Paper Chain Animals
Looped paper strips turn into caterpillars, snakes and long-necked giraffes with a stapler and some crayons.
By WonderCraft Kids Editorial Team, Editorial team · Updated 2 September 2026
Paper chains are usually decorations, but turned sideways they become the bodies of animals: a caterpillar with a drawn face, a snake that slithers across the floor, a giraffe with a chain for a neck. Children decorate individual strips before they are joined, which keeps small hands busy without needing to manage a whole finished shape at once.
What you need
- Coloured paper strips, roughly 3cm x 18cm, 15-20 per animal
- Stapler or glue stick
- Crayons, markers or googly eyes
- Scissors (adult use)
- Card scraps for heads, legs or antennae
Step by step
- 1
Cut a stack of paper strips in your chosen colours ahead of time.
- 2
Let your child decorate each strip with dots, stripes or patterns before joining any of them.
- 3
Loop the first strip and staple or glue the ends together.
- 4
Thread the next strip through the loop and join its ends, repeating until the chain is as long as wanted.
- 5
Add a card head with eyes and, for some animals, legs or ears cut separately and glued on.
- 6
Drape the finished animal along a shelf or let it slither across the floor.
What kids learn
Sequencing and pattern
Choosing a repeating colour order for the chain gives children a chance to practise pattern-making.
Fine motor coordination
Looping and joining strips gives children an opportunity to practise using both hands together.
Planning a whole from parts
Deciding how many loops make a long neck versus a short body can help children practise early spatial reasoning.
Make it easier
Use a stapler instead of glue for younger children, and pre-cut all strips to a single colour set.
Make it more challenging
Challenge them to build a whole food chain or family of animals in different sizes, then line them up by length.
Safety and supervision
- A stapler needs adult supervision for children who are new to using one.
- Scissors work is adult-only for under-fives.
- Small card eyes or antennae pieces are a choking hazard for children who still mouth objects.
Adult supervision is required for every activity on this site. Read our full child safety guidelines.
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Frequently asked questions
Glue or stapler — which is better?+
A stapler is faster and holds better for a chain that will be handled a lot, but glue lets younger children join loops independently with more supervision time.
How long can the chain get before it falls apart?+
A well-stapled chain can easily reach a metre or more; if using glue, let each loop dry fully before adding weight from the next one.
