The school closure alert pings your phone at 6:12 a.m. By 9:00, the kids have already announced they’re bored. Sound familiar?
Try winter hat crafts. They use supplies you probably already own, and they work for toddlers through tweens. Every project ends with something the kids can wear. Grab paper, yarn, and a mug of cocoa, because these 13 snow day hat crafts will fill your whole morning.
Safety note: Little kids should skip hot glue and sharp scissors. Give anyone under six white school glue, glue dots, and safety scissors, and stay close by.
1. Paper plate penguin hat
Cut a paper plate in half, and you have the base for a penguin headpiece. Kids paint it black, glue on a white belly patch, and add orange paper feet and a beak. Staple a paper band to the back so it fits snugly.
Best for
- Ages 3 to 6
- Toddlers who love painting
2. Cardboard pom-pom beanie topper
Wrap yarn around two cardboard rings, tie it off in the center, and cut around the edge. In about ten minutes you have a fluffy pom-pom. Sew or tape it onto an old beanie, and that boring hat looks brand new.
Want a bigger one? Wrap the yarn around a fork for a tiny version, or around your hand for a giant one. Kids love testing sizes.
3. Coffee filter snowflake crown
Flatten a few coffee filters, fold them, and let kids snip out snowflake patterns. Add watercolor or washable marker for a tie-dye winter look. Then glue the snowflakes onto a paper headband.
Every snowflake comes out different, and nobody has to explain why. That’s the best kind of art lesson.
4. No-sew sock hat
Grab a clean, clunky adult sock, cut off the toe, and roll the cut edge up into a cuff. Tie a ribbon or yarn around the top, and you have a no-sew beanie. It fits dolls and stuffed animals especially well.
Mismatched socks work perfectly here. The orphans in your laundry basket finally have a job.
5. Fleece tie hat
Fold a rectangle of fleece in half, tie off the top with yarn, and cut fringe along the bottom edge. Fleece doesn’t fray, so you need zero sewing. Older kids can braid the fringe for a fancier finish.
Pick a fabric they love. A hat they helped design is a hat they’ll wear.
6. Construction paper Santa hat headband
Roll a red triangle into a cone, glue it closed, and top it with a cotton ball. Add a white strip around the base for the brim. This one takes under 15 minutes, so it works well when attention spans run short.
Make a whole stack, and you have instant props for a family photo.
7. Paper bag snowman top hat
Roll the top of a brown paper lunch bag into a brim, then paint it black. Glue on a ribbon band, and finish with a sprig of faux holly or a paper snowflake. The result looks surprisingly dapper.
Kids can wear it, or they can plop it on a real snowman once the snow cooperates.
8. Cardboard tube mini hats
Cut a toilet paper tube into short rings, then cover each one with felt or paper, or just paint it. These mini hats fit action figures and toy animals, and they even fit clay snowmen. Kids can design a whole wardrobe for their toys.
Want more ways to use what’s in your recycling bin? Our roundup of 27 winter crafts for kids has plenty of cheap ideas.
9. Paper cup snowman hat
Flip a paper cup upside down, paint it, and glue a paper brim around the bottom. Add buttons and ribbon, with a swipe of glitter glue on top. The small size suits toddler hands and fits on a stuffed bear.
10. Yarn-wrapped cone hat
Form poster board into a cone and secure it with tape. Then let kids wrap colorful yarn around the cone, layer by layer, and dab glue as they go. The finished piece looks like a cozy knit gnome hat, and the wrapping builds fine motor skills along the way.
Pro tip
Start the yarn at the tip and work down. The wrapping stays tighter that way.
11. Felt fox hat
Cut two orange felt triangles for ears and a white strip for the cheeks. Glue them onto a plain beanie or a felt headband. Older kids can use a basic whip stitch, while younger ones can use fabric glue.
Animal ears turn any hat into a costume, and costumes turn a gloomy afternoon into a show.
12. Cotton ball polar bear hat
Start with a white paper headband, then glue on cotton balls until it looks like a fluffy polar bear. Add two round ears and a black paper nose. Kids will love the soft, squishy texture.
This one doubles as a sensory activity, which is a sneaky win for parents.
13. Decorate a beanie with fabric markers
Buy a plain cotton or acrylic beanie, and hand your kids a set of fabric markers. They can draw stripes and stars, or write their own name. Slide a piece of cardboard inside the hat first so the ink doesn’t bleed through.
Let the finished hat air-dry, then check the marker’s label for heat-setting instructions. Brands like Crayola offer fabric-safe options for kids.
Warm heads, happy kids
That’s 13 winter hat crafts for every skill level. Toddlers get messy paint sessions, and older kids get careful felt stitching. Most of them use recycled or household materials, so you can skip the craft store run. For more ideas, browse our full list of winter crafts for kids.
Craft hats look adorable, but they don’t replace real winter gear. Before anyone heads outside, check the American Academy of Pediatrics’ HealthyChildren.org for cold-weather safety guidance, and read the CDC’s tips on frostbite and hypothermia. Then pick a craft, clear off the kitchen table, and let the snow day begin. Which hat will your kids make first?