Let's make it
Instructions.
- 1
Prepare your printable: choose your template (candy corn, witch hat, or Frankenstein) and print it. Cardstock works especially well if you plan to hang the finished craft.
- 2
Tear the tissue paper: have kids tear the colors for their template into smaller pieces. No need for perfect squares!
- 3
Scrunch and roll: encourage kids to scrunch and roll each piece of tissue paper into a little ball. This adds a fun 3D texture.
- 4
Glue: apply small amounts of glue to the printable and press the tissue paper pieces into place. Candy corn: yellow, orange, and white stripes. Witch hat: black and purple with a yellow buckle. Frankenstein: green for his face and ears, black for his hair, gray for his bolts, and a touch of white for details. Try to keep eyes, smiles, and other facial details visible.
- 5
Add googly eyes: glue two googly eyes onto Frankenstein's face to bring him to life.
- 6
Let dry: set your craft aside until the glue is completely dry.
Safety tip
- Adult supervision is recommended. Small rolled tissue paper pieces may present a choking hazard for young children or children who mouth objects.
- Googly eyes are small and can be a choking hazard. Keep them away from children who still mouth objects.
- Adults should handle or supervise hole punching and scissors as appropriate. Use child-safe scissors for kids.
- Use child-safe, non-toxic glue.
- Strings and ribbons can present an entanglement or strangulation hazard. Keep hanging decorations and loose strings out of reach of babies and young children.
Choose the Right Template for Your Child
Our printable includes three templates, from simplest to most challenging:
Candy corn (easiest): Big, simple sections make it the best choice for younger children and little hands that are just starting out.
Witch hat (next level): A step up, with a few more areas to fill and a little more precision.
Frankenstein (most complex): The most detail, with hair, ears, bolts, and facial features to work around. It's a great challenge for older kids or kids ready to work on more precise placement.
Optional: Make a Hanging Frankenstein!
Want to turn your finished craft into a Halloween decoration?
Cut around the outside of your Frankenstein once the glue dries.
Reinforce the top with cardstock or tape if needed.
Punch one hole at the top center of his head.
Thread yarn or string through the hole and tie it into a loop.
Hang your Frankenstein on a wall, door, or classroom display! You can even make several and create a Halloween garland.
Why We Love This Activity: An OT Perspective
As a pediatric occupational therapist, I love activities that give kids opportunities to practice important skills through play. This simple craft works on:
Fine motor strength: Tearing and rolling tissue paper gets those small hand muscles working.
Bilateral coordination: Kids use both hands together to hold, tear, and manipulate the paper.
Pincer grasp: Picking up and rolling small tissue paper pieces encourages thumb and fingertip use.
Visual motor coordination: Placing tissue paper within the outlines helps connect what children see with how they move their hands.
Motor planning: Kids figure out how to tear, roll, and position their pieces.
Make It Easier or More Challenging
For little hands: Start with the candy corn, skip the rolling, and let children glue larger torn tissue paper pieces directly onto the template.
For an extra challenge: Try the Frankenstein, and encourage smaller pieces, tighter rolls, or using fingertips to place each piece within the outlines.
You can also offer a glue brush to practice controlled movements.
Field Notes
- Use just enough glue to hold each piece without soaking the paper.
- Roll some tissue paper ahead of time if your child tires easily.
- Use cardstock if making the hanging version, and let the glue dry completely before cutting and hole punching.
- There's no need for every craft to look the same! Each candy corn, witch hat, and Frankenstein will turn out a little different, and that's part of the fun.
