Crafting with Little Kids: Spring Bugs!

In trying to shake this winter that will never end, I was inspired to make this craft from an idea I saw on an ad from a local craft store. My son is three and a half now and loves to paint. He really enjoyed having the chance to make his own little spring bugs out of tiny flower pots. He also wanted to paint a little bird house, which we picked up at A.C. Moore for a dollar. If you have little kids who might not do well painting a fragile flower pot, the little bird house was just as fun to paint.

Supplies for the Spring Bugs:

• small terra cotta flower pots (ours were about 2 inches tall)
• washable paint
• assorted paint brushes, sponge brushes and a cup of water for rinsing
• stick-on googly eyes (or just paint on eyes!)
• pipe cleaners, one per pot, about 2-3″ long for antenna
• sheet of construction paper, foam sheet, or felt for feet.
• white glue
• palette for paint
• smock for each child

Directions:

1. Prepare your craft surface by covering with newspaper or an old tablecloth. Help kids into paint smocks, if using.
2. Set out a palette of paint colors and brushes. I used a plastic paint pallete, but an old ice cube tray or egg carton works great as it helps keep colors separated but easy to access by chunky brushes.
3. Each child can paint their little flower pot any way they want. The final product will have the pot arranged sitting upside down.
4. After the paint has dried, each flower pot bug can have googly eyes added or painted on. Add an antenna by twisting the ends of a 2-3 inch pipe cleaner into a curly-q. Fold in half and wiggle it into the small drainage hole that is in the pot.
5. To add feet, trace the bottom of the pot onto a sheet of construction paper, foam sheet, or felt. Add the top half of a heart shape to the circle for feet. Cut the circle and feet out and glue to the bottom of the pot. The edge of the pot tends to be scratchy, so by adding feet for cuteness, it also helps protect the table where you display your new little bugs.
6. Ask your child to name their new bug!

My son has decorated his play kitchen with his collection of bugs. He has enjoyed playing with them more than I could imagine! Happy Spring and happy crafting!

You can find more crafting and preschool adventures on Diane’s blog, Knitting Zeal!