Toddler at Play | Kids Crafts & Activities

10+ Paper Roll Ideas for Kids

paper roll flower craft - toddler at play (5)

Are you looking for paper roll crafts and activities for your little ones?

Paper roll ideas are always fun! Everyone has paper rolls at home and it’s a wonderful way to use and upcycle them in a fun way. Take a peak at this list of 10+ Paper Roll Crafts and Activities for Kids!

RELATED: 40+ Cardboard ideas FOR KIDS

All activities should be supervised by an adult. This post contains affiliate links- this just means I earn a small commission if you purchase via links below, no extra cost to you! Read our disclosure policy here.

#1: Paper roll flower craft

paper roll flower craft - toddler at play (5)

Make this super fun and easy Paper Roll Flower Craft using paper rolls! It’s really easy to set up and super inexpensive because you’re using recycled materials.

MATERIALS FOR PAPER ROLL FLOWER CRAFT:

INSTRUCTIONS:

  • Using the craft scissors, cut slits in one paper roll, about .5″-1″ deep and spaced at 1/3 of an inch.
  • Cut out triangles in the other and slits spaced at .5″ in the other. They don’t have to be perfect.
  • Place desired washable kids paint on a paper plate and you’re ready to paint away!

Dip the paper rolls into the paint, making sure to get all of the slits coated and stamp onto the white cardstock. Once the flowers are stamped, we used a paintbrush to color in the middles orange and draw in the stems and leaves with green paint.

#2: paper roll number match activity

This Paper Roll Number Match Activity requires only a couple of materials plus a paper roll that anyone can find in their home! I love easy recycled crafts and activities that will keep a child occupied. Therefore, this activity is perfect for little ones because it focuses on so many areas of development meanwhile and most importantly the child is having a great time! You’ll need a paper roll, dot stickers and a permanent marker. That’s it! About 5 minutes of effort, you’ve got a great educational activity for your child 🙂

materials:

 

Instructions:

  • Firstly, begin by numbering the dot stickers with the permanent marker. We used up a full sheet of dot stickers using numbers 1-15, however you can use as many dot stickers as you’d like!
  • Secondly, using the permanent marker, write out the matching numbers on the paper roll, scattering their order.

#3: paper roll telescopes

paper roll telescopes -toddler at play (1)

These Paper Roll Telescopes are super fun to make and are a great recycled craft idea!

Materials:

Instructions:

  • First, choose a paint color and paint the paper roll using the foam brush and kids washable paint. Let dry.
  • While the paint is drying, cut a square of the sandwich bag and draw several stars, shooting stars, moon, whatever you would like using the permanent marker. Make sure the diameter of the picture is small enough to fit across one end of the paper roll.
  • When the paper roll is dry, wrap the piece of sandwich bag you drew on to line up with the hole and secure using scotch tape.
  • Next, cut a strip of cardstock long enough to cover the tape when wrapped around but leave a bit of the painted paper roll (about 2 inches) showing. Using the hot glue gun (adults should do this step), glue the cardstock around the paper roll to cover the scotch tape/sandwich bag.
  • Decorate the telescope in any way you want. We did a simple string accent at the bottom of the telescope and secured it using hot glue.

#4: paper roll heart stamps

These Paper Roll Heart Stamps are super easy to make and create the sweetest painted hearts perfect for any Valentine’s Day greeting card!

Materials:

 

Instructions:

  • Bend the paper roll to shape into a heart and secure with tape. Done!

Place a bit of each washable kids paint onto the paper plate and kids are ready to stamp their hearts away!

These make great Valentine’s Day cards if you bend a piece of cardstock in half (you can trim to make it smaller if you want), stamp a few hearts at the front and sign inside!

#5: paper roll word search

Kids will love this Paper Roll Word Search Activity because it’s fun, unique and uses dot stickers!

Materials:

Instructions:

  • Begin by choosing simple, 2-4 letter words and writing them on the dot stickers using the permanent marker.
  • Next, using the permanent marker write out the words (either vertically or horizontally) onto the paper roll and mix other letters in between to make a word search. It doesn’t have to look perfect, just make sure the letters are all in line.

#6: silly paper roll haircuts

silly paper roll haircuts- toddler at play (1)

This Silly Paper Roll Haircuts activity was THE BEST IDEA to keep my 3 year old busy while I prepped lunch. It was brilliant!

Materials:

Instructions:

  • Simply make deep slits in the paper roll all around using craft scissors (this step is for adults).
  • Bend them all down (optional, but I think they look more funky and silly this way).
  • Using the permanent marker, draw a silly face on each paper roll.

It’s haircut time! Have the toddlers use kid-safe scissors to give these little guys a hair trim!

#7: Paper Roll Tube Tunnel Marble Drop

This Paper Roll Tube Tunnel Marble Drop is a super interesting and engaging activity for children of all ages and all you need is a few toilet paper or paper towel rolls!

Materials:

Instructions:

Starting at the height of your youngest child, tape paper roll tubes leaving half an inch between the tubes. Create a pattern and make sure to tape the tubes horizontally at a slight angle, this way the marbles won’t fly out of the tubes too fast. Work your way down. Done!

It’s simple and nothing fancy, but the best part is that you probably have all the materials at home already!

#8: DIY Bubble Wrap Stamp Art

diy bubble wrap stamp art- toddler at play (3)

This DIY Bubble Wrap Stamp Art is a super simple craft for kids of any age!

materials:

 

Instructions:

  • Cut the toilet paper roll in half.
  • Wrap the bubble wrap around one end of the paper roll and secure with an elastic. Trim the edges of the bubble wrap with craft scissors, if needed. 
  • Add washable kids paint to a plate and arrange the DIY stamps onto each paint.
  • Let the kids have fun painting with these stamps!

TIP- It’s super helpful to get rid of excess paint off the stamp by brushing it on the side of the plate. This will get rid of the extra paint and create a thin, even layer on the stamp to give it a nice bubble wrap appearance when stamped on the card stock.

#9: Dot Sticker Alphabet Match using a Paper Roll

dot sticker alphabet match- toddler at play (4)

This Dot Sticker Alphabet Match using a Paper Roll is one of those activities that’s super quick to prep, doesn’t require a long list of materials and best of all, will keep toddlers busy and happy!

Materials:

Instructions:

  • On a paper roll, write out letters A through Z with the permanent marker.
  • Next, write A through Z on the dot stickers.

#10: Apple Tree Button Color Sort

apple tree button color sort- toddler at play (5)

Learning colors can be fun with this Apple Tree Button Color Sort which is a amazingly fun fine motor activity!

Materials:

 

Instructions:

  • Using the scissors cut two large trees out of the green cardstock (without the trunks).
  • Glue one tree to the back of one paper roll and the second to the other paper roll. I used a popsicle stick as support and glued each one to the backs of the trees and trunks.
  • Glue 3-5 buttons onto the tree. One with only red, other with only green.
  • Now secure your trees inside a bin using scotch tape. YOU CAN USE A SHOE BOX AND USE HOT GLUE TO GLUE TO TREES TO THE INSIDE OF THE SHOE BOX.
  • Now add the rest of the buttons to the bin and add tweezers.

#11: Paper Plate Peacock Craft

This Paper Plate Peacock Craft is a fun paper plate craft for kids!

materials:

 

Instructions:

  • Cut the paper plate in half.
  • Add the washable kids paint onto a paper plate and pinch the pom-pom in a clothespin.
  • Color the cut paper plate using the pom-pom and purple/blue paint. Pom-pom gives the peacock a super cool look! Let dry.
  • Using the liquid school glue and sequins, decorate the peacock in any way you want. Let the glue set.
  • Once the glue has set, hot glue the feathers to the back of the paper plate. THIS STEP IS FOR ADULTS.
  • Next, cut the paper roll to about 2-3 inches long. Add 1 inch slits on one end of the paper roll, both sides.
  • Cut the pipecleaner into 3 strips, about 3 inch long each. Glue to the inside of the paper roll.
  • Add the googly eyes using the liquid school glue as well as the beak. You can make a simple beak from the other half of the paper plate. Let glue set. 
  • Once the glue has set, insert the painted paper plate into the slits of the paper roll. 
  • Done!

#12: Cotton Ball Autumn Tree Craft

cotton ball autumn tree- toddler at play (11)

This Cotton Ball Autumn Tree craft is a fun one for sure. Kids love using droppers (mine definitely do!) and for this craft their coloring in the cotton ball tree using droppers!

Materials For Cotton Ball Autumn Tree:

 

Instructions:

  • Glue the paper roll onto the cardstock placing the cardstock horizontally.
  • Next, glue the cotton balls at the top of the paper roll tree trunk to create a tree. Glue as many cotton balls as you can fit. Let dry.
  • While the cotton ball tree is drying add washable kids paint to the cups with water and mix to combine to make several watered down paint colors (we kept the colors Fall themed, yellow, orange, green, red)

Simply let the kids fill the dropper with the watery paint and release onto the cotton balls. The paint will soak into the cotton ball, spreading a bit and mix with other colors creating a beautiful Fall tree!

 

ENJOY!

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