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While Halloween and Thanksgiving are legitimate reasons for your children to dress up, it doesn’t mean they cannot dress up on a regular day. Dress-up parties have gained popularity among both younger children and teenagers. And then there are those times when your children want to do something different just for the sake of it.
Hats are an excellent addition to a dress-up party or any outfit. You can make them in different colors and shapes and decide whether you want them to be cute or silly. Children who love crafts will be delighted to make something they can wear.
We have listed some DIY hats for kids that will pique your child’s interest. Most of these can be made with items at home and will look amazing on your children.
16 DIY Hats For Kids
If you are looking for some simple crafts to make with your children, hats are something you can consider. They are easy and fun to make and your children can wear them at the end of it all.
1. Paper plate hats
Children can easily make this hat. It is also customizable according to the size of your children’s heads.
You will need:
- Paper plates, according to the size of the children’s heads
- Scissors
- Pencil
How to make:
- Fold the paper plate in half.
- Draw a simple shape (circle, heart, shamrock, clover, etc.) on one side of the folded plate so that the base of the shape is connected to the rim of the plate.
- Cut out the shape. Now the rim and the shape remain.
- Wear it so that the design pops out and sits on your forehead.
- Color the hat in the colors of your choice.
2. Turkey hat with wings
This is the perfect craft for Thanksgiving. Let your child wear it while waiting for the turkey to roast.
You will need:
- Construction paper in brown, orange, and other colors
- Scissors
- Googly eyes
- Glue
How to make:
- Cut a long rectangular strip from the brown construction paper. This will go around your child’s head.
- Cut a circle from the paper as well for the face of the turkey.
- Cut a diamond-shaped piece from the orange paper.
- Cut wing shapes from the other papers.
- Now, fold the rectangular strip so that the ends overlap (you can roll it around your child’s head for measurement) and paste the ends together.
- Stick the wings on the outer sides of the strip.
- Fold the diamond-shaped orange piece in half to make a beak and stick it on the brown circle.
- Stick the googly eyes on the circle.
- Stick the circle on the rectangular strip so that the wings are on the side.
3. Template paper hats
These are easy to make, and you can mix and match different colors and patterns. Even preschoolers can make these hats quite easily.
You will need:
- A4 size paper or letter-sized cardstock
- Scissors
- Glue
- Markers
- Decorative items (sequins, glitter, artificial feathers, artificial flowers and leaves, ribbons, felt, etc.)
How to make:
- Get different hat templates from the Internet and print them on paper or cardstock.
- Cut out the hat according to the instructions on the template.
- Attach the different pieces as mentioned in the template.
- Color and decorate them as you wish.
4. Sailor hats
If your child loves playing sailors and pirates, they will love making sailor hats for themselves. You can make these for birthday parties as well to distribute as favors among children.
You will need:
- A rectangular sheet of paper (half sheets of newspapers will also do)
- Crayons
- Decorative items
How to make:
- Fold the paper in half lengthwise. Crease it well and open the paper flat.
- Now fold the paper widthwise and crease it.
- Fold and bring the top corners together so that they form two triangles. Crease them well so that they don’t open.
- There will be a rectangular section below the triangles. Fold the front flap of this rectangle up so that the flap meets the base of the triangles.
- Fold the flap upwards again so that it overlaps the triangles.
- Repeat the previous two steps for the back flap as well.
- Open the hat and put it on.
- Crease every fold well. You can make the hat sturdier by using glue or tape.
- Decorate each hat as you want.
5. Mermaid hats
If you have planned a mermaid-themed birthday party for your child, you can make these hats easily at home. Your children can also turn them into personalized party favors for their guests.
You will need:
- Blue cardstock
- Glue
- Paints and paintbrushes
- Decorative items (seashells, pom-poms, glitter, etc.)
How to make:
- Twist cardstock into a conical shape and glue the ends together.
- Decorate the hat in whichever way you want. Make sure you attach seashells to the hat.
- If you do not have blue cardstock, you can take white ones and spray paint or paint them in blue.
6. Angry Birds birthday hat
“Angry Birds” is quite a popular theme among children, especially for birthday parties. Make some easy “Angry Birds” birthday hats with your children.
