How to make a bug adventure
Children often love nothing more than looking for bugs, creepy crawlies and all the things nature provides. For their birthday, my kids were given a bug hunting kit each. You can easily make up your own kit for your little ones to enjoy a bug hunt:
A bug hunting kit
This is what our bug hunting kit contained and I think it is perfect for a little adventure:
- Rucksack
- Binoculars
- Magnifying glass
- Tweezers
- Paintbrush
- Spoon
- Bug collection pot
- Notepad and pen (on clipboard optional)
- Nature spotters cards
Last week, whilst visiting the New Forest with Grandparents, we took out kit out for a mini bug adventure. We took the tall trees trail walk through the forest looking for bugs.
The children loved wearing their rucksacks trekking along, hunting around trees, under logs, in any nook and cranny they could find. They used their magnifying glasses to inspect the trees and bugs.
We found woodlice, caterpillars, centipede, worms, spiders and a few other things. It was probably not the best time of year for a bug hunt, but I know the children will want to repeat this adventure in the summer when we should find lots more bugs.
BB enjoyed taking on the role of scribe, noting down a list of all the bugs we found, whilst Pinky and Boo loved looking for the bugs on their spotter cards to see if they could put a name to their findings.
We also found a den somebody else had made, which of course was begging to be explored! The children investigated it inside and out. They walked on logs and had a few nature lessons from Nana and Grandad. 
Whilst on our adventure, we came across a fallen down tree which had been torn open, so the inside was visible and you could even climb in too. It was fascinating to see and BB couldn’t wait to get inside to explore. He was so curious, looking closely at everything. 
It was a lovely nature walk in a beautiful forest. The children explored, investigated, walked, learnt and had fun together. They were excited every time they found a bug and spent ages inspecting each tree we stopped at.
Give the children a few things to take on a walk, to help them investigate their environment and they love it. It encourages them to explore their natural world and discover things we live amongst without even realising. It helps keep them interested on a walk and teaches them about nature.
I would recommend making up your own bug hunting kit. We will be using ours again soon (and in the garden too).
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Oh yes, great adventures! Boo has a bug hunting kit and loves doing this – rucksack on her back is crucial as is either a magnifying glass in hand or some binoculars!
Kids love exploring like that
Great to get out exploring with a mission and your bug hunting kit does just this for the children. Love it
It is a great tool to help little ones explore
what a great thing for the kids to do not only have fun in the woods but they got to search for bugs etc and keep a note of them too popping over from #whatsthestory
Thanks, the children love it!
Oh wow that bug hunting kit sounds brilliant. Sounds like they enjoyed finding all those bugs and that fallen tree looks perfect for exploring. Hope you’ve been having a lovely Easter, thanks for sharing with #whatsthestory
That fallen tree was fantastic to explore
Brilliant! We’re on holiday this week, and something like this is on my list of things to do
That fallen tree looks fab! #WhatstheStory
Have a go, kids love hunting for bugs
Thats looks like fun! The place looks awesome, a big place! Big world for bugs and kids alike. And yet explorable. Ready to be discovered. #Whatsthestory
It was a lovely fun place for the children to explore
Looks like a brilliant time was had by all. My boy loves bug hunts too
#letkidsbekids
We had a lovely time
Seriously loving your bug kits!!!!
They’re great aren’t they
When I worked in environmental education, bug hunting was always a favourite activity and one my boys still adore even though they are older. At the moment we have some fantastic oil beetles on the footpaths. They are ugly but also strangely beautiful as they glisten in the sun.
Fantastic, there is always some thing good about hunting for bug (whatever the age)
This is fantastic, what lovely little explorers! so cute and looks like they had so much fun! xx #letkidsbekids
They did have a lot of fun
This is a wonderful way of combining nature with play! Would love to try something like this when my son gets older.
I do love to get out into the woods to explore
This is such a fantastic idea, and something that I should do… My son is already scared of some creepy crawlies – I think he’s heard me screaming at spiders and hubby running away from bees, so not good role models… But this will definitely make it more interesting and make him less afraid, for me included!
Yes, give it a go, looking for bugs in a controlled way is quite desensitising
This is such a great idea and looked like they had lots of fun. Lovely photos x
Thanks, they loved it
Looks like you had a great day out – I bet the tree trunk had lots of bugs in it!
It was great
Great idea, and looks like you had a great time. I want to get some bug boxes for N, as we used to use them all the time as kids. Must make up a kit.
It’s easy to make up a bug hunting kit and they are loads of fun
Love the kits, we are just getting interested in bugs and the outdoors here so I think my two would love something like that, looks like you had a fab time. #letkidsbekids
Great, it’s always good to encourage a bit of bug hunting
A lovely idea for us to try this weekend weather permitting
Hope you have fun
Your bug hunting kits are fantastic! My lot would love something similar
The kits were all bits put together, so is very easy to do
There’s something about a fallen tree that is so captive – looks like you had fun
It was amazing and loads of fun, thank you x
Wow this is fantastic idea and what an adventure. Buba would love something like this. I love love the buba kits. Amazing. So creative. By the look of all the amazing photos you all had a great time. So sunny too. Hurray!!! Thanks for linking up to Share With Me. #sharewithme
Thanks, we did all have a lovely time together
This is a great idea for little explorers! The bags looks fab too x
Thanks, I did think they looked really cute as little explorers
Looks like you had great fun. My two love bug hunting too. Only problem is they are always trying to take what they find home!!!!!! #LetKidsBeKids
Lol! Oh dear
Great kit and looks like a lot of fun was had by all.
Thanks, the kids loved it