Paper Plate Ring Toss: The Surprisingly Fun Toddler Activity You Can Make in Minutes

Introducing the magic of the paper plate!

Let’s set the scene: You have toddlers bouncing off the walls, maybe one still in jammies at 2 p.m., and somehow, even though you just picked up, it looks like a tornado passed through your living room. Sound familiar? You need an activity. Fast. Preferably one that doesn’t require glitter, glue guns, or a last-minute Target run.

Enter: paper plate ringtoss—your new best friend in the activities with random household objects department. It checks all the boxes: it’s simple, screen-free, toddler-approved, and gives off major “look how creative I am” energy… even if you’re still reheating your coffee for the third time.

This paper plate activity is part of our Random Household Objects series, where we turn everyday things into brilliant kids activities. Because yes, that dusty stack of paper plates from last summer’s cookout? It’s actually a secret weapon for toddler play.

Why Paper Plate Ring Toss?

Let’s talk value. This isn’t just a game. This is a learning activity cleverly disguised as fun. With paper plate ring toss, you’re sneaking in:

• Color recognition (thanks to all that painting)
• Fine motor activity (hello, cutting and painting)
• Gross motor activity (that oh-so-satisfying toss)
• Turn-taking and problem-solving (because we’re not raising little cheaters, right?)

Not bad for a few leftover activities using paper plates.

What You’ll Need

You probably already have everything. That’s the magic.

• Paper plates
• Permanent marker
• Scissors
• Washable paint
• Paint brushes
• Water bottles (empty, full, or somewhere in between)

Bonus: If your toddler insists on painting their entire arm, don’t panic. It’s washable. And technically that still counts as a fine motor skill.

How to Make Your Paper Plate Ringtoss Game

You’re three steps away from reclaiming your living room—and your sanity.

Step 1. Make the rings: Draw a circle in the center of a paper plate using your permanent marker. This doesn’t need to be precise. Eyeball it. Then cut out the middle to make a ring. Repeat this for however many rings you want (4–6 is usually perfect).

Step 2. Add some color: Set out the paint and brushes and let your kids decorate each ring. This is a great time to talk about color recognition(“Which one is red? Can you make a rainbow ring?”). Once they’re satisfied with their masterpieces, lay them out to dry.

Step 3. Set up your target: Place a water bottle on the floor or rug. That’s your ringtoss target. You can use multiple bottles if you want to get fancy, or just keep it simple with one.

Step 4. Game on: Take turns tossing the rings and trying to land them around the bottle. Adjust the distance based on your toddler’s age or ability. Add a little excitement with cheering or point values.

What They’re Learning (Even If They Don’t Know It)

This is the stuff we love—those kids learning activities that are actually doing some heavy lifting developmentally.

• Color Recognition: As kids paint their rings, they’re identifying and using colors creatively. (Bonus points for mixing and matching.)
• Fine Motor Skills: Painting and cutting help strengthen those tiny hand muscles.
• Gross Motor Skills: Tossing the rings targets coordination and large muscle control.
• Turn-Taking: They practice waiting for their turn and cheering each other on.
• Problem-Solving: “Why didn’t that ring land? Should I stand closer? Aim differently?”
• Estimation and Math (with a twist): Add scoring or point values to different bottles and suddenly it’s an early math skills party.

Sneaky, right?

Level It Up: Easy Extensions

Want to make it last longer than 8 minutes (which, let’s be honest, is the toddler attention span sweet spot)? Try one of these:

1. Mix ring sizes: Cut out smaller and larger rings to make the game more challenging. It gives them a chance to estimate and adjust their aim—two great skills for brain development.
2. Move the line: Have them toss from different distances. Closer for younger toddlers, further for older ones. You can even mark toss lines with painter’s tape for different levels (like “Baby Bear, Mama Bear, Papa Bear”).
3. Add a scoring system: Assign point values to different bottles. Maybe the blue one is worth 5 points and the green one is 10. Count up totals after each round. Voila—your toddler is doing math, and they don’t even know it.
4. Theme it: Doing a dinosaur unit? Paint rings with dino scales and call it a “T-Rex Toss.” Working on letters? Add a letter to each ring and shout it out as they toss. You can theme this game a million different ways to align with your current simple at home learning focus.

Looking for more activities using paper plates?

You’re in the right place. This Random Household Objects series is packed with easy, low-prep toddler play ideas that work—especially on those long afternoons when time seems to stand still and everyone needs a little something to do. Here are six simple and powerful paper plate activities to try:

1. Paper Plate Puzzles: Cut a decorated paper plate into pieces to create an easy puzzle that encourages visual discrimination, problem-solving, and spatial thinking.
2. Paper Plate Skip Counting: Use paper clips to count by 2s, 5s, or 10s around the edge of a plate. Great for early math skills, number patterns, and fine motor development.
3. Paper Plate Lacing: Punch holes around a plate and let toddlers lace yarn through for a calming activity that strengthens fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
4. Paper Plate Memory: Draw pairs of matching images on plates for a classic flip-and-find game that builds memory, concentration, and social turn-taking skills.
5. Paper Plate Pizza Counting: Create a cheesy counting game by matching pepperoni dots to numbered slices. A hands-on way to practice one-to-one correspondence and number recognition.

Because simple really can be powerful—and a humble stack of paper plates might just save your day.

Real Talk: Why This Works

Not every learning activity needs to be complicated. In fact, the ones that stick usually aren’t. Toddlers learn best through play. Through tossing and missing. Through painting a ring mostly brown because they mixed every color together. Through arguing over whose turn it is. Through trying again.

This paper plate ringtoss is simple. But it’s also smart. And fun. And something you can set up while your coffee’s still hot. Which, in my book, makes it a win.