Are you ready for your little one’s bug themed birthday party but not sure how to keep all of their friends entertained? Is your child crafty, full of energy, or extra creative? With this list of 22 different bug themed party games and crafts, you’ll find the perfect mix of activities to keep everyone entertained and make the day unforgettable.
Crafting Activities:
- Make a Paper Plate Ladybug or Bee
An easy bug craft your guests can make is a lady bug or bee out of a paper plate. Provide each guest with a paper plate, paint, construction paper, glue, and pipe cleaners. Your guests can paint their bug then use the construction paper to give it spots or stripes. Finally, use pipe cleaners to make the antenna.
- Make Your Own Bracelet
Check out these Bug Themed Bracelet Kits. They feature ladybugs, bees, butterflies, and leaves all made out of wