Many children love making arts and crafts. An easy, simple way for them to be creative is to let them make different types of faces using paper plates. At first, it might seem as though there are not too many choices when it comes to make faces out of paper plates, but there are different ways to make them.
A simple, easy one to make is the traditional face mask. Give a child a paper plate and help him cut out eye, nose, and mouth holes. Let him decorate his paper plate face however he wants using markers and crayons. When he's are finished decorating, punch a hole in each side of the paper plate and tie an elastic string through the holes. After some minor cleanup, he can play all afternoon in his face masks.
This idea is similar to face masks, only there can be more materials involved and the finished product is an animal mask. Give a child a paper plate and cut out eye, nose and mouth holes in it. Allow her to decorate her mask like an animal of her choice. She can use markers, crayons, pipe cleaners, construction paper, glue, sequins and feathers to make her mask more animallike. Punch a hole in two sides of the mask. Tie an elastic string through the holes to hold the mask to her face.
Instead of making masks, children can also have fun making food faces on paper plates. Give each child a paper plate. Let him use condiments such as mustard or ketchup, cut-up veggies and fruits, some pieces of bread and any other foods that come to mind to make a face on his plates. These can be fun to make and are edible, if he wishes to eat the face he made.
A good seasonal art project to make is a Santa Claus. Give her a paper plate, red construction paper and cotton balls. Have her draw Santa's face on the top part of the paper plate. Glue cotton balls on the bottom part of the plate to form Santa's beard. Cut out a triangle Santa hat from the construction paper and glue it onto the top of the paper plate. Glue a cotton ball onto the tip of the hat. Let her finish decorating Santa how she chooses.