Paper roll monkey with dangling arms and legs!

Paper roll monkey craft on a swing

Craft a paper roll monkey for World Wildlife Day. This is a global celebration of all the wonderful wild animals and plants on Earth. The day’s purpose is to raise awareness of the dangers that threaten the survival of many animals worldwide. 

A fun and educative activity you can do with your child to recognize World Wildlife Day is reading informative books that will teach your little learner about our wildlife, their habitats, and how human interference can affect the natural cycle. Find fun and matching animal craft that goes with the book. This paper roll monkey with dangling legs is a super fun and easy craft idea you can make. The dangling legs give the monkey some extra cuteness. You only need a paper roll, yarn/rope, and big beads or buttons.

We put this monkey on a stick we found outside and decorated the stick with green paper leaves and pink flowers so the monkey would feel at home. 

If you’d like to create this craft, please gather the supplies listed below.

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Paper roll monkey craft with dangling arms and legs

Step-by-step paper roll monkey craft

Craft supplies for paper roll monkey

Paper roll monkey

• Paper roll
• Yarn, rope, or twine for the monkey legs  
• Big beads or buttons, we used two big (1-inch) wooden beads 
• Hole puncher
• Cardstock brown/cream
• Glue stick and hot glue
• Scissor
• Black Sharpie or paint marker

For the swing

• Stick
• Green paper for the leaves
• Felt for flowers
• Little beads on top of the flower

Paper roll monkey craft instructions

Step-by-step craft instructions paper roll monkey

Step 1: Glue a brown stroke of cardstock/paper around a paper roll.

Step 2: For the face of the monkey, you need to cut six circles; see the picture above. You cut out one big circle from brown paper and two small ones. You can trace a glass for the big circle, and for the small ones, you can trace a small bottle lid.  You also create one big cream circle and two small ones. Make sure the cream circles are a little smaller than the brown ones.

Monkey craft for kids

Step 3: Glue your monkey head together, as seen in the picture above. And give your monkey two eyes, a nose, and a smile with a black sharpie. You can also use googly eyes.

Monkey craft with dangling legs

Step 4: With a hole puncher, you make four holes in your paper roll see picture above, two on the bottom and two on the side. 

Step 5: Cut four strings of yarn/rope and tie a beat on the end of each string. So, you create two arms and two legs. 

Step 6: Tie the two yarn/bead legs and arms on the paper roll. Tie the knot on the inside of the paper roll. 

Step 7: Glue the head of the monkey on the body, and your monkey is all done. 

Craft for World Wildlife Day

Step-by-step craft instructions for monkey swing

Step 1: Look for a stick that is a little thick but not too long. 

Step 2: Cut a lot of small green paper leaves and glue them on your stick

Step 3: From felt, we created pink flowers, and in the middle, we glued a pink bead. Glue the flowers on your stick/branch as well. I recommend using hot glue to make sure it sticks well.

Step 4: Add a long string of yarn/rope and glue (preferably hot) to your stick. Wrap the cord a few times around your stick and the glue, so your swing is nice and strong. 

Another fun craft idea to create for World Wildlife Day is this lion made from only recycled materials. Happy Wildlife Day! If you’re looking for another fun paper roll craft activity, give these paper roll cactuses a try!

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