Dr. Seuss’s newly discovered classic, “What Pet Should I Get?“, continues to enchant readers of all ages. This delightful story follows a brother and sister’s hilarious trip to a pet store, where they face the wonderfully overwhelming decision of choosing just one pet. Inspired by this tale of playful indecision and the vibrant world of Dr. Seuss, we’ve created a fun and engaging paper plate craft perfect for preschoolers and young children: Seuss-inspired paper plate pets! This craft activity not only brings the beloved book to life but also encourages creativity and imaginative play, and it’s significantly easier than caring for a real pet!
This simple craft is a fantastic way to spend an afternoon after reading “What Pet Should I Get?“. It’s a hands-on activity that allows children to explore different animals and even decide which paper plate pet they would choose, just like the characters in the book! Let’s dive into how to create your own adorable paper plate menagerie.
Crafting Your Paper Plate Pets: A “What Pet Should I Get?” Adventure
Before you embark on this creative journey with your little ones, gather all the necessary materials. Preparing everything in advance makes the crafting process smoother and more enjoyable for everyone. For each pet, you’ll need a paper plate as your base and then specific embellishments to transform it into a dog, cat, goldfish, or rabbit.
How to Make a Paper Plate Dog Inspired by “What Pet Should I Get?”
To create your paper plate dog, you will need:
- 2 pre-cut dog ear shapes (construction paper or craft foam)
- 1 pre-cut dog nose shape (construction paper or craft foam)
- 2 googly eyes
- Paint (brown, black, or colors of your choice)
- Sponge or paintbrush
- Glue
Instructions:
- Paint the Paper Plate: Let your child use a sponge or brush to paint the paper plate in their chosen dog colors. Dabbing the paint with a sponge can create a fun texture.
- Assemble the Dog Features: Once the paint is dry, glue the dog ears to the top of the paper plate, the nose in the center, and finally, attach the googly eyes above the nose.
How to Make a Paper Plate Cat Inspired by “What Pet Should I Get?”
For a purr-fect paper plate cat, gather these materials:
- 2 black triangle shapes (for the outer cat ears)
- 2 smaller pink triangle shapes (for the inner cat ears)
- White pipe cleaner, cut into 3 pieces (for whiskers)
- Pink pom-pom (for the nose)
- 2 googly eyes
- Paint (grey, black, white, or colors of your choice)
- Sponge or paintbrush
- Double-sided sticky tape or glue
Instructions:
- Paint the Paper Plate: Paint the paper plate in your desired cat colors using a sponge or brush.
- Create the Cat Ears: Glue the pink triangles inside the black triangles to create the cat ears and attach them to the top of the paper plate.
- Add Whiskers and Nose: Use double-sided sticky tape or glue to attach the pipe cleaner whiskers and the pink pom-pom nose.
- Finish with Eyes: Glue on the googly eyes above the nose to bring your paper plate cat to life.
How to Make a Paper Plate Goldfish Inspired by “What Pet Should I Get?”
Dive into making a paper plate goldfish with these supplies:
- Pre-cut orange tail and fin shapes (construction paper or craft foam)
- 1 large googly eye
- Paint (orange, yellow, or colors of your choice)
- Sponge or paintbrush
- Glue
Instructions:
- Paint the Paper Plate: Paint the paper plate in vibrant goldfish colors.
- Attach Tail and Fin: Glue the orange tail to the back of the paper plate and the fin to the top.
- Add the Eye: Glue the large googly eye onto the paper plate to complete your goldfish.
How to Make a Paper Plate Rabbit Inspired by “What Pet Should I Get?”
Hop into making a paper plate rabbit using these materials:
- White and pink shapes for rabbit ears (construction paper or craft foam)
- Black pipe cleaner, snipped into 3 pieces and twisted (for whiskers)
- Pink pom-pom (for the nose)
- 2 googly eyes
- Paint (white, brown, grey, or colors of your choice)
- Sponge or paintbrush
- Glue
Instructions:
- Paint the Paper Plate: Paint the paper plate in your chosen rabbit color.
- Assemble Rabbit Ears: Glue the pink inner ear shapes onto the white ear shapes and attach them to the top of the paper plate.
- Create Whiskers and Nose: Twist the pipe cleaner pieces together to form whiskers and glue them and the pink pom-pom nose onto the paper plate.
- Add Eyes: Glue the googly eyes above the nose to finish your adorable paper plate rabbit.
Educational Fun Inspired by “What Pet Should I Get?”
This paper plate pet craft is more than just a fun activity; it’s also a fantastic educational opportunity. While crafting, you can talk to your preschooler about:
- Different Types of Pets: Discuss the various pets they can choose from, sparking conversations about animal characteristics and needs.
- Pet Care Responsibilities: Introduce the importance of caring for pets, linking back to the book’s underlying message about the commitment involved in pet ownership.
- Making Choices: Reflect on the book’s theme of decision-making and how the children in the story navigate their pet selection dilemma.
- Creativity and Imagination: Encourage children to personalize their paper plate pets, fostering their creativity and imaginative play.
Creating these “What Pet Should I Get Seuss” inspired paper plate pets is a wonderful way to extend the joy of reading the book. It’s a simple, engaging craft that encourages creativity, fine motor skill development, and meaningful conversations about animals and responsibility. Plus, these paper plate pets are wonderfully low-maintenance and provide hours of imaginative play without any feeding or walking required! Enjoy crafting your own Seuss-inspired pet store at home!
