There’s something about a scarecrow that little ones find friendly instead of scary. The patched hat, the straw hair, the crooked stitched smile. He’s one of those cheerful characters that just feels like fall.
So when the weather turns cool and the leaves start to come down, a scarecrow makes a simple, fun craft to do together. And most of these use things you probably already have, like a paper plate, a few clothespins, or a paper cup.
Whether you’re a parent at your own kitchen table, a grandparent with the little ones over, a homeschool mama, or a teacher planning a fall lesson, these thirteen ideas are easy to set up and easy to clean up.
13 adorable scarecrow crafts for kids
Here are thirteen simple scarecrows 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 scarecrow
Start with a paper plate for the face. First, have the little ones paint or color it a warm tan, then glue on two button eyes and a triangle nose cut from orange paper.
Next, add a fringe of yellow yarn or paper straw across the top for his hair, and finish him off with a small paper hat. A stitched smile drawn on with a black marker gives him that classic scarecrow look.
Paper plates are one of those craft staples that never seem to run out of ideas, so if you’d like more, our easy paper plate crafts for kids has plenty to reach for.
2. Paper bag scarecrow puppet
Take a small paper lunch bag and turn the flat bottom into the scarecrow’s face. Then draw or glue on the eyes, nose, and a friendly mouth, and tuck bits of yellow paper or raffia along the top for straw hair.
From there, add a paper hat, and if you have them, a few fabric scraps make a sweet patched shirt on the body of the bag.
Once he’s made, the children can slip a hand inside and put on a little show. And puppets have a way of getting even the shy ones talking.
3. Popsicle stick scarecrow
Start by gluing a few popsicle sticks side by side to make the body. Then add a round paper head at the top, a straw hat, and a couple of fabric scraps for a patchwork shirt. Finally, draw on a simple face and tuck a few strands of yarn under the hat for hair.
This one suits older children who like building something sturdy, and once the glue has dried, he stands up nicely on a shelf.
4. Toilet paper roll scarecrow
First, wrap an empty toilet paper roll in brown or plaid paper for the body. Then glue on a paper hat and a smiling face, and tuck bits of yellow paper straw at the top and along the sleeves. A small square of fabric across the middle makes a nice patched shirt.
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.
5. Shape scarecrow
This one is all about simple shapes. Start by cutting a circle for the head, a triangle for the hat, a larger shape for the body, and little squares for the patches. Then let the children glue the pieces together into a scarecrow, and add a face at the end.
So while they build, it’s an easy way to practice shapes and colors, and you end up with something sweet for the fall wall.
6. Scarecrow paper craft
A print-and-color scarecrow is perfect for the youngest hands. First, start with a simple printable and let them color him in. Then help them cut out the pieces, and from there they can glue him onto a paper background and add a few details of their own.
Simple, mess-free, and sweet.
7. Handprint scarecrow
Start by painting the palm of your child’s hand a warm tan, then press it onto paper. The palm becomes the round scarecrow face, and the fingers become the straw hair sticking up under his hat. Once the paint is dry, add eyes, a nose, a little stitched smile, and a paper hat on top.
These little keepsakes are worth saving, and you’ll find more like them in our cute handprint crafts for kids.
8. Scarecrow mask
First, cut a scarecrow face from a paper plate or a piece of cardstock, then cut out two holes for the eyes. Next, add a straw fringe along the top, a patched hat, and a friendly nose and smile. Finally, fasten it with a bit of elastic, or tape it to a craft stick handle so it’s easy to hold up.
Then comes the best part. The children love wearing what they made and marching around the house.
9. Scarecrow hat craft
This time, make just the hat. Start with a simple cone or a brimmed shape cut from brown paper, then let the kids decorate it with a paper sunflower, a patch, or a bit of raffia tucked around the band.
It’s quick to finish, and it doubles as dress-up for story time.
10. Paper cup scarecrow
Turn a paper cup upside down for a sturdy little body. Then draw or glue a face near the top, add a paper hat, and glue a pair of paper arms out to the sides. When it’s done, he’ll stand up on his own on the windowsill.
