SNAP & SLITHER SNAKE.

The Snap & Slither Snake is an interactive pull toy designed to foster color and shape recognition in toddlers, promoting early cognitive development through playful engagement.

ONGOING PERSONAL PROJECT | Tools: Solidworks, Polyurethane Foam, Bambu Studio (3D Printing), Photoshop

Audience

Requirements

Competitive landscape

By analyzing the current pull toy landscape, I found that there are 3 main price ranges for pull toys:

  • Low(~$9)

  • Medium range(~$15)

  • High ($30+)

Toys in the lower range were mostly made of plastic. Most the toys in the medium range were also made of plastic. Toys in the higher range were mostly made of wood.

In the lower and medium ranges, the price did not seem to correlate with the complexity of the toy. While in the high range, the toys were more intricate and consisted of more parts and functions.

Looking at this chart, I see a potential gap in the market for a learning toy that approaches the traditional shape sorting task a different way.

The Snap & Slither Snake is a wooden toy designed to support early learning. Each segment of the toy links to another by matching shapes and colors, helping children practice shape and color recognition while building their own slithery friend.

Perfect for hands-on learning, it combines the joy of pretend play with foundational skills in a way that’s both educational and engaging.

Concept

Prototyping

I kicked off the prototyping process by building a foam model with 4 different segments. Each segment had a different shape at the end - circle, rectangle, and triangle. The ends are also color coded for color matching.

Through this prototype, I learned that there needed to be clearer signifiers for where each segment starts and ends. I also learned that the rope of the pull toy needs to be flatter and without braided rope, to resemble its tongue.

Next, I graduated into 3D printing, as I wanted to test connection methods between the joints in a segment. To play on the slithery-friend aspect, I wanted the toy to be flexible enough to sway side-to-side. I tested out two ball joints and one interlocking loop.

I liked the look of the ball joint the most, but was worried about the fragility of the joint; it was too likely to snap and break off. On the other hand, the interlocking loop made the snake look too complex, taking away from the “friendly” aspect of the toy.

I eventually landed on rope for the perfect medium between flexibility and friendly aesthetics. With the following prototypes, I tested the best forms for slithering along with the best wheel build (iteration order from left to right).

My first few iterations with external wheels presented aesthetic challenges. When added, the prototype simply did not resemble a snake.

I experimented with rectangular, square, and cylindrical shapes to determine which form provided the most flexibility. The cylindrical prototype allowed for the greatest side-to-side movement due to its minimal surface contact between joints. However, I found that the rope length ultimately had the most significant impact on flexibility.

Longing for a more organic form, I added a small connection piece between the joints, which was later combined with the main joint to prevent loose small parts.

Current iteration

The wheels of the pull toy are stainless steel spheres on rods. The diameter of the sphere measures 1.3 inches while the rod length measures 1.65 inches, large enough to not be a choking hazard for toddlers.

Packaging concept was created in preparation for the 2025 Toy Fair at the Javits Center, designed for ease of display and presentation. The product is currently still in development.

PACKAGING

My plan is to test the prototype with a group of toddlers from ages 18 months to 3 years old. Through the test, I would observe how the toddlers interact with the toy across

  • Engagement - Do the toddlers understand how to play with the toy? how are they playing with the toy? How long are they engaged for? How excited do they seem to be?

  • Safety - Are there any potential dangers with the length, shape, materials, and parts of the toy?

  • Durability - Does rough play damage the toy in any way?

I would also like to test the packaging with parents or adults who would be purchasing the toy.

Upon gathering results, I will continue to iterate.

FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS