Bugs are so much fun to look at and be around most of the time! While your little one may not necessarily want to hold bugs in their hands, they are always interested in them. There are many fun insect-themed songs, games, and activities to keep your child entertained this summer. Your child will have a blast whether you're reading a book about insects, making insect traps, or making twist pretzels into a hairy spider.
Interactive Pest and Insect Games for Kids
1. Smash Master
This fun and interactive game lets your children smoosh those bugs! The goal here is just like it sounds: smash as many bugs as possible! While this may seem like just a useless game, your child will actually practice their fine motor skills trying to smash the bugs on their screen.
Learn more: SGames LLC
2. Bug Identifier - Insect
Whether you're checking out a giant hairy spider or a water bug, this app is such a fun way to learn about different bugs. This game will grow your child's academic skills in the world of bugs.
Learn more: Next Vision Limited
3. Sprider Pet Simulator
Appropriate for ages twelve and up, your child will love to get inside the mind of a spider and simulate what it would be like to adventure through everyday places.
Learn more: Tayga Games OOO
4. Pest Game
This website is such a cool idea. It is simple, and all your child has to do is smash as many bugs on the screen as possible. You can't help but want to smash the black widows, flies, roaches, and whatever else decides to crawl across the screen!
Learn more: Pest Game
5. Insect Evolution
This interactive pest game is so fun that your kids will love playing it. Play different levels to help your tiny insect find its way back home.
Learn more: Xiamen Fengling Technology Co., Ltd.
Sensory Bug Games
1. Crack the Icy Insect Eggs!
Sensory activities are an excellent way to get kids involved in the learning process. With this activity, you will freeze plastic insect bodies into large chunks of ice. Allow kids to thaw these chunks of ice in small amounts of water (warm) or crack them with child-safe tools.
Learn more: News With Naylors
2. Guess the Bug Sensory Game
There are so many fun food items you can put in this sensory experience! Spaghetti noodles for earthworms, a fake wolf spider, maybe some gummy insect candy.
Learn more: Kara's Party Ideas Bug
3. Insect Hunt and Match Game
This particular activity is such a great idea! In a tub, place some type of dried bean. This blogger chose to use black beans to mimic dirt. On a piece or regular paper on construction paper, print out the silhouette of the different bugs your child is meant to find. This blog also has great ideas for kids' insect-themed arts and crafts activities.
Learn more: Mrs. Plemon's Kindergarten
4. Let's Catch Some Bugs!
Get out, get your hands dirty, and catch bugs. When you are all done inspecting and learning, you can release insects back to their homes in your backyard.
Learn more: Happy Mothering
5. Bug Slime!
Between reading a book about insects and singing insect songs, go ahead and plan to make some insect slime!
Learn more: Mom Luck
Hands-On Insect-Themed Games and Activities!
1. How Many Spider Eggs Can You Stick?
This game is a fun cross between the realm of insect-themed arts and crafts and bug games! It would help if you had a hula hoop, masking tape, and cotton balls. This game is great for about 2-4 players per hula hoop and is popular with 3-12-year-old children. Make this game even more fun by reading Joanna Cole's The Spider Spins a Web!
Learn more: Learning from Preschoolers
2. Bop the Bugs Game
Allow one balloon per player to start. Allow kids to decorate their bug balloons and begin to bop! The key here is not to let your balloon bugs hit the floor! I love this fun and cool idea, and your kids will have a blast playing this straightforward game.
Learn more: Mrs. Plemon's Kindergarten
3. Catch a Bug!
I love this blogger's website. Here you can get a free printable for the "catch a bug" game. Click on the picture for the free printable and instructions! This fun game needs this free printable, a since die, and the bugs.
Learn more: Picklebums
4. Let's Play Ladybug Bingo!
Ladybug Bingo is such a fun game that your kids will enjoy. As one of the most accessible board games, this can be enjoyed by children of all ages. All you need is a piece of paper to print your Bingo card. Click on the picture for your free printable.
Learn more: Jenny at Dapperhouse
5. Let's do a Scavenger Hunt!
A bug scavenger hunt is such a cool idea! I found this cool bug scavenger hunt on Pinterest, but you can make your own if you'd like. Here, you can see several standard insect bodies on paper for your child to find.
