Categories: DIY & Crafts, Kids Activities, Animal Crafts, Educational Keywords: Rat crafts for kids, World Rat Day activities, Chinese Zodiac Rat crafts, DIY animal projects, recycled crafts for kids, educational animal activities, Year of the Rat.
Why should we have rat crafts to celebrate “pests,” you ask? It is time to change the narrative! While they often get a bad reputation in urban legends, rats are actually incredibly intelligent, empathetic, and social creatures.
In fact, we have World Rat Day every year on April 4th to honor these fancy rodents and acknowledge their importance to our ecosystem. Furthermore, in Eastern cultures, the rat isn’t seen as a nuisance but as a symbol of wealth, surplus, and resourcefulness.
Whether you are looking for an activity for World Rat Day, exploring the Chinese Zodiac (where the Rat is the very first animal!), or simply reading classic children’s books like Charlotte’s Web (featuring Templeton) or Ratatouille, these crafts are perfect for hands-on learning.
Let’s scurry into the world of creativity with these 10 Fun and Fabulous Rat Crafts for Kids.
The Cultural Significance: The Year of the Ra
Before we get the glue sticks out, let’s turn this into a learning moment.
The Chinese Zodiac (sheng xiao) operates on a 12-year cycle. While 2025 is the Year of the Snake, the Rat holds a special place of honor as the leader of the pack. The last Year of the Rat was 2020, and the next one will arrive in 2032.
The Legend of the Great Race
Legend has it that the Jade Emperor organized a race to decide which animals would be in the Zodiac. The Rat, being small and unable to swim across a fast-flowing river, used its wits. It asked the strong, kind Ox for a ride. Just as they reached the finish line, the Rat jumped off the Ox’s nose and landed first!
This story teaches children that intelligence and quick thinking can overcome size and strength.
10 Fun Rat Crafts for Kids to Make at Home
Here are ten unique projects ranging from simple paper crafts for toddlers to upcycled projects for elementary students.
1. The Recycled Toilet Roll Rat
This is a classic “best out of waste” craft that transforms a humble cardboard tube into a cute rodent.
- Materials: Empty toilet paper roll, gray or brown paint, pink construction paper, googly eyes, black pipe cleaners (whiskers), black marker.
- Instructions:
- Paint the toilet roll entirely gray or brown. Let it dry.
- Cut two large circles from gray paper and two smaller circles from pink paper. Glue the pink inside the gray to create the large, round ears. Glue these to the top of the roll.
- Cut thin strips of pipe cleaners and glue them to the center of the “face” for whiskers.
- Add a pink pom-pom or paper circle for the nose and stick on the googly eyes.
- Don’t forget the tail! A long strip of pink paper curled around a pencil creates a perfect curly tail to glue on the back.
2. The Heart-Shaped Paper Rat
A perfect craft for practicing scissor skills and shapes. This makes a great Valentine’s card too!
- Materials: Gray, pink, and black construction paper, glue stick, scissors.
- Instructions:
- Cut a large heart out of gray paper. This will be the face (turn it upside down so the point is the chin).
- Cut two medium hearts out of gray paper for ears, and two smaller pink hearts for the inner ears.
- Glue the ears to the top (wide part) of the main face heart.
- Add a small heart nose and drawn-on whiskers.
- Educational Tip: Ask your child to identify how many hearts they used to make the animal.
3. The “Templeton” Egg Carton Rat
Inspired by the gluttonous rat from Charlotte’s Web, this craft uses egg cartons to create a 3D body.
- Materials: Egg carton (the cup part), gray paint, pink yarn, googly eyes.
- Instructions:
- Cut out a single cup from an egg carton. Trim the edges so it sits flat.
- Paint the cup gray.
- Once dry, punch a small hole in the back and thread a piece of pink yarn through for the tail. Knot it on the inside so it stays put.
- Glue ears cut from cardstock to the top.
- Draw a nose on the front bump of the cup. These look great “scurrying” across a table!
4. Handprint Rat Keepsake
Children grow up so fast! Capture their hand size with this cute art project.
- Materials: Gray washable paint, white paper, black sharpie, pink paint.
