Once the evenings start coming early, the little ones are usually the first to notice the bats. Just quick dark shapes dipping around at dusk, right about the time everyone’s being called in for supper.
There’s something about a bat that kids find friendly instead of scary. The round ears, the tucked-in wings, the way he hangs upside down without a care. So bat crafts have turned into one of those easy fall afternoons. They’re simple, they don’t cost much, and they give small hands something to do while supper is on the stove.
I gathered fourteen easy ones here, from paper plates and cardboard tubes to a coffee filter bat and a little B is for bat craft. Most of them use what you already have at home. And if you’d like more gentle ideas to go with them, these cute halloween crafts for kids pair nicely with a craft afternoon.
14 not-so-spooky bat crafts for kids
Here are fourteen simple bats to make together, sorted loosely from the easiest little-hand projects to the ones older children will enjoy. So pick one for an afternoon, or work through several as the season goes on.
1. Paper plate bat
Start with a paper plate for the body. First, have the little ones paint or color it black, then cut a second plate in half for the wings and glue one to each side. Next, add two triangle ears at the top, a pair of googly eyes, and a little smile.
He turns out round and friendly, which is exactly the point. And paper plates are one of those craft staples that never seem to run out of ideas, so our easy paper plate crafts for kids has plenty more to reach for.
2. Toilet paper roll bat
Wrap an empty toilet paper roll in black paper, or let them paint it and set it aside to dry. Then pinch the top edges down to make two little ears, and glue a pair of paper wings to the back. Finally, add eyes and a smile near the top.
It’s a good use for those cardboard tubes that always seem to pile up on the counter, and our cute toilet paper roll crafts for kids has more ideas if your collection is growing.
3. Handprint bat
Paint both of your child’s hands black and press them onto paper, thumbs pointing toward the middle. The two handprints become the wings. Once they’re dry, add a small oval body down the center, two ears, and a pair of eyes.
These little keepsakes are worth saving, and you’ll find more like them in our cute handprint crafts for kids.
4. Paper bag bat puppet
Take a small paper lunch bag and turn the flat bottom into the bat’s face. First, glue on two ears, two eyes, and a smile. Then cut a pair of wings from black paper and glue one to each side of the bag.
Once he’s made, the children can slip a hand inside and let him swoop around the kitchen. And puppets have a way of getting even the shy ones talking.
5. Accordion fold bat
Fold a strip of black paper back and forth like a fan, then pinch it in the middle and tape it so the folds fan out on both sides. Those are the wings. From there, glue a small oval body over the pinch, and add ears and eyes.
The folding takes a little patience, so it’s a nice one for children who like a project with a rhythm to it.
6. Clothespin bat
Start with a wooden clothespin and paint it black. Once it’s dry, glue a pair of paper wings to the back and add two tiny ears and a pair of eyes at the top.
Then clip him wherever you like. He’ll hang onto a curtain, a shelf, or the edge of a bookcase, which is about as close to hanging upside down as a clothespin can get.
7. Bat mask
Cut a mask shape from black cardstock, wide enough to cover the eyes, then cut out two eye holes. Next, add two pointed ears along the top and a pair of small wings out at the sides. Finally, tape on a bit of elastic or a craft stick handle.
Then comes the best part. The children put them on and go swooping down the hallway.
8. Coffee filter bat
Flatten a coffee filter and let the little ones color it with markers, then spritz it lightly with water and watch the colors run together. Once it’s dry, pinch it in the middle and glue on a small black body, two ears, and a pair of eyes.
The filter makes soft, wavy wings that look a little different every time, so no two bats come out the same.
9. Egg carton bat
Cut a section of three cups from an egg carton and turn it upside down. Paint the whole thing black, and once it’s dry, add two paper wings to the sides, a pair of ears on the middle cup, and two eyes.
He’s bumpy and a bit lopsided, which is half his charm. And if you’d like more ideas for what’s already in the recycling bin, our easy recycled crafts for kids has good ones for tubes, cartons, and cups.
10. Flying bat craft
Cut a simple bat shape from black paper, wings out wide. Then tape a length of string or yarn to his back and tie the other end to a craft stick.
Once it’s done, they can hold the stick and make him swoop and dive around the room. It’s the kind of craft that turns into a game the second the glue dries.
11. B is for bat craft
This one sneaks in a little learning. First, write or print a big bubble letter B, then let the children turn it into a bat by adding wings out to the sides, two ears at the top, and a pair of eyes. As they work, you can talk about the letter sound and the word bat together.