Learn more: Simple Everyday Mom
6. Bug Hunt Graphing Game
Create your very own board games with all of those fun bugs. You can click on the image for more information on this math-themed bug game! Make it a whole game night and pair playing this game with some spider cookies and bug juice (sprinkle raisins to water and freeze!).
Learn more: Primary Theme Park
7. I Spy Bugs!
Having a bug-themed "I Spy" game is such a cool idea! See who can spy on the big black spider or beautiful butterfly first? You can print on the image here to guide you toward your free printable for this amazing game.
Learn more: And Next ComESL
8. Bug Edition of Simon Says
Simon says is truly an amazing game that gets little ones to listen closely! My little one loves a good game of "Simon Says." However, it is even more fun with "Simon Say wiggle like a worm" or, "Simon says act like a wolf spider!".
9. Silly Bug Tongue Twisters!
Whether the tongue twister is about creepy crawly spider legs or rolly pollies, make a game of some fun tongue twisters. My favorite is about the black spider and snakes!
Learn more: 100x hahaha
10. Make Insect Traps!
First, read a book about insects to learn how to catch bugs in insect traps and then release insects. Also, a book about insects will help kids learn which big hairy spider is poisonous and which isn't. Make sure you are choosing insect traps that allow you to release insects back outside. If you're wanting something bigger, check out the following suggestion on making an insect aquarium.
Learn more: The Coupon Project
11. Make an Insect Aquarium
Making an insect aquarium is a fantastic activity to learn about different insect bodies and what they need to live. Make this more educational by reading a book about insects before. After building the insect aquarium, allow kids to release insects back into the wild.
Learn more: Maximilian Weinzierl
12. Sing Insect Songs!
Singing insect songs is a great way to introduce children to insect bodies. Sing a silly song about creepy crawly spider legs or the big black spider that scared away Miss Muffet. I love this channel because there are a ton of great insect songs to learn and sing.
Learn more: The Kiboomers - Kids Music Channel
13. Play the Cootie Game!
Cootie is an award-winning educational game that is so much fun! The object of this game is to be the one to create your bug first! Because of the different pieces, you will want to walk your child step by step through the rules.
14. TIC TAC Tongue Game
Grow your child's motor skills by playing the Tic Tac Tongue game! This came is such a cool idea and takes the concept of a classic game to a whole new level.
15. Snug as a Bug
Snug as a Bug in a Rug should be an award-winning educational game! This cooperation game is perfect for 2-4 players.
Rainy Day Bug Themed Art and Crafts
1. Paper Plate Lady Bug
This paper plate ladybug is a fun activity for little ones learning about bugs. You need construction paper, paper plates, and some non-toxic tempera paint (or poster paint). Make sure you use washable paint! Since insect bodies can sometimes be hard to cut out, help your little one with the scissors. Pair this activity with a tasty treat!
Learn more: Non Toy Gifts
2. Wolf Spider Headband
Nothing says spooky like a black spider headband with creepy spider legs. You will want to assist your child step by step with this activity. Also, you will need more than one piece of paper for your black spider crown. It would help if you had glue, black, orange, and purple construction paper (or whatever color you like!). Cut more strips of black paper and glue them to the headband as the spider legs. Pair this activity with some tasty spider cookies!
Learn more: Fantastic Fun and Learning
3. Bug Fossils with Playdoh!
Learn all about fossils with playdoh and plastic bugs. Just like it looks, have your children or students make round patties of varied color playdoh and then press their plastic bugs into it. Then, you can either let it dry like a genuine fossil or put it away to use again.
Learn more: No Time for Flashcards
4. Clothes Pin Caterpillars
Among the insect-themed arts and crafts, this clothespin caterpillar craft is a great activity for growing motor skills while having fun! It would help if you had some clothespins, glue, googly eyes, and little poof balls to create your cute caterpillar. Use a paper label to write your child's name and stick to their bug.
Learn more: Schooltime Snippets
5. Dragonflies with Popsicle Sticks
While you may not like these creatures flying at your head in the summer, they sure are pretty and fun to look at. Just grab some popsicles, eat them, and save the sticks. Then, get some washable paint (non-toxic tempera paint) and googly eyes. Lastly, assemble as in the pictures.
Learn more: Crafty Morning
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