Bugs, Bugs, Bugs… Everywhere!

At our house we’ve gotten a little extra rain, which is great for the flowers, but also has one big side-effect… the bugs are completely taking over!  It doesn’t help that we are out in the semi-country and it’s hatching time for a lot of those annoying little critters.

We decided not to fight it… we’re doing bug crafts!

Potato Ladybugs - I saw this idea in a magazine and thought it was really neat. Draw some black spots on a piece of construction paper with a black crayon. Cut a potato in half and dip half in red paint. Stamp potato over the black spots and let dry. The crayon resists the paint and makes a cute ladybug.

Thumprint Ants - Draw an ant hill with a marker on a plain sheet of construction paper. Use a black washable stamp pad or black paint and have your child put a thumbprint on the paper (or several thumbprints). Draw on the legs(6), eyes, etc. and then turn them loose to draw in the rest of the ant’s home.

You can also adapt this craft to creat “Ant Books” to go along with “The Ants Go Marching” song. Create counting books using one page for each verse of the song. On the first page, make one thumbprint ant. If they are able, have your child write a number one. If not, write a one for them. Continue the pages for as many verses as you want to do, and use the “Ant Book” when you sing the song. This is a great way to get in a little counting practice with your child.

Caterpillar on a Leaf - Cut a large leaf shape out of green construction paper. Glue eight penny-size pom poms in a row onto the leaf.

Spider Webs - Cut several pieces of yarn in various lengths. Use white glue (like Elmer’s Glue) and make a spider web pattern on a piece of construction paper. Let child glue yarn onto the paper to form a spider web.

Ants on a Log/Ants on a Stump - I remember having Ants on a Log when I was a kid. All you basically have to do is put some peanut butter on a celery stick and then put some raisins on it to make ants.

Unfortunately, my two oldest HATE celery, so I changed the recipe. Instead of celery, I use an apple. Core your apple whole and then cut it across so that it makes round shapes. Spread your peanut butter, add your raisins, and you have ants on a stump!