Simple Snake Craft for Kids

Snake Craft for Kids is a fun way to keep children busy while helping them learn new skills. Kids love snake crafts because they are colorful, bendy, and playful, just like real snakes. Making these crafts allows children to show their creativity, learn about shapes and patterns, and enjoy fun play after finishing their work. The best part is that these crafts can be made easily with simple materials like paper, cardboard, socks, or beads, whether at home or in school.

Snake Craft for Kids

Snake Craft for Kids is a creative and fun activity that children enjoy making with simple materials. It helps them learn, play, and explore their imagination while creating colorful snakes.

Paper Plate Snake

Paper plate snakes are honestly one of my favorite quick crafts with kids. I love how simple they are, yet they look super cool when they’re done. All you really need is a paper plate, some markers, and scissors. I usually draw a spiral on the plate and let the kids color it however they like—spots, stripes, even silly little doodles. When you cut along the spiral, it magically becomes this wiggly snake. The first time we tried this, my niece held it up and said, “It’s alive!” which made us all laugh.

To be fair, I think the fun is really in the decorating part. Sometimes we even add googly eyes or a red paper tongue, and that tiny detail makes such a difference. I’ve found that hanging them near the window lets the snakes twist in the breeze, almost like they’re slithering around. It’s such an easy win with kids.

Paper Chain Snake

Now, paper chain snakes take me straight back to my own childhood. Remember those paper chains we used to make for Christmas decorations? Well, it’s basically that, but with a fun twist. Each ring becomes part of the snake’s body, and you can go as long as you want. I once made one so long it stretched from my living room door to the window—it became a family joke that we had a pet python indoors.

Kids really enjoy picking out colors for each loop, and the snake ends up looking kind of rainbow-y. I usually make the head out of a slightly bigger loop and stick on some eyes. Sometimes, if I’m feeling extra, I even cut out a forked tongue. In my opinion, the best part is how the snake wiggles when you hold it up—honestly, it’s weirdly satisfying to see it swish back and forth.

Toilet Paper Roll Snake

Ah, the humble toilet paper roll—probably the craftiest supply in my stash. Turning them into snakes is ridiculously easy. I cut the tube into a spiral, and just like with the paper plate snake, it starts to wiggle. The kids always gasp when it “moves” for the first time, and it’s honestly the cutest reaction. We usually paint the tubes with bright colors first, and once dry, we add stripes or spots.

To be fair, these snakes feel sturdier than paper plate ones, so they last longer in play. My nephew once taped a string to the head and pulled his snake along the floor like it was a real pet—he even tried to feed it crackers. I’ve found that adding little pipe cleaner tongues gives them a touch of personality, and if you’ve got glitter glue lying around, go wild. It makes them extra magical.

Sock Snake

The sock snake has a special place in my heart, mostly because it feels like making a cuddly toy more than a craft. I usually take an old sock, stuff it with cotton or fabric scraps, and then sew or glue it shut. When it’s filled, it instantly looks snake-like, and the kids love squishing it around. The first time I made one, my daughter carried it to bed like it was a stuffed animal.

Decorating is where the fun really begins—buttons for eyes, felt cut-outs for patterns, or even ribbons tied around the “neck.” In my opinion, this is one of those crafts that turns into a keepsake. To be fair, it does take a little more time than paper crafts, but the joy on a kid’s face when they realize they’ve made their own snake plushie makes it so worth it.

Beaded Snake

If your kids like threading beads, then beaded snakes are a hit. I usually grab a piece of string or pipe cleaner and let them slide beads on until it’s long enough to look like a snake body. Different colored beads make stripes, and if you use larger beads near the end, it kind of looks like a rattlesnake tail. My niece once made one that was pink and sparkly, and she insisted it was a princess snake.

To be fair, this one is more about patience than anything else. Kids get quiet and focused while threading, which honestly feels like a blessing during a busy afternoon. Adding googly eyes or painting a bead for the head gives it personality. I’ve found these snakes double up as fun little desk toys—you can bend them into shapes or drape them over a cup like they’re hanging out.

Egg Carton Snake

Egg carton snakes are a bit messy but in the best way possible. You cut out the cups, paint them in funky colors, and then string them together with yarn or string. I usually let the kids paint each section however they like—spots, zigzags, even glitter splashes. By the end, it looks like a patchwork snake that’s been on some wild adventure. Honestly, it’s one of the more colorful crafts we’ve tried.

The tricky part is poking holes to thread them, but once that’s done, it’s smooth sailing. My son once made one so long it looked like a carnival parade snake, and we still have it sitting on a shelf. In my opinion, the joy here is in how the snake wiggles when you pick it up—it feels more “alive” than some of the flat crafts. It’s hands-on and fun.

Pipe Cleaner Snake

Pipe cleaner snakes are so easy it almost feels like cheating. Just twist a few together, bend them into curves, and boom—you’ve got a snake. I love how bendy they are; you can wrap them around pencils, cups, or even your finger. The kids think it’s hilarious when the snake “hugs” them. Honestly, I think it’s the quickest way to make a toy snake in under five minutes.

To be fair, these work best when you’ve got a good variety of colors. Striped snakes, glittery snakes, even fuzzy ones—the possibilities are endless. Adding little bead eyes makes them look extra cheeky. I’ve found they’re perfect for parties too—you can make a bunch in advance and hand them out as little favors. They’re cheap, fun, and oddly addictive to make.

Rock Snake

This one might sound strange at first, but hear me out—painting a bunch of rocks and lining them up makes a snake! I love rock painting anyway, so when we decided to paint a snake family on stones, it turned into a whole afternoon activity. Each rock is a body segment, and when you put them together, it looks like a slithering snake on the table.

