Halloween Bat Paper Plate Craft

Gather and set up your materials.

Lay everything out before the kids arrive. A calm setup means a much smoother craft time.

Trace and cut your bat wings.

If you’re using our printable template (made to fit a standard 9-inch paper plate), this part’s a breeze. Just trace the wing shapes and hand the scissors over to your little crafters. Don’t worry if their cuts aren’t perfect…crooked wings make for extra spooky bats anyway 😉

Paint the wings black.

Break out the paint! This is the part where things get beautifully messy. And honestly, the more uneven the better. Bats aren’t perfectly polished and neither are crafts made by preschoolers.

Create the body of your bat.

Cut out a circle from black construction paper. Or an oval. Or something vaguely round. It really doesn’t matter. Your bat is going to look adorable either way. Bonus points if your kiddo gives it a dramatic flair.

Glue the wings to the body.

Time for some bat anatomy 101. Line up those wings and glue them right to the back of the circle. You can go classic with straight wings or angle them for a little mid-flight drama.

Cut the face pieces.

The visual instructions packet includes a printable template for the eyes, ears, and fangs, so you don’t have to freehand anything (unless you want to, of course – I support creative bat expressions).

Just trace the pieces onto black and white construction paper, cut them out, and let your little crafter go to town!

Big eyes? Tiny eyes? Goofy vampire fangs? Let them get creative. You might end up with a bat that looks like it drank too much juice…and honestly, that’s perfect.

Attach the ears.

Whether they’re perky, floppy, or a little wonky, those ears give your bat its personality. Stick them on and cheer for your kid’s bat design skills.

Glue on the eyes and fangs.

You’ll probably need to resist the urge to “fix” them. Let your kids place those eyes wherever their little hearts desire, slightly crooked eyes are part of the charm.

Add the finishing touches.

A few swoops with a black marker and boom – instant bat personality. Some kids love adding eyebrows. Some give them names. Go with it.

Hang and display your bats.

You did it! Your bat (or bat squad, let’s be real) is ready for the spotlight. Hang them upside down from the ceiling, tack them to the wall, or let your little one fly them around the room making squeaky bat noises.