Toddler Paper Crafts: Torn Paper Lion

The torn Paper Lion is an easy paper crafts collage project for children as young as 18 months, and as old as five.

This paper crafts project uses torn paper collage techniques. Tearing paper, rather than using scissors makes it a safe craft for children under three. Tearing the paper rather than making straight lines with scissors also gives a natural, organic feel tothe paper crafts collage.

A paper lion collage can be made on its own, framed, or used to help create a jungle theme mural or bedroom theme. A lion is one of many animals that can be made using this torn paper collage method.

Age Appropriateness: Toddler Paper Crafts: Organic Paper Lion

Toddlers 18 months and up can make the paper lion with some help and some pre-crafts time preparations.

Children three and up can do the entire craft themselves.

Materials for Paper Crafts: Torn Paper Lion

1 sheet of black or white or other color card stock or construction paper

1 sheet of yellow construction paper

1 sheet of red construction paper

1 sheet of orange construction paper

1 sheet of brown construction paper

1 sheet of black construction paper

1 black crayon

1 orange crayon

glue stick or Elmer's glue, or your favorite glue for kids or make your own glue

Tearing Paper for the Body

Parents can help toddlers to rip a piece of yellow construction paper that will be the body of the lion. The body should be the biggestpiece of the lion. It should be kind of oval shaped.

For toddlers under two, parents can pre-tear these pieces of the paper lion.

Paper Crafts for Toddlers: Tearing Paper for the Head

The head of the lion should be close to a circle and torn out of the yellow construction paper. Again, parents can help younger kids with this.

Paper Crafts for Toddlers: Tearing Paper for the Mane

The most time consuming part of this paper craft for kids is tearing the pieces of the lion's mane. Tear small triangular shaped or cone-shaped pieces. They can be slightly different sizes. Tear the mane pieces out of the red and, orange and brown papers.

Depending on the size of the lion head, and how big you want to mane to be you need about 30 little pieces. Plus, tear a couple of extra for the tail.

strong>Paper Crafts for Toddlers: Tearing Paper for the Legs and Tail

The easiest part of this collage for kids will be tearing the legs and and the tail. Any long strips will do. Also make some smalls square or oval shaped pieces for the lion's paws.

Paper Crafts for Toddlers: Putting it all Together

Show the child how to glue the body to the paper.

Next, attach the pieces of the mane to the back of the head, on the perimeter of the circle. When finished, turn the head over and glue to the body. Glue it so you cannot see where the mane pieces are attached, but you can still see the mane.

Also glue the tail, the legs and the paws.

Decorating the the Torn Paper Lion

Cut out small pieces of black fro the eyes and the nose.

Or draw the eyes and nose in with the black crayon.

Use the orange crayon to draw the whiskers.

Roar!!

Now you have a pet lion you made with the paper crafts technique known as torn-paper collage.