It’s a gentle way to mix crafting with early letters, and our sweet alphabet crafts pair nicely if you’d like to keep going through the alphabet.
12. Bat footprint craft
Paint the bottom of your child’s foot black and press it onto paper. The footprint becomes the bat’s body, heel side up. Then add a pair of wings on either side, two little ears at the top, and a pair of eyes.
Little feet grow so fast, so this is another one worth tucking away with the date written on the back.
13. Bat headband craft
Cut a strip of black paper long enough to fit around a little head. Then glue a small bat with open wings right in the center, and tape the ends together so it fits snugly.
Once it’s on, they won’t want to take it off. It’s a favorite for a fall party or a classroom full of wiggly ones.
14. Hanging bat craft
This is the one bats are known for. Cut a bat shape from black paper or cardstock, then fold the top of his feet over a bit of string or a paper clip so he hangs upside down. From there, string a few of them along a length of yarn.
Hang the whole line across a doorway or a window, and the little ones will check on them all week.
why kids love a good bat craft
Bat crafts are easy to love. They’re simple to make, they use very little, and they turn out cute almost every time, even when the wings end up glued on a little crooked.
They’re also a nice way to talk about the season while you work. So as you cut and color, you can chat about how bats sleep all day and come out at dusk, how they hang upside down to rest, and how they help by eating up the bugs.
And bat crafts fit right in with the rest of fall, too. So if your afternoons are already full of making, our whimsical owl crafts are another easy one to keep going with once the bats are done.
simple supplies to keep on hand
Most of these crafts pull from the same short list, so once you’ve gathered a few things, you’re set for the whole afternoon. Black paper or cardstock and a bit of black paint cover nearly all of them, along with glue, child-safe scissors, and a handful of googly eyes.
Beyond that, the fun comes from what’s already around the house. Save a paper plate or two, a cardboard tube, an egg carton, a coffee filter, and a wooden clothespin, and you’ll have most of these bats covered.
Then, for the ones that swoop and hang, keep a bit of string or yarn and a few craft sticks close by. Most of the rest is probably already sitting in your craft drawer.
tips for crafting with little ones
A little prep ahead of time goes a long way. So before you sit down, cut out the wings and the trickier shapes, and then the children can get right to the gluing and coloring.
From there, keep it simple and let the fun lead. The point isn’t a perfect bat. It’s the time together, the wings glued on a little crooked, the googly eyes that end up too close together and make him look surprised.
And a bit of mess is just part of it, so don’t fuss over keeping things tidy. Black paint has a way of finding fingers, so an old shirt and a covered table save you the worry. If you’d like to keep the momentum going, our cute spider crafts for kids is another easy one for a fall day.
pick one bat craft to try this week
So pick the one that fits your supplies and the ages around your table, set it out, and let the little ones make something fun this fall. You don’t need to do all fourteen. Just one good idea and a little glue is plenty.
The craft is fun on its own, but the time you spend together is the part that tends to stay with them.
sew and tell
If your little ones make a bat or two from this list, I’d love to see how they turned out. Leave a photo in the comments when you have a minute, or send one along our way.
The crooked wings and the googly eyes stuck on sideways are my favorite part, honestly. And if you’re alright with it, yours might show up here on the site to cheer on other families crafting at their own kitchen tables. There’s no pressure. Just a friendly little invitation if you’d like to share.
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frequently asked questions
what age are bat crafts best for?
Most of these work well for toddlers through early elementary. The handprint, footprint, and paper plate bats are gentle starting points for the littlest ones, while the accordion fold and hanging bats suit older children who can manage a few more steps.
what supplies do I need for bat crafts?
Mostly basics you likely already have, like black paper, black paint, glue, and child-safe scissors. Googly eyes are nice to have, though eyes drawn on with a white crayon or a marker work just as well.
how long do these crafts take?
Most take about fifteen to twenty minutes once your supplies are out. And if you cut the wings ahead of time, the little ones can finish even quicker and still have time to play with what they made.
are bat crafts too spooky for young children?
Not the way little ones make them. Round ears, googly eyes, and a smile turn a bat into a friendly little creature, and most children think they’re funny rather than frightening. If yours is sensitive, skip the fangs and let him have a big grin instead.
how do I display or save the finished crafts?
The flat ones look sweet taped to a window or the fridge, and the hanging bats are cute strung along a doorway through the fall. For the handprint and footprint keepsakes, write the date on the back and tuck them away before the paper starts to curl.
