Bug crafts for kids

Today I’m sharing over 20 bug crafts for kids! Whether you love’em or hate’em in real life, insect crafts are LOTS of fun. They are a great way to help kids learn and appreciate our six-legged friends.

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There is no shortage of bugs where we live. I find them super-interesting to examine up close, but the way they crawl and fly around has been known to cause a minor freak-out (on the odd occasion only, hah!).

When it comes to kids, I’m convinced that the more they observe and learn about minibeasts, the less they will be afraid of them.

If we find an unusual-looking insect in our house or garden I encourage my girls to catch it in their bug catcher for a closer look. Occasionally we set up an insect habitat and and observe the bug for a few days before releasing it back into the garden. We research the insect to uncover some interesting facts about it and sometimes design a bug craft based around it.

I’m hoping that taking steps like these to appreciate the beauty and complexity of nature will help my kids to grow into the type of adults who DON’T freak out at the sight of a bug. I’m picturing them becoming one of those admirable individuals who can calmly catch a big, hairy spider in a container and gently place it outside (hey, there’s always hope!).

Living in Australia, there will be plenty of opportunity to practice that skill.

Let’s move onto some of our favourite insect and bug crafts …

Over 20 bug crafts for kids

Print and design a doodlebug-on-a-leaf using our template which has been based on a generic garden bug
Use a traditional printing technique to create butterfly paintings based on the monarch and blue morph butterfly species
These printable cube bugs come in both colour-you-own and full colour (they were inspired by my daughter’s obsession with a certain computer game)

Use our printable template plus an easy squish art technique to make these colourful dragonflies
This realistic-looking 3D dragonfly is like a papercraft version of taxidermy
Create a light-up firefly twilight scene using an upcycled cereal box

These glow bugs are super cute and easy to make from recycled yoghurt tubs and our printable template
Make a realistic 3D paper bee with or without body part labels
We also have a realistic 3D paper Monarch Butterfly, with or without labels

While technically it’s an arachnid—not an insect—these 3D paper spiders come close enough for me
Upcycle a paper roll into a light-up firefly—so fun!
These butterfly headbands are so easy to make (we used them as a party craft for my daughter’s butterfly party)

Make a simple peg bee using sharpies and our free printable wings
Here is a super-cute paper plate rocking bee with handprint-shaped wings
We also have a peg dragonfly craft with free printable wings

Make a paper roll love bug — this craft is perfect for preschoolers
Use walnut shell halves to create some adorable painted walnut bugs
This paper roll grasshopper is based on our observations of a real grasshopper we found in the house

Turn a kitchen sponge into a sparkly butterfly fridge magnet
These pebble and felt love bugs make sweet hand made gifts
Glitter peg butterflies are a fun and easy idea for younger kids

This is an easy DIY butterfly barbie costume kids can make for barbie dolls (or teddies). My daughter had so much fun making these!
Contributor Shannon from Oh Creative Day created these Eric Carle-inspired paper plate butterflies
Woven craft stick butterflies are one of our most popular crafts

Some people are grossed out by cicada shells, but my kids have always collected them (as did I as a kid!). Here we show you how to turn them into groovy neon cicada shells
Create garden art using leaves, petals, sticks and flowers collected from your garden. Arrange them in shapes and patterns, like the butterfly we have made.
Create a DIY nature craft construction kit using items collected from nature. Bugs and butterflies are only a few of the things you could make!
Use paint or nail varnish to create pebble bugs from small rocks