Kids can make Native American headbands when they glue feathers to strips of brown construction paper and then cut and staple the strips into a band to fit around their heads. They can make a simple headband with one or two feathers in the back or a more complicated one with layers of feathers all over. When the kids finger-paint symbols around the sides of the headband, it adds authenticity and cultural flair to the project, which is perfect as a Thanksgiving preschool craft.
Kids can turn themselves into their favorite bugs when they make insect headbands. Cut strips of colored construction paper to fit around kids' heads in a circular shape. Then take smaller strips of construction paper and accordion-fold them to make buggy legs, attaching three to each side of the headband. On the front, have the children draw a bug face and add pipe cleaners for antennae.
During a unit on community helpers, preschoolers can become the helpers in their neighborhoods by making hats for themselves. They cut hats out of construction paper to resemble uniforms worn by firefighters, police officers, and other local professionals. Then they stick the hats to the front of a head band made from construction paper assembled like a circle. Now they can use their hats to play dress-up and explain to others about the helping professionals in their neighborhood.
Kids can turn themselves into their favorite animals by cutting out ear shapes and gluing them to paper headbands. They can make long bunny ears or pointed ears for cats. They might become pigs with triangular pink ears or bears with rounded brown ears. For added inspiration, they can glue animal noses or muzzles to the front of their headbands.
A basic headband can become a craft for almost any holiday. Kids can decorate paper headbands by gluing on hearts, shamrocks, Easter eggs, Christmas ornaments, pumpkins, or turkeys, and these headbands will instantly become wearable holiday art.