How to Make Simple Paper Snowflakes for Kids – The Easy Way

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Do you wanna know the easiest way to help young kids make paper snowflakes? You’re gonna love this trick for making a simple paper snowflake for kids, and your kids will love it, too!

Before you know it, they will decorate your whole classroom or house with their beautiful wintery creations.

Sample snowflakes made using the tips about how to make a simple snowflake for kids

The secret to making a paper snowflake for kids is to use snowflake cutting templates ….. a simple snowflake pattern. Even younger kids in preschool and kindergarten can do this!

Do you want to know the best part? This is a fun and engaging activity….. and the PERFECT way to work on scissors skills.


snowflake cutting patterns
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DIY Paper Snowflakes for Young Kids

I love making paper snowflakes with kids during the winter.

However, when young kids try to cut snowflakes, they often struggle to cut them correctly. When they cut in the wrong place, their creations fall apart when they try to open them up.

When you use snowflake cutting templates or snowflake patterns, you can help ensure that young kids experience success with their snowflake creations. The templates also provide a great way to motivate kids to practice scissor skills and helps them build confidence.

I love watching their little faces light up when they unfold the paper to see the finished snowflake.

Why Do Kids Have a Hard Time Cutting Snowflakes From Paper?

When I was a kid, it took me a while to master the art of cutting snowflakes. In fact, most children struggle at first. Folding the paper properly causes some confusion, and then kids fail to understand where to cut on the folded paper.

I’ve seen some patterns out there, but they are usually intricate designs that are way too complex for beginning cutters. These complex patterns require starting with a square piece of paper and folding it many times so that it’s too thick for beginning cutters to cut through.

The easy way to help kids make a paper snowflake with cutting patterns.  A variety of simple snowflakes cut from parchment, white, and blue paper

Helpful Tips to Make a Simple Paper Snowflake

I have two tips to help children learn to cut out paper snowflakes.

  1. Simple is Better: Fold the paper in a simple way. Young kids can make beautiful snowflakes with a piece of letter size printer paper folded into four equal sections.
  2. Use a Template or Pattern: Show kids where to cut the paper using a simple snowflake cutting template. You can print them or create your own.

How to Make a Simple Snowflake Pattern

You can help kiddos experience success in creating beautiful snowflake crafts by providing them with a snowflake cutting template or pattern. Here are easy directions for making your patterns:

Easy printable patterns that you can use to teach how to cut a simple paper snowflake for kids.

This method of cutting a simple paper snowflake for kids is also a great way to motivate preschoolers and kindergarteners to practice their scissor skills.  The picture above shows a printable template, but you can make your own, too…. and there is no need for square paper… just use a plain piece of letter-sized paper.

To create a pattern,  fold a sheet of paper into fourths and draw a simple snowflake design on one of the sections.  Simple is the keyword here. Add straight lines to the template to make small triangles and diamonds, and add curves to make circles and ovals.

After making a few different designs, unfold and photocopy them to quickly make a whole bunch of templates.  Print or copy the patterns on color, patterned paper, or parchment paper to create more interest.

What Kind of Paper is Best for a Snowflake Pattern?

Remember that preschoolers and kindergarteners are just learning to use scissors. They will need to cut through 4 layers when creating snowflakes, so it’s best to use lightweight paper.

Simple paper snowflakes for kids made from colorful pastel scrapbook paper

Inexpensive printer paper works well because it’s thin, and I also like using parchment paper. Sometimes, I use beautiful scrapbook paper, but it’s more expensive and thicker, plus I have to take the time to cut it down so it fits into my printer.

How to Make an Easy Paper Snowflake Step-by-Step

practice scissors skills by making paper snowflakes

Now that you have created your simple snowflake pattern, it’s time to make snowflakes. Here’s your step-by-step guide:

Fold The Paper

The first thing that you need to do is fold your patterns. Fold the paper in fourths so that kids can see the lines on the pattern.

You can also ask your children to help you fold the sheet in fourths….folding is also a great way to build fine motor skills.

Cut Out The Snowflake Pattern

Next, get out a pair of scissors and demonstrate to your kids how to cut on the lines. They will enjoy looking at the different shapes that fall off as they cut the pattern.

Unfold The Snowflake Design

The last step is the most exciting. Watch your kids’ faces as they unfold their cut paper to reveal their snowflake shapes.

Video Tutorial

Check out this paper snowflake tutorial. The video will show you how to use the snowflake patterns.

Create a Snowflake Cutting Center

You can create a snow-themed cutting center by placing a bunch of templates in a caddy along with some scissors. TADA…. you suddenly have an extremely motivating winter fine motor activity

Once they understand how to make a paper snowflake with a cutting template, they might be able to make their own design soon.

Teachers tell me repeatedly that their kids LOVE using these templates. They find that it’s a very motivating arts and crafts project and kids often use the templates to FILL their classrooms with snowy decor.

“I usually just use a blank sheet of paper or a coffee filter to make snowflakes in class. Yet, this resource was PERFECT and so much easier for my students. They were so excited with the end results!”

Use Paper Snowflakes for Winter Art & Craft Projects

Some might argue that using templates will not provide an opportunity for creative expression. But you can use the cut snowflakes as a starting point for a great art project.

snowflake craft project.  Simple snowflakes cut from white paper.  Kids have colored them with colored pencils, and used glitter glue and sequins to decorate them.

Here are some tools and supplies you can provide so kids can create unique paper snowflakes.

  • Crayons
  • Markers
  • Colored pencils
  • Watercolor paint
  • Glue sticks
  • Hole Punch
  • Glitter glue
  • Sequins
  • Pom poms
  • Tissue paper
  • String
  • Tape

Kids can add a colorful design to the front of their snowflake with crayons, markers, glued pieces of tissue paper, or glitter glue. Provide a hole punch so kids can add circles to the design. They can also glue items like sequins and pom-poms to create a dazzling design. Use clear tape to attach multiple snowflakes to a string or piece of twine to create a beautiful winter garland.

Check out this article about making snowflakes and taking them to the next level (making them all fancy). 

Purchase the Snowflake Cutting Templates

Are you ready to start making simple snowflakes with your kids? To get my printable snowflake templates, visit my store.

snowflake cutting patterns

Purchase The Simple Snowflake Patterns On TPT

Do you prefer to shop at Teachers Pay Teachers? You can also purchase the Snowflake Cutting Template in my TPT Store.

Additional Winter Activities for Kids

Do you need some additional ideas for the winter season? Check out these fun activities for your kids

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