Got a little one who’s bananas for monkeys? You’re not alone. There’s something about those playful, curious creatures that captivates kids instantly. Instead of just watching them on screen, why not bring the jungle to your craft table? I’ve rounded up a troop of monkey crafts for kids that are guaranteed to unleash giggles, creativity, and maybe a little healthy mess. Whether you’ve got a toddler with a short attention span or a budding artist ready for a challenge, there’s a project here with their name on it. Let’s turn that “ooh ooh ah ah” into “oooh, look what I made!”
1. Paper Plate Monkey Mask
This is the ultimate quick-transform craft for instant play. Grab a paper plate, some brown paint, and let your kid go wild. Cut out ear shapes from construction paper and attach them, then draw on a silly or sweet monkey face. Don’t forget the hole for the eyes!
Pro tip: Use a popsicle stick as a handle so they can hold it up. Suddenly, your living room becomes a canopy of vines. It’s a fantastic, low-prep activity for playdates or rainy afternoons that fuels imagination for hours.
2. Toilet Paper Roll Monkey
Before you recycle that cardboard tube, consider its potential as a mini primate. This craft is a hero of upcycling. Kids can wrap it in brown paper or get hands-on with paint, then add personality with googly eyes and a curled pipe cleaner tail.
The simplicity is its strength. In under 15 minutes, they have a new character for their shelf or a player in their block city. It’s a perfect project for building confidence in young crafters.
3. Handprint Monkey Tree
This one’s a keeper for the memory box. Paint your child’s palm and fingers brown and press it firmly onto paper. The palm becomes the fuzzy body, and the fingers transform into dangling arms and legs. Add a thumbprint head higher up on the branch.
It’s a beautiful way to capture their size in a moment of time. Every time you look at it, you’ll remember those tiny, paint-smeared hands. Frame it for a personalized nursery or playroom decoration.
4. Monkey Business Sock Puppet
Every mismatched sock has a destiny, and it might just be theatrical stardom. Stuff the toe with old fabric or cotton balls, then use felt, buttons, and yarn to create a face full of character. A red felt mouth adds to the expressiveness.
This craft naturally leads to puppet shows. Encourage your kids to write a short script—what kind of trouble is their sock monkey getting into? It’s a sneaky lesson in storytelling and emotional expression.
5. Banana-Eating Paper Monkey
Add some action to your craft session with this moving masterpiece. Cut a monkey shape from cardstock, but leave the arms separate. Attach them at the shoulders with brass fasteners so they can swing up and down.
Glue a small paper banana to the hands. Now, your monkey can munch! This interactive element is incredibly satisfying for kids. It teaches simple mechanics while letting them direct the snack time narrative.
6. Clothespin Monkey Clip
Who says crafts can’t be useful? Take a wooden spring clothespin and turn it into a cheeky clip. Paint the body brown and the inside of the “mouth” pink. Add tiny dot eyes and a smile with a marker.
Once dry, this little guy can hold important papers, seal snack bags, or decorate a Christmas tree. It’s a fun way to add personality to organization and a great fine motor skill exercise with the clipping action.
7. Monkey in a Barrel Craft
Recreate the classic game with stuff you already have. An empty oatmeal container or Pringles can becomes the perfect barrel. Let the kids decorate it with red paper and black marker slats.
Then, make a handful of little monkeys from brown pipe cleaners. The goal? Toss them in! This craft doubles as a fantastic game that builds coordination. It’s a whole activity in one, from creation to play.
8. Fuzzy Pom-Pom Monkey
If your kid loves textures, they’ll adore this soft and cuddly project. You’ll need a few brown pom-poms in different sizes. Glue a large one to a medium one for the body and head, then attach tiny ones for ears.
Use black beads for eyes and a small felt smile. The result is an irresistibly tactile creature. String a few together to make a monkey garland, or attach a keychain loop for a backpack charm.
9. Monkey Leaf Collage
Take your crafting outdoors for a nature walk first. Collect leaves of various shapes and sizes—ovals for faces, longer ones for arms. Back inside, arrange and glue them on paper to form a monkey lounging in a tree.
This project connects art with the natural world. Talk about the trees monkeys live in while you work. It’s a serene, focused activity that results in a beautiful, organic piece of art.
10. Rocking Paper Monkey
The magic here is in the curve. Draw a monkey shape on cardstock where the bottom is a wide, gentle arc instead of a straight line. Cut it out, let your child color it, and stand it up.
With a little nudge, it rocks back and forth! Kids are fascinated by this simple physics trick. It’s an excellent craft for discussing balance and movement, all wrapped up in a playful package.
11. Monkey Mason Jar Lantern
Create some ambient jungle lighting for bedtime. Use brown glass paint or tissue paper and mod podge to cover a clean mason jar. Once dry, use black paint to add a silhouette of a monkey swinging from a vine.
