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).
