21 Adorable Caterpillar Crafts for Kids to Make This Spring

Caterpillar crafts for kids are a fun way to explore insects and nature through hands-on creativity. In this list, you’ll find easy caterpillar craft ideas for preschoolers, kindergarteners, and early elementary kids that use simple supplies like paper, paint, and recyclables.

These crafts are perfect for spring themes, classroom activities, homeschool lessons, or creative time at home. Pair them with our spring crafts for even more playful activities this season.

Collage of colorful caterpillar crafts made from paper, pom-poms, cupcake liners, and other craft materials placed on green leaf shapes. Large text in the center reads “21 Easy to Make Caterpillar Preschool Crafts.”

Caterpillar Crafts For Kids

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Fine Motor Caterpillar

Nature-walk sticks make the perfect base for a wiggly little creature when kids glue on pom‑poms and curly pipe cleaners. Googly eyes bring it to life, and glitter or sequins let kids go as sparkly as they like (paint works too if you want extra color).

This open-ended activity is quick to set up and encourages children to keep experimenting with textures and details even after they finish the first one.

Related: Spring Math Worksheets

buggyandbuddy.com

“The Very Hungry Caterpillar” Sponge Painting

Circle sponges dipped in tempera paint stamp a bright row onto thick white paper, creating the body in minutes. After the paint dries, kids draw legs with a black marker or crayon, glue on short black pipe-cleaner antennae, and add eyes from construction-paper scraps (or googly eyes).

Sponge-printing feels like a game, and every stamped bug turns out a little different depending on the colors and spacing.

Also try: Spring Pattern Worksheets

creativefamilyfun.net

Pom Pom Caterpillar

A clothespin painted green becomes a clip-on toy when kids glue a line of pom‑poms along its top. They wrap a small piece of pipe cleaner around the head pom‑pom, stick on googly eyes, and cut a simple leaf from green cardstock, outlined with a black marker.

Clipping it onto the paper leaf makes it feel interactive, so kids can move it around without the art falling apart.

Related: Spring Color By Letters

theimaginationtree.com

Fruit Box Hungry Caterpillar

A free cardboard fruit carton becomes a sturdy segmented body once an adult cuts it into a long, curved strip with rounded sections. Kids paint it using two shades of green (and optional red), then add yellow paper eyes and attach antennae made from felt or pipe cleaners by poking small holes.

Using packaging as the base is the fun twist, and it turns into an excellent prop for pretend play or a classroom display.

Also try: Spring Tracing Worksheets

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Egg Carton Hungry Caterpillar

Four connected egg-carton cups create a bumpy body that kids paint red on one end and green on the others. After drying, they poke holes for a yellow pipe cleaner, glue on googly eyes, and use a black marker to finish the face details.

Pair it with a simple paper strawberry with a “bite” hole and yellow dots, and kids get an art project they can still play with once the paint dries.

Related: Spring Activity Sheets

booksandgiggles.com

Tape Resist Caterpillar

Buttons make a surprisingly easy build—kids arrange a curved line of larger buttons on cardstock and glue them down. Add googly eyes to a red button to turn it into the head. Glue smaller buttons on top for extra texture, then use a black permanent marker to draw the tiny feet and antennae.

It's perfect for quiet art time because the materials are simple, but the finished keepsake looks detailed and tactile.

Also try: Spring Do A Dot Printables

www.firefliesandmudpies.com

How to Make a Colorful Caterpillar Suncatcher

Upcycled Play‑Doh lids become a sunny window decoration when kids connect five small lids to one large lid using Glue Dots. Wiggly eyes and a black permanent marker create the face, while black pipe cleaners cut into short pieces become antennae and legs attached behind.

It's quick, low-mess, and the colorful plastic instantly glows when light shines through.

Related: Spring Pattern Block Mats

thimbleandtwig.com

Polysterene Ball Caterpillar

Coat large polystyrene balls with PVA glue, then wrap them in bright tissue paper to create a smooth, colorful surface kids love to touch. An adult can stitch the balls together with thread and a long needle, then children add googly eyes, a pipe-cleaner mouth, and antennae, and push pins for tiny “legs.”

Leaving an extra thread at the front turns it into a pull-along toy, which makes the finished project feel extra special.

Also try: Spring Connect The Dots

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Pipe Cleaner Caterpillars Fine Motor

Beading becomes a simple fine-motor project when kids knot the end of a pipe cleaner and thread colorful beads onto it. After finishing the pattern, they fold the end over to keep the beads from sliding off, then attach the googly eyes with PVA glue.

The activity is easy to reset, so kids often make several while practicing focus and hand‑eye coordination.

Related: Spring Cutting Practice Pages

booksandgiggles.com

Caterpillar Suncatcher

A clear plastic strawberry box from the recycling bin becomes a bright window display after an adult trims it into a body shape and a separate headpiece.

Kids paint the plastic with washable tempera using a small brush, then a black permanent marker adds legs and details once it dries (clear tape connects the parts). Because the base is see‑through plastic, the colors look extra vibrant when the sun hits it.

