I believe it's a great idea to let kids handle reptiles. You teach them to not grow up with a fear that many people have. I personally do show and tell at a school my mother works at every chance I get. With the six year old I'd let him handle it. And the younger kid maybe you hold the snake and let him just touch it.

This is my niece and nephew back in 08 or 09 can't remember for sure and I ha to do screen shots for whatever reason I can't save to my phone from MySpace. It took me forever just to find these images.