You will need:
- Cardstock in bright colors
- Googly eyes
- Marker
- Glue
- Black felt
- Fake feathers and pipe cleaners
- Scissors
How to make:
- Twist the cardstock into a cone and glue the overlapping edges.
- Stick on the googly eyes.
- Cut the black felt for the eyebrows and attach them over the eyes.
- Draw a beak and other details using markers.
- Bend the pipe cleaners into different shapes for the wings or the crown and stick them on the hat.
7. Paper visor
Paper visors are pretty popular with children during picnics and hikes. Try this craft that is based on templates.
You will need:
- Letter-sized cardstock
- Marker
- Scissors
- Items for decoration
How to make:
- Print out a template for a paper visor off the Internet on the cardstock.
- Decorate it in the way you wish.
- Cut out the template along the dotted lines.
8. Paper plate turkey hats
Here is another idea for a Thanksgiving hat. It is easy to make and pretty and colorful. You can even make it for different birds on different occasions.
You will need:
- White paper plate
- Scissors
- Paints
- Q-tips
- Construction paper in dark brown, light brown, orange, and red colors
- Glue
- Craft foam
- Stapler
- Googly eyes
How to make:
- Cut a paper plate in half.
- Using a Q-tip for each color, dab different colored paints into each groove of the plate.
- Cut a semicircle from the dark brown paper and stick it below the colored lines so that the flat lines of both the semicircles match.
- Cut a circle from light brown paper and stick it on the plate. This is the face of the turkey.
- Cut a diamond shape from the orange paper for the beak, fold it in half, and glue it along the fold to the face.
- Cut a comma-shaped piece from the red paper and paste it below the beak for the wattle.
- Cut orange paper into two 8×2-inch long strips and create an accordion fold.
- Attach them to the two inner edges of the paper plate on opposite sides for the legs of the turkey.
- Cut the foam into two 2×11-inch strips.
- Staple one end of each piece together.
- Attach the stapled ends of the foam to the center back of the turkey.
- After it has dried, wrap the bands around your child’s head and staple the other ends to fit.
9. Painted baseball hat
Painting a baseball hat is extremely easy. Besides, it looks pretty. You can select any pattern and paint it on the hat.
You will need:
- A baseball hat
- Spray paint
- Acrylic paints
- Textile medium
- Paintbrush
How to make:
- Mix one part textile medium to two parts of color paint.
- Paint the bill of the hat in one color.
- Paint patterns on the top of the hat.
- You can paint birds, animals, rainbows, stars, insects, etc., on the hat.
- If you want a particular color as the base, place the hat on a sheet of newspaper and spray paint it.
10. Paper crowns
If you want your child to feel like royalty, make this easy paper crown for them. They can help color it and then wear it proudly.
You will need:
- A4 sized cardstock
- Crayons, acrylic paints, or watercolors
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Glue
- Marker
How to make:
- Draw the shape of a crown on the cardstock. You can draw pointy triangles or semicircles.
- Draw jewels in different shapes on the crown.
- Paint the crown and the jewels in the colors of your choice.
- Cut two strips measuring 2×8 inches from the cardstock.
- Glue each strip from opposite edges of the crown.
- Fold it over your child’s head and glue the ends where they meet.
11. Dino hat
For children who love everything dinosaurs, this is the perfect idea for a dress-up party. You can make this with very young children to improve their motor skills.
You will need:
- Three sheets of construction paper
- Glue stick
- Scissors
- Tape
How to make:
- Cut four one-inch wide strips along the long side of a construction paper. Two of these will be the headbands, and the other two will be the pieces on which the spikes of a dinosaur will be attached.
- Take the other two sheets of paper and cut them into two-inch-wide strips along the short side of the paper.
- Fold each of these strips in half and draw an open triangle starting from half an inch above the folded end.
- Cut along the line so that you get a diamond-shaped piece with a flat area in between when you open it.
- Repeat this process for all the short strips.
- Glue these spikes on two of the longer strips.
- Fold these spikes over the longer strip, crease well, and glue the ends together. You will get a hollow pyramid shape.
- After the whole structure has dried, tape the headband to the strips with the spikes. One strip should go over the child’s head, and the other strip should hang like a braid.
