Toddler Camp: Bugs Day (Themed Activities and Crafts)

Welcome to Toddler Camp! A daily itinerary of themed ideas to keep your toddler busy while you’re at home! You can find more themes and the full guide to Toddler Camp here. 

Bug day is essential in a toddler camp, because bugs are always SUCH a topic of fascination. No real bugs were encountered or harmed in the making of this day though, never fear. 😉 

For bug day, I put together a bunch of bug themed activities that were super simple to create from items you already have in your home. Check ’em out!

Movies + Shows To Watch

Here are a few bug themed movies and shows to check out for Bug Day:

• A Bug’s Life – Available on Disney+
• Sesame Street: Elmo and the Monarch Butterfly (Ep 4268) – Available on HBO
• Bee Movie – Available on Netflix

Active Play

Caterpillar Scavenger Hunt

Cut thin strips of paper and accordion fold them to make paper “caterpillars.” To make sure you keep track of them, add a number somewhere on each one. You can draw on a face too, if you’d like!

Then, hide them all over your home or yard and hand your child a basket or bowl to collect them in! Easy and such a toddler crowd pleaser!!

Sensory Play

Dig for Bugs Sensory “Dirt” Bin

First make your fake “dirt”. Use 2 cups flour OR baking soda plus about 1/2 cup cocoa powder, add water as desired. You can add less water to make it more “dirt” like and more water to make it more “mud” like.

Put the dirt in a large bowl or plastic bin, and then hide “bugs” inside of it. I didn’t have any toy or plastic bugs, so I used beads, rocks and pieces of pipe cleaner!

Your kiddo can use spoons, bamboo tongs or cups to dig everything out. If you have a sieve, have them put everything in that and then they can rinse it all off in the sink for a bonus additional activity!

Crafts

Clothespin Butterflies

Inspired by Mer Mag’s clothespin butterflies, we turned some stamp art into these and they make a really cute addition to an art wall!

First, set up a drawing, painting or stamps and stenciling activity with a few different pieces of paper. Let the art pieces dry if necessary.

Then, cut out a butterfly wing shape from the art. Glue a clothespin to the center of each. If you don’t have a clothespin, try a popsicle stick! Add pipe cleaner antennae (add little wood beads to the ends if you have them)!

Hang on the wall using command strips or other removable wall adhesive!

Games + Puzzles

• Caterpillar ABC Puzzle
• Wooden Magnifier
• Rainbow Butterfly Wings
• Bug Dig Activity Kit
• Insect Action Game
• Bug Stamp Set

Books

To supplement the activities, here are some great books about bugs that we love:

• The Little Gardner by Emily Hughes
• Little Kids First Big Book of Bugs by Catherine D. Hughes
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Shop them in my Amazon shop here!

If you have any extra time in the day, head out for a walk or to the yard and see if you can spot any real life bugs that look like the ones you created!

If you want to learn more about how I’ve structured our “camp” days, check out this post. The schedule allows for free play and downtime as well. 

And of course, if you make or do any of these projects, please tag me if you share a picture or story on Instagram so I can see!!