Create a Bug Exploration Tray for Kids

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Kids are usually pretty curious about bugs. Even though we tend to want to get rid of them, and keep them away from our kids.

Kids will stop and admire ants in the sidewalk cracks, pick up worms after it rains, and somehow they always spot the tiny bugs we completely miss (and usually want to miss!) and want to bring them inside.

This bug tray is simple that allows your kids to explore bugs in a way you might be more manageable to you.

You can buy a big assortment of plastic bugs and insects to really get their imagination going. Or go on a real nature hunt for real bugs.

Grab a tray (a baking sheet works great),add in some fun things from around the house, like jewels or gems, and shredded paper. Then take the kids on a nature hunt to collect some fun things like rocks, sticks, dirt, and leaves.

Add them all to the tray and scatter the plastic bugs around your collection of items.

That’s all this takes.

From here, its your child’s imagination.

Let Kids Build Small Worlds

For some kids, this is second nature, and they’ll immediately start sorting and exploring, or setting up extravagant scenes.

They might build homes for the bugs, or create hiding spots. Maybe set up some obstacles for the bugs and paths for them to get around in their own little world they’ve created.

Ask them! They may have created a whole story in their heads about what’s going on with these bugs and insects.

If you’re brave enough, you could do this with real bugs outside. I’m not! But you could do a jar of lightning bugs… I can do that!

Questions to Ask During this Bug Small World Play

If your child seems a little unsure of how to play in this bug tray, you can prompt them with some questions. But don’t keep at it if they’re not interested. Just leave it out and let them come back to it later.

• Where do the bugs live?
• What are they building?
• Are the bugs looking for food?
• What do the bugs eat in this world?
• Where do they sleep?
• Do the bugs have a family?
• Are they going on an adventure?
• Can you build a home for the bugs?
• Where does this path lead?
• Do any of the bugs need help?
• Uh oh… I think this bug is lost!
• Oh no! A storm is coming…
• This bug looks hungry.

Don’t take over the play, just give them a tiny nudge to get started.

Sometimes a question is al they’ll need before suddenly they have their entire world figured out. They may just be unsure of what they’re intended to do and might feel silly.