheeks, and the eyes.

Because my crew is young, I pre-cut the pieces before we started coloring. That way, we could talk about each part as we worked. If I’d handed them the full sheet, a few enthusiastic artists would’ve colored the entire page orange in about 10 seconds flat.

So we slowed down and colored one piece at a time.
“First, let’s color the hat.”
“Now, what color should your straw hair be?”
“Let’s find the triangle for the nose.”

We took our time and chatted about scarecrows, farms, and why they wear funny hats. It turned into such a sweet little group project.

Step Two: Build the Scarecrow’s Face

After everything was colored, it was time to glue!

We started from the top, hat first, then hair, eyes, nose, cheeks, and scarf. But honestly? You can do it in any order that works.

Some of my kiddos started with the scarf and worked their way up.

There’s no wrong way to build a scarecrow!

And that’s kind of the magic of it, each one ends up with its own little personality.

Pro tip: talk through placement before gluing. It helps with sequencing, vocabulary, and spatial awareness.

My favorite conversations are when we talk about where are your eyes…above your nose. How many eyes do you have 1…2. But…maybe this is more a note to self…don’t put glue on until after we talk about the placement. One little boy accidently stuck his scarecrow nose to his own nose!

Step Three: Add the Sharpie Details

Now this part made me laugh. We used a black Sharpie to draw the scarecrow’s smile and little stitch lines.

My two-year-old was using one carefully (with me nearby, of course), and in the background, I heard one of my five-year-olds whisper, “Wait… is he old enough to use a Sharpie?!”

😂 Fair question!

It was supervised, promise.

We talked about how Sharpies are special and we only use them carefully, just like scissors or paint. The kids took it seriously and did an amazing job adding their own finishing touches. Those little stitched lines really made their scarecrows come to life.

If you’d rather skip sharpies, you can totally use crayons or washable markers or paint instead.

Crafting Tips That Make It Easier

A few things we learned along the way:

⭐ You can cut little slits in the hat so it tucks over the paper plate for a layered look.
⭐ Or trim off the bottom of the hat like we did, it helped our straw hair fit in better.
⭐ Cardstock works great if you want sturdier pieces or plan to turn it into a puppet.

⭐ Cutting: If your kids are ready for scissors, let them help cut the bigger shapes like the hat or scarf. It’s great fine-motor practice.

⭐ Supplies: Crayons give it that classic soft texture, but markers or colored pencils work too. And if you print the template on cardstock, you’ll get sturdier pieces, perfect if you plan to hang these on a bulletin board.

⭐ Alternative idea: Want to mix it up? Turn your scarecrow into a puppet! Just glue the pieces to a paper lunch bag instead of a plate. When it’s dry, fold the top flap to make the hat move and put on a little fall puppet show.

Simple, right? But the learning packed inside, coloring within lines, planning placement, handling tools, that’s the stuff that builds skills naturally through play.

Why It Works for Toddlers and Preschoolers

This scarecrow paper plate craft fits perfectly into that sweet spot between structure and creativity.

Toddlers can focus on the sensory side, coloring, gluing, touching the textures. Preschoolers can take it a step further by following directions, identifying shapes, and even retelling what each piece represents.

It’s open-ended enough that everyone succeeds but guided enough that the final product still feels “finished.” And when you’re working with mixed ages, that balance is everything.

Ready to Make Your Own?

By the end of the day, we had a whole table of smiling scarecrows — each one unique, colorful, and full of personality.

We hung them up on the wall, and I swear they made the whole room feel more cheerful. My group was so proud of their work, pointing out, “That one’s mine!” every time they walked past.

It’s one of those crafts that quietly checks all the boxes: fine motor, sequencing, creativity, and confidence. And it only takes a handful of supplies you probably already have on hand.

You can grab the free Scarecrow Craft Printable here to make your own fall friend.

Inside, you’ll find:
🎨 All the printable parts for your paper plate or paper bag scarecrow
🖍 A bonus scarecrow coloring page (perfect for paint, dot markers, or tear-and-paste art)

And if your group is loving the scarecrow theme, check out the Scarecrow Coloring Pack for more fall fun, extra pages, cute designs, and all the easy-prep goodness you love. 🌻