Pop a battery-operated tea light inside for a safe, cozy glow. This craft is ideal for older kids and makes a wonderful gift. It turns their artwork into a functional night light.
12. Cupcake Liner Monkey
Raid the baking cupboard for some textured fun. Flatten one brown cupcake liner for the face. For the body, pinch and fold another liner to create a 3D effect. Glue them together on paper.
Add limbs and facial features from construction paper. The ruffled edges of the liners give the monkey wonderful texture and depth. It’s a clever way to use everyday materials you might otherwise throw away.
13. Monkey Finger Puppets
Portable, easy, and endlessly entertaining. Cut small monkey head shapes from felt or stiff felt. Glue on tiny eyes and stitch or draw a smile. Then, simply slide them onto little fingers.
Make a whole family! These are perfect for keeping busy in waiting rooms or on car trips. They encourage small-scale, imaginative play and are great for developing narrative skills in a low-pressure way.
14. Jungle Vine Weaving
This craft builds skills alongside art. Create a simple loom by cutting notches into the sides of a cardboard rectangle. Let kids weave long strands of green yarn, ribbon, or even crepe paper through the notches to create dense, jungle vines.
Then, cut out paper monkeys and attach them so they look like they’re climbing. The weaving process is calming and excellent for developing patience and dexterity. The colorful result is worth the focus.
15. Monkey Balance Stick Toy
Challenge your child’s steady hand with this traditional toy. Cut a symmetrical monkey shape from cardstock. Decorate both sides identically. Then, tape two short straws or a chopstick to its back as a balancing pole.
The goal is to balance the monkey on a finger or on a string stretched between two points. It’s a thrilling STEM craft that introduces concepts of gravity and center of mass through pure play.
16. Recycled CD Sun Catcher
Give an old CD a sparkling second act. Paint it with a layer of brown translucent paint or glue on brown tissue paper. Once dry, use black puffy paint to outline a monkey shape.
Hang it in a sunny window. The reflective surface will cast brilliant rainbows and shapes around the room. It’s a dazzling science-and-art combo that shows kids the beauty of repurposing.
17. Monkey Binoculars
Fuel their inner explorer. Tape two toilet paper rolls together side-by-side. Let them decorate the rolls with brown paint and monkey stickers or drawn-on prints. Punch holes on the outer sides and attach a string for a neck strap.
Now, venture into the backyard or park on a monkey-spotting safari. What looks like a monkey from here? This craft extends beyond the table, promoting outdoor adventure and observation.
18. Swinging Pipe Cleaner Monkey
Pipe cleaners are the ultimate bendy building material. Twist brown cleaners together to form a body with long, flexible arms and legs. Use a lighter color for the face and belly.
Bend a chenille stem into a hoop or find a small stick. Dangle the monkey by its arms so it can swing. Kids will love posing it in different positions, making it a dynamic desk toy.
19. Monkey Footprint Art
Another precious keepsake for the ages. Paint the sole of your child’s foot brown and press it onto paper, toes pointing down. The heel becomes the monkey’s head, and the footprint forms the body.
Once dry, add details like eyes, a mouth, and a long tail curling from the ankle. It’s a hilarious and adorable way to memorialize those tiny toes. Grandparents will absolutely go bananas for this one.
20. Banana Stamp Monkey
Embrace the mess with some stamping fun. Cut a kitchen sponge into a banana shape. Let your child dip it into yellow paint and stamp it onto paper to create a bunch.
Then, using brown paint or markers, draw monkeys around the bananas, reaching for them. This technique is great for teaching printmaking and composition, and the imperfect stamps add to the charm.
21. Monkey Habitat Diorama
This is the ultimate immersive craft for a deep dive into monkey life. Use a shoebox on its side as the stage. Create a lush backdrop with painted or collaged paper for the sky and forest floor.
Building the Jungle
Twist green pipe cleaners into vines, crumple green tissue paper for tree canopies, and add paper trees. Finally, place your crafted monkeys throughout the scene. This project encourages research, planning, and storytelling about animal habitats.
22. 3D Monkey Pop-Up Card
Teach the joy of giving with a handmade card. Fold a piece of cardstock in half. On the front fold, cut a simple monkey shape, but don’t cut all the way around—leave it attached at the arms and head.
When you open the card, the monkey pops out! Decorate the inside with a playful message. This craft wows recipients and gives kids a huge sense of pride. It’s a beautiful way to combine art with emotional expression.
And there you have it—a whole troop of creative monkey crafts for kids ready to conquer boredom and spark imagination. From quick masks to elaborate dioramas, each project offers a unique blend of fun, learning, and creative expression. The best part? You’re not just making cute monkeys; you’re making memories, building skills, and maybe even inspiring a lifelong love for crafting. So, what are you waiting for? Pick a craft, grab some glue, and let the monkey business begin! 🐒