Bug Party Activities

Have I mentioned how fun the bug party was?  You can read all about the bug party food and decorations here, but today’s post is dedicated to the fun.  Any party is usually fun for kids, but I think all ages enjoyed this party.  We kept it really casual and low-key, but threw in a few simple bug activities to get everyone engaged in the theme.

My parents got to the party early and helped hide small plastic bugs all over the family room.  I found the bugs for this activity in the party favors section at Target.  I bought two bags of bugs for $3.99 each.  These bugs were slightly larger than the bugs available in the dollar section and I felt they were more age appropriate.

When the boys arrived at the house, they each got a bug catcher (from Target dollar section) and were told to start the hunt.  They had so much fun running around finding all the bugs and filling up their bug catchers.

Then an unexpected thing happened.  The bug catchers each came with a small plastic magnifying glass.  The boys spread all their bugs out on the ottoman and began examining them with the magnifying glass.  My oldest noticed there were two of each type of bug (because I bought two packages) and he began pairing them up.  It was a bug match game…unplanned, but fun.

After the bug hunt and examination interest tapered off, I broke out the temporary bug tattoos.  These have been on the bug party inspiration board since the beginning.  All the guests got at least one bug tattoo.  The boys helped pick out which bug each person would get and then I applied them.  This activity was brief, but the benefits lasted into the next day.  The boys were proud to show off their ink.  This is a great, cheap alternative to face painting.  This packet of temp tattoos was $1.50 for 10 insects.  You can get temporary tattoos for almost any party theme.  I got extra to save for a rainy day activity. I ordered the Temporary Insect Tattoos and the Mini Bugs Tattoos by Jan Sovak.

It is not really an activity, but worm eating turned about to be mildly entertaining.  Each dirt pie had three large gummy worms, one on top and two buried underground.  I did not put much thought into how they would be eaten.  Eveyone picked the one off the top and ate it before digging into the pudding.

My oldest was the first to reach a buried worm.  When he pulled it out it was covered in pudding slime and oreo chunks.  He did what I guess any reasonable person about to eat a worm would do…he sucked off the pudding, then tipped his head back, opened the hatch, and lowered the slimy dangling worm in.

Worms and all, this party was super fun.  Perfect for two young boys itching for spring and summer, so they can run outside amongst the real bugs.