So this one is good for children who like a craft they can stand up and play with.
11. Clothespin scarecrow
Start with a wooden clothespin for the body. Then glue a round paper head at the top, add a tiny hat, and dress him in a scrap of fabric or a bit of felt. A few strands of yarn make simple straw hair.
And because he’s so small, he’ll clip right onto a basket, a curtain, or the front of a card for grandma.
12. Scarecrow headband
First, cut a strip of paper long enough to fit around a little head. Then add a scarecrow face in the center and a straw fringe across the front, and tape the ends together so it fits snugly.
Once it’s on, the children won’t want to take it off. It’s a favorite for a fall party or a classroom full of wiggly ones.
13. Leaf hair scarecrow
Head outside first and gather a handful of dry leaves. Then, back at the table, draw a round scarecrow face on paper and glue the leaves around the top and sides for a fringe of real fall hair. Add a hat if you like, and let it dry flat so the leaves stay put.
It’s a fun way to bring a little of the outdoors in, and it pairs well with our fun leaf crafts for kids for a whole afternoon of gathering and making.
why kids love a good scarecrow craft
Scarecrow 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 pieces end up a little crooked.
They’re also a nice way to talk about the season while you work. So as you glue and color, you can chat about the harvest coming in, the pumpkins and the corn, and how a scarecrow helps watch over the garden.
And scarecrow crafts fit right in with the rest of fall, too. So if your afternoons are already full of making, our easy harvest crafts for kids and these cozy pumpkin crafts for kids are easy ones to keep going with.
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. Paper plates, paper cups, popsicle sticks, and a handful of wooden clothespins cover most of the little bodies.
Beyond that, you’ll want brown, yellow, and orange paper or cardstock, some washable paint and markers, glue, and child-safe scissors. And for the hair, keep a bit of yellow yarn or paper straw close by.
Then, if you’d like a few of them to feel extra homemade, toss in some fabric scraps for the patched shirts and gather a handful of real leaves from outside. Most of it 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 trickier shapes and the hat brims, 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 scarecrow. It’s the time together, the straw glued on a little crooked, the giggles when his hat slides off.
And a bit of mess is just part of it, so don’t fuss over keeping things tidy. If you’d like to keep the momentum going once the scarecrows are done, our sweet apple crafts for kids is another easy one for a fall day.
pick one scarecrow 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 thirteen. 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 you and your little ones make a scarecrow or two from this list, I’d truly love to see how they turn out. Snap a quick picture and leave it in the comments, or send it our way whenever you get a chance.
There’s something special about a craft put together by small hands, crooked hat and all, and with your okay, yours might show up here on the site to cheer on other families crafting around their own kitchen tables. No pressure at all. Just a warm little invitation if you’d like to join in.
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frequently asked questions
what age are scarecrow crafts best for?
Most of these work well for toddlers through early elementary. The paper plate, handprint, and shape scarecrows are gentle starting points for the littlest ones, while the popsicle stick and clothespin versions are a better fit for older children who like building something sturdy.
what supplies do I need for scarecrow crafts?
Mostly basics you likely already have, like paper plates, paper cups, popsicle sticks, clothespins, paper, glue, and markers. Yellow yarn or paper straw for the hair and a few fabric scraps are nice to have, but you can use whatever is already in the craft drawer.
how long do these crafts take?
Most take about fifteen to twenty minutes once your supplies are out. And if you cut the shapes ahead of time, the little ones can finish even quicker and still have time to play with what they made.
can I use real straw or leaves?
Yes, and it adds a nice touch. A few pieces of real straw or some dry leaves glued on for the hair make the scarecrow feel like he came right out of the garden. But paper straw and yellow yarn work just as well if you’d rather keep the mess down.
how do I display or save the finished crafts?
The flat ones look sweet taped to a window or the fridge, and the standing ones, like the paper cup and clothespin scarecrows, are cute lined up on a shelf or windowsill through the fall. Then, for the favorites you want to keep, snap a quick photo so you have the memory even after the paper starts to curl.
