Spring is definitely in full swing – and summer is right around the corner! If you haven’t noticed there is life blooming all around us, from new flowers, baby animals and bugs and insects galore. If you have a little one at home, chances are they have definitely noticed and will let you know at every turn and corner on your daily journey. A fun way to explore this new life that is emerging after a long, cold winter is by teaching your children how to carefully examine small animals and insects up close and personal. Here is a simple tutorial for making a recycled bug catcher, it can be customized to look like your child’s favorite bug and it makes a fun observation tool for inspecting ladybugs, pill pugs, ants, frogs and other small creatures.
What you will need:
- An empty, clean food jar
- Non-toxic paint
Directions:
We used a non-toxic paint for the lid of our empty food jar which we covered in yellow. Then, once dry we added black stripes and a pair of fun eyeballs! We finished the jar off with a couple of antenna made from a leftover piece of a sticky note. You can use pipe cleaners, wire or any found item in place of the paper to make it more durable for outside play. Remember if you plan on keeping the critter in the jar for a longer period of time to punch holes in the top of the lid first, and don’t forget to keep in a cool place with a food and water supply.
My recycled bug observation jar was the kids project in the spring issue of Green Child Magazine – you can see it here! And if you have children, you should definitely grab your subscription – it is full of great ideas and articles!