- Instructions:
- Paint your child’s palm and four fingers gray. Leave the thumb clean or paint it pink (this will be the tail).
- Press the hand onto the white paper. The palm is the body, the fingers are the legs/head area.
- Once the paint dries, draw a face on the thumb (or the pinky, depending on orientation).
- Use a black marker to add whiskers and claws.
5. Walnut Shell Racing Rats
A nature-inspired craft that doubles as a toy.
- Materials: Whole walnut shells (carefully split in half), gray paint, tiny beads (for eyes), felt scraps, a marble.
- Instructions:
- Clean out the walnut meat (and eat it!).
- Paint the shell gray.
- Glue tiny felt ears and a tail to the shell.
- The Fun Part: Place a marble underneath the shell on a tilted surface. The shell will slide down over the marble, looking like a scurrying rat!
6. The Bookmark Rat
Encourage reading by making a rat that “bites” the page to save your spot.
- Materials: Square origami paper (gray or brown), scissors, glue, white paper scraps.
- Instructions:
- Start with a standard “Corner Bookmark” fold. (Fold square into triangle, fold corners up to peak, fold peak down, tuck corners in).
- This creates a pocket. Decorate the triangle flap to look like a rat’s face.
- Cut two small white triangles (teeth) and glue them to the underside of the flap so they poke out.
- Add big round ears sticking out of the top of the bookmark.
7. Paper Plate Rocking Rat
This is an interactive craft that wobbles when you touch it.
- Materials: Paper plate, paint, scissors, stapler.
- Instructions:
- Fold a paper plate in half.
- Cut a semi-circle out of the center of the straight edge (this creates the separation between front and back legs).
- Paint the plate gray.
- Cut a separate circle for the head and staple it to one end of the folded plate.
- Add a tail to the other end.
- Stand it up on the curved edge. When you tap it, the rat rocks back and forth!
8. The Finger Puppet Rat
Great for storytelling and imaginative play.
- Materials: Felt squares (gray/brown), needle and thread (or fabric glue).
- Instructions:
- Cut two arch shapes out of felt (sized to fit over a child’s finger).
- Sew or glue the edges together, leaving the bottom open.
- Glue on felt ears, a tiny pom-pom nose, and whiskers.
- Put on a puppet show explaining the Chinese Zodiac story!
9. Cupcake Liner Rat
A textured craft that is easy for toddlers.
- Materials: Gray or white cupcake liners, construction paper, glue.
- Instructions:
- Flatten a cupcake liner. This is the body.
- Cut a second cupcake liner in half. Glue one half onto the body as the head.
- The crinkly texture of the liner mimics fur.
- Add paper limbs and a long tail.
10. The Healthy “Snack” Rat
Who says crafts can’t be edible? This is a fun food-art project.
- Materials: A pear (sliced in half), grapes (for ears), cloves (for eyes), string cheese (tail).
- Instructions:
- Place the pear half on a plate (flat side down). The narrow end is the nose.
- Use a knife (adult supervision) to make slots for two grape slices to sit as ears.
- Use a strip of string cheese or a piece of strawberry lace for the tail.
- It’s a delicious way to celebrate!
Why Crafts Are Essential for Child Development
Engaging in these rat-themed crafts provides more than just a cute decoration.
- Fine Motor Skills: Cutting, gluing, and painting help strengthen the small muscles in the hands.
- Cultural Appreciation: discussing the positive symbolism of rats in Chinese culture (wealth, surplus) teaches children that different cultures view animals differently.
- Empathy: Learning about World Rat Day helps children understand that every creature, no matter how small or misunderstood, plays a role in our world.
Conclusion
Whether you are celebrating the intelligence of this creature on World Rat Day or teaching a history lesson about the Chinese Zodiac, these crafts are sure to bring a smile to your child’s face. From the “Templeton” egg carton creation to the rocking paper plate, there is something here for every skill level.
Remember, rats are symbols of resourcefulness. So, be resourceful with your craft supplies! If you don’t have gray paint, make a rainbow rat. If you don’t have googly eyes, draw them on. Let creativity lead the way.