Preschoolers can create decorative structures and hang bat shapes from the structure. Trace bat shapes on poster board and help children cut them out and decorate them as desired. Create the base of the mobile by drawing a spiral on a paper plate then cutting on the line. Preschoolers can decorate the base with paint, markers and crayons. Punch a hole in the top of each bat and in various places on the base of the mobile. Help children use string to hang the bats from the base of the mobile. Attach strings to the top of the mobiles to hang them.
Preschoolers can make bats using their own thumbprints. Help the child press her thumb on a non-toxic black inkpad and then press her thumb on a piece of art paper. Make sure the preschooler’s thumb is completely flat so that the entire thumb makes contact with the paper. Allow the print to dry. Children can draw on the bat’s facial features and wings. Provide preschoolers with art materials to embellish the bat such as tiny googley eyes, white pencils, fine tip markers, crayons and colored pencils.
Show children how to use a clothespin to make decorative clips. Draw bat wings and a bat body on felt material using a white pencil. Children can also make clothespin bats out of foam, construction paper or poster board. Cut out the bat shape using scissors. Show preschoolers how to use glue to attach the bat body and wings to a clothespin. Children can glue googley eyes on the bat’s face. Preschoolers can also use white colored pencils to draw on any additional facial features. Allow to dry completely before clipping on objects.
Children can create bat puppets out of black construction paper. For example, draw a bat shape on black construction paper and let the preschooler cut it out. Encourage children to use a white pencil to draw on eyes and teeth. Alternatively, children can glue on googley eyes instead of drawing them on. Cut a strip of construction paper and staple one end to each side of the back of the bat while scrunching it to make a small loop that is large enough for the child to get his finger through. Preschoolers can put their finger through the loop to manipulate the puppets.