Interesting Insects Sensory Set

Do you know how ladybugs, butterflies and caterpillars are all insects?

We have included 3 colourful caterpillars and 3 bright butterflies for them to become. 2 little ladybugs round out this 8 piece set. 

Butterflies and ladybugs have wings and they both have 6 legs. Butterflies fly south in the winter. Ladybugs hibernate. Butterflies can be different colors and Ladybugs can too!  Ladybugs can bite, but it doesn’t hurt. Caterpillars and butterflies are simply at different life stages. The caterpillar is the middle life stage of the butterfly. These are some of the fun questions and thoughts that might get curious young minds rolling.

There are so many sweet ways to play with this insect sensory set. One of the favourites in our house is bringing these into a bubble bath and feeling around under the bubbles and seeing if we can guess what we've found before bringing it to the surface. 

Here are a few more ways to invite creative play: 

Fine motor skills: 

The upcycled craft favourite - the humble toilet paper roll. After reading a few books about the butterfly lifecycle, most children are pretty impressed with transforation from caterpillar to butterfly. Taking your six catterpillars, have the children pop one into each toilet paper roll 'chrysalis'. Pinch both the ends if you like and put them under a silk scarf, or behind a cushion and then simulate using an egg timer, a toy watch or your iphone timer ;) the passing of time (1-2 weeks). While you're doing this, invite the child to surprise you by replacing the caterpillars with butterflies. Ding! Suprprise - Metamorphasis. 

Gross motor skills: 

Bring your insects into the garden or the playground. Choose an area and mark it out with skipping ropes, colourful cones or a bunch of sticks. Have one person hide all 8 pieces in the garden and have the others seek them. Bonus points if you spot a real ladybug, caterpillar or butterfly!