Paper plate butterflies are an engaging sensory craft that can be fun for anyone! Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or child, this simple activity provides an opportunity for creativity, fine motor skill development, and sensory exploration. In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the process of making these colorful butterflies.
Benefits of making paper plate butterflies as a sensory craft:
- Fine Motor Skills Development: Cutting, gluing, and decorating the butterfly wings can help improve fine motor skills such as practicing precision and control while handling small materials.
- Creativity and Imagination: Designing and decorating the butterfly wings allows for expression of creativity, experimenting with colors, patterns, and shapes.
- Sensory Exploration: The different textures of paper plates, paint, and other materials engage the senses.
Materials Needed:
- Small 6″ paper plates
- Paint or markers
- Scissors (with adult supervision)
- Large wooden craft sticks or wooden dental sticks
- Glue (glitter glue is optional)
- Pipe cleaners
- Googly eyes (optional, or draw with markers)
- Sequins, beads, or any other decorative items you’d like to use
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Paint or color your paper plates using vibrant colors. Allow them to dry completely.
- Cut the Butterfly Wings:
- Cut each paper plate in half to create two semi-circles.
- Next, cut a curved “V” shape along each straight edge of the semi-circle. These will be the butterfly wings.
- Assemble the Butterfly:
- Take a large craft stick or wooden dental stick. This will serve as the butterfly’s body.
- Glue the wings to either side of the craft stick. Position them at an angle to create a realistic butterfly shape.
- Allow the glue to dry thoroughly.
- Add Antennae:
- Cut two short sections of pipe cleaner.
- Glue them to the top of the craft stick to create the butterfly’s antennae.
- You can bend the antennae slightly for a playful effect.
- Decorate Your Butterfly:
- Use markers to draw eyes, a mouth, and any other details you’d like on the butterfly’s wings.
- If you have googly eyes, glue them onto the wings for an adorable touch.
- Add sequins, beads, or other decorative items.
Creating paper plate butterflies is not only a fun craft activity but also a valuable sensory experience for autism behavior support. Children can explore different textures, colors, and shapes while working on their fine motor skills.
If you’re interested in learning more about how ABA therapy can benefit your child, or if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to help you on this journey. Give us a call at (855) 444-5664 to get started!