To be fair, these are not the “play” type of craft. They’re more like display pieces. My kids once made a rainbow snake with each stone a different color, and we placed it in our garden. Visitors always notice it and ask about it. In my opinion, it’s a perfect craft for older kids who like painting with detail. It’s slow, relaxing, and gives such a cool end result.

Felt Snake

Felt snakes are a bit like sock snakes but flatter and simpler. I usually cut out a snake shape from felt, and then the kids get to decorate it with buttons, sequins, or smaller felt cut-outs. It’s almost like making a snake puppet, especially if you add some wiggly eyes. Honestly, these look so bright and cheerful when finished.

The best part, in my opinion, is how lightweight they are. You can make a whole collection in different colors without much effort. Once, we glued magnets to the back and turned them into fridge snakes—yes, fridge snakes! The kids thought it was hilarious. To be fair, it’s more of a craft to keep rather than play with, but it still sparks creativity.

Foam Snake

Foam sheets are such a versatile craft material, and snakes made out of them look surprisingly neat. I usually cut out a wiggly snake body, and the kids go wild decorating with markers, glitter, and stickers. The foam makes them sturdy but flexible, so they don’t tear easily like paper snakes. Honestly, it feels like a more “finished” kind of craft.

One time, we glued multiple foam pieces together to make a chunky, cartoonish snake, and it ended up looking like a character from a kids’ show. To be fair, foam is mess-free compared to paint crafts, which is sometimes exactly what I need. I’ve found these are perfect for classrooms or group activities since kids can personalize their snakes without much setup or cleanup.

Clothespin Snake

Clothespin snakes are funny little things. You paint a clothespin, add some googly eyes, and suddenly it’s a snake with a mouth that opens and closes. The first time I made one, my son kept pinching it at his sister, pretending the snake was biting. Honestly, the giggles made it totally worth it.

To be fair, these are more toy-like than some other crafts. You can clip them to bags, books, or even your shirt pocket. I’ve found that painting stripes or polka dots gives them character, and adding a little paper tongue in the mouth makes them even sillier. It’s such a tiny project, but it packs a lot of fun.

Ribbon Snake

Ribbon snakes are one of those crafts that look elegant without much work. You just need a long piece of ribbon, some googly eyes, and maybe a felt tongue at the end. When the ribbon slides across the table or floor, it looks like a real snake slithering around. My daughter loves to drag hers along behind her like it’s on an adventure.

In my opinion, the charm here is the simplicity. No paint, no glue mess, just a playful ribbon turned into a pretend pet. To be fair, these are not the most durable crafts—sometimes the eyes pop off—but it’s easy to fix. I’ve found that using patterned ribbons (like polka dots or stripes) makes the snakes look extra fun and fancy.

Cardboard Tube Snake

Cardboard tubes are craft gold, and making snakes out of them is no exception. I usually cut them into smaller sections, decorate each piece, and then string them together to make a long, jointed snake. It ends up moving in a wiggly way, which always gets the kids excited. Honestly, it feels like building a toy from scratch.

To be fair, it does take a little more effort than painting a single tube, but the results are so worth it. My nephew once made one with flames painted all over, calling it his “fire snake.” I’ve found that using yarn to connect the pieces makes them flexible, so the snake can bend around corners like it’s sneaking. Such a cool project.

Clay Snake

Clay snakes are the mess-your-hands kind of fun, and kids adore it. Rolling the clay into long ropes and twisting them into snake shapes is simple, but it keeps little hands busy for ages. I usually give them beads or tiny shells to press into the clay for scales. Honestly, the creativity just flows with this one.

Once, we baked our clay snakes and painted them afterward, and they looked surprisingly professional. To be fair, it can get messy, but I think that’s part of the charm. I’ve found that air-dry clay works great for this craft—you don’t need an oven, and the snakes still harden nicely. They make great little keepsakes or even gifts.

Pom-Pom Snake

Pom-pom snakes are just adorable, no two ways about it. You glue pom-poms in a line to make the body, add a bigger one for the head, and suddenly you’ve got this fluffy, colorful snake. My kids love mixing random colors, so the snakes end up looking like rainbow caterpillars—honestly, I don’t even mind because they’re so cute.

To be fair, these aren’t the most durable crafts, but they’re perfect for show-and-tell or short play sessions. Once, we added glitter to the pom-poms and the snake sparkled every time it moved. I’ve found that giving kids the choice to make them long or short adds to the fun—it’s always a surprise how they turn out. These little snakes are soft, silly, and just delightful.

Tips for Parents and Teachers

Snake crafts are a wonderful way to keep kids engaged while also teaching them creativity and patience. To make the activity more enjoyable and safe, here are some helpful tips for parents and teachers:

• Always supervise kids with scissors and small items to ensure safety while cutting and gluing.

• Encourage kids to choose their own colors and patterns so they can express their creativity freely.

• Use eco-friendly and recycled materials like cardboard, egg cartons, or old socks to make the craft sustainable.

• Display the crafts at home or classroom to motivate children and make them proud of their creations.

FAQ

What age group can do snake crafts?

Snake crafts are perfect for preschoolers to primary school kids, usually ages 3 and up, with adult supervision.

Are Snake Craft for Kids safe for small children?

Yes, they are safe if parents or teachers supervise, especially when using scissors, glue, or small beads.

What materials are best for Snake Craft for Kids?

Simple items like paper, cardboard, egg cartons, socks, pipe cleaners, and beads work best. Most of these are easily available at home or school.

Can snake crafts be made using only recycled materials?

Absolutely! Old socks, toilet paper rolls, egg cartons, and scrap paper can all be reused to make fun snake crafts.