Also try: Spring Worksheets

alittlepinchofperfect.com

Hungry Caterpillar Flap Book

An interactive flap book comes together when kids fold and staple yellow paper into a long base, then cut the printed template pieces from red, green, and white paper.

They color the picture pieces with markers, crayons, or paint, glue them under the flaps, and attach the flaps in order along the booklet. Lifting each flap reveals hidden pictures and keeps kids engaged long after they finish cutting and gluing.

Related: Spring Bird Craft

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Very Hungry Caterpillar

Clean toilet paper rolls, cut into rings, become a sturdy 3D body after kids paint one ring red and the rest green with a sponge paintbrush. They glue the rings together, make simple paper eyes by layering yellow and green ovals, and tuck a folded purple pipe cleaner between rings for antennae.

Lightweight and easy to hold, it's an excellent art for kids who want something they can pick up and play with afterward.

Also try: Spring Name Craft

www.firefliesandmudpies.com

Wiggling Caterpillar

Print the included template on white cardstock, let kids paint it with washable paint, then cut out the shapes when dry. A single hole punch and brass fasteners connect the segments so the body bends and wiggles, and a pipe cleaner taped on the back forms antennae.

Movable parts make it extra fun—kids love “making it move” as much as they enjoy painting it.

Related: 6 Fun Spring I Spy

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3D Paper Caterpillar

Print the template on green paper (or freehand it), then cut the body into strips, crease the folds, and glue each strip into a neat loop. Add a head cut from red or yellow paper on both ends and finish with optional wiggle-eye stickers and a black marker for quick facial details.

The repeat-and-glue pattern is excellent for concentration, and kids love watching flat paper turn into a wiggly 3D tunnel.

Also try: Spring Color By Number

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Pom Pom Caterpillar

A big green paper leaf becomes the background once kids cut it out and punch a few holes to look like “bites.” They glue mini pom‑poms into a short row, stick on two small googly eyes, and then attach the pom‑pom body to the leaf.

Hole‑punching feels like the fun trick, and toddlers love choosing colors and pressing the soft pom‑poms into glue.

Related: Dragonfly Handprint Craft

kidsactivitiesblog.com

Letter C Activity

Turn alphabet practice into art by gluing a cut-out letter C onto construction paper and covering the curve with large pom‑poms. Two googly eyes go on the top pom‑pom, and a short black pipe cleaner tucked between pom‑poms becomes quick antennae.

It makes a simple, tactile letter activity, and kids can pick colors while counting the pom‑poms they use.

Also try: Preschool Bug Activities

www.whereimaginationgrows.com

Paper Chain Caterpillar

Construction paper strips turn into a classic paper chain when kids staple each loop through the next. A red strip becomes the head, and black construction paper plus googly eyes create a quick face and antennae.

The chain format is sturdy and fun to hold, so kids can dangle it, decorate a room, or use it as a simple story-time prop.

Related: Duck Name Craft

iheartcraftythings.com

Paper Caterpillar

Using the printable template, kids cut a green cardstock leaf and several colored rectangles, then glue each rectangle into a paper circle for a 3D body. Sticker googly eyes go on the first circle, and a bent pipe cleaner taped behind it creates antennae in seconds.

Punching holes along the leaf adds a playful detail and gives kids extra fine-motor practice beyond basic cutting and gluing.

Also try: Ladybug Paper Craft

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Caterpillar Pom Pom

Draw and cut a simple leaf from green construction paper, then squeeze white school glue in an S‑shaped line across it. Kids press small pom‑poms along the glue trail, add googly eyes to a larger pom‑pom for the head, and finish the leaf with dark green marker veins.

The curvy glue path is the fun twist—it helps kids build a wiggly shape while practicing careful placement.

Related: Bee Kind Craft

artsycraftsymom.com

Cupcake Liner Caterpillar

Flatten bright cupcake liners, optionally layer small liners inside bigger ones, and arrange them in a row on a large sheet of light-colored cardstock or chart paper. Glue them down mainly in the centers so the edges stay puffy, then add googly eyes and draw the face with a marker.

The linear texture does most of the work, so even toddlers can create a colorful, dimensional piece in a short art session.

Also try: Bee Tracing Worksheets

www.craftsonsea.co.uk

Build a Caterpillar

Print the free PDF on white paper, let kids color all the parts with markers, colored pencils, or crayons, then cut along the dotted lines. They glue the eyes and tentacles onto the face and attach the six body pieces and feet in order, using the small guide picture if they want help with placement.

The extra branch page transforms the finished paper build into an instant display that kids love to show off once they finish cutting.

Related: Bee Color By Numbers

More Fun Kid’s Ideas

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photograph of found of Simple Everyday Mom, Sam

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Sam is the crafter and founder of Simple Everyday Mom. She has been featured in Oprah Mag, Good Housekeeping, The Spruce Crafts, Country Living, The Bump, and more.

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