Hobbies And Interests
Crafts
Kids can use craft supplies to create bugs out of different materials. Send kids outside to collect objects from nature, such as leaves, flowers, sticks, acorns, stones or shells. Kids can arrange their objects into the shapes of different bugs onto card stock paper, which you can buy at an office supply store. Instruct them to use tacky glue to glue the objects to the paper. Another idea is to purchase smooth rocks from a landscaping store and then wash and dry them. Have kids paint a ladybug, or another bug that they like, on a rock. Once the paint is dry kids can glue on googly eyes and pipe cleaner antennas.
Parties
If your kid's birthday is coming up, organize a bug-themed birthday party. Buy an assortment of plastic bugs from a dollar store or from a toy store and decorate the room with them. Place creepy, crawly bugs into gift bags for the children to take home after the party. Engage kids in different bug-themed games. Put a bug sticker on kids' backs and have them try to guess, with yes or no questions, which bug is on them. Hide plastic bugs around the house or yard and have kids go on a bug hunt to find them.
Food
Whether for a kid's party or an after school get-together, you can interest kids in making bug-themed treats to eat. To make ants-on-a-log, spread peanut butter on sliced pieces of celery and then sprinkle raisins (the ants) on the peanut butter. To make butterfly snacks, use softened caramel candy or peanut butter to connect two pretzels together to form butterfly wings. Sprinkle chocolate chips on the caramel candy or peanut butter. Also make bug ice cubes by placing edible bugs into an empty ice tray. Fill the ice tray with water and place the ice tray in the freezer. After the bug ice cubes are frozen, you can serve them in drinks.
Guide Books
Kids can learn about bugs by going out in nature and searching for different types of insects. Kids can use guide books to help them identify and/or catch bugs. Sally Kneidel's book, "Pet Bugs: A Guide to Catching and Keeping Touchable Insects," provides information on 25 different insects and how to identify and catch them. Another book is Cindy Blobaum's "Insectigations: 40 Hands-on Activities to Explore the Insect World." Blobaum's book includes a variety of crafts and science projects related to bugs and information on how to collect and keep them.