12. Foam crown
Here is another crown idea for the little princesses. Make these cute crowns from craft foam and see some colorful royalty right at home.
You will need:
- Craft foam
- A4 size paper
- Hole punch
- Elastic band
- Glue
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Buttons, beads, rhinestones, glitter, sequins, etc. in different sizes and colors
How to make:
- Draw a crown of your choice on the sheet of paper.
- Transfer the pattern to the craft foam for tracing. You can use paper clips or tape to hold the paper in place while tracing.
- Cut out the foam along the traced lines.
- Punch a hole each on the right and left edges of the crown.
- Decorate the crown as you wish.
- Thread an elastic band through the holes and knot it on both ends on the inside of the crown.
13. Cowboy hat
Giddy up and make this dashing cowboy hat for your children. It is super easy to make, and your children can play cowboys and sheriffs.
You will need:
- Cereal box
- Aluminum foil
- Black acrylic paint
- Rope
- Glue
- Scissors
- Sharpie
- Paintbrush
- Jewels or ribbons (optional)
How to make:
- Cut one long straight strip, one shorter strip that curves at the ends, and a rectangle with a semicircle cut on the top from the cereal box.
- Color the hat in black and let it dry.
- Cut a star from the aluminum foil.
- Write the child’s name or ‘SHERIFF’ or ‘COWBOY’ on it with the sharpie.
- Glue the long strip on the front bottom of the rectangular piece and then stick the short, curved strip just a bit above the straight piece so that it looks like the brim of a hat.
- Stick a piece of rope on the upper edge of the hat brim and glue the star on top of it.
- Place the hat on your child’s head and fold the straight strip around. Glue the ends.
14. Paper party hats
If you have a bunch of old newspapers ready for recycling, convert them into beautiful hats. Children love making these hats, and you can even make them for occasions like engagements, weddings, and birthdays.
You will need:
How to make:
- Place two or three sheets of newspaper on the child’s head and mold it to the shape of the head.
- Use masking tape to help the newspaper hold the shape.
- Add flowers and pass a layer of masking tape over them.
- Roll the brim over, starting from the forehead. Roll as tightly as you can.
15. Pilgrim hat
This is another hat you can make with your children for Thanksgiving. These hats can be made from newspapers and require minimal effort.
You will need:
- Newspaper
- Masking tape
- Black paint
- Paintbrush
- Hole punch
- Black elastic cord
- Craft foam in orange and yellow
How to make:
- Fold a full sheet of newspaper in half. Next, fold and bring the top two corners so that they meet at the center.
- Hold them in place with masking tape.
- There will be a rectangular section below the triangles. Fold the front flap of this rectangle up so that the flap meets the base of the triangles.
- Fold the flap upwards again so that it overlaps the triangles.
- Repeat the previous two steps for the other flap as well.
- Color the hat in black. Let it dry.
- Punch a hole each on the left and right edges of the hat near the brim.
- Thread the elastic cord through the holes and knot them on the inside.
- Cut the orange foam in a 1×11-in strip and stick it on the hat.
- Make a small square-in-square pattern with the yellow and orange foam. Stick it on the orange strip.
16. Scarecrow hat
Turn your little child into a cute and not–so-scary scarecrow this fall. Here is another easy craft you can make in different colors.
You will need:
- Newspaper
- Masking tape
- Paints in fall colors
- Paintbrush
- Hole punch
- Raffia
- Construction paper in different colors
- Glue
- Black marker
How to make:
- Fold the newspaper similar to a pilgrim hat.
- Paint it in the fall color of your choice.
- Punch a hole on each end of the hat and tie a piece of raffia for the chin strap.
- Cut two 2×6-inch strips of straw-colored paper—cut them into long strips from one end until three-fourths through.
- Crumple them and glue the uncut upper edges to the inside edge of the hat’s brim.
- Cut small rectangles from other colored papers and stick them on the hat to look like patches.
- Draw stitch marks around these pieces with a black marker.
These DIY hats for kids are guaranteed to bring smiles to your children’s faces and provide them with hours of fun and entertainment. They can assist you while making these hats and also spend time playing with them. As they are easy to make, children can make them as frequently as they like. Most of these crafts can be recycled as well, so it is a win-win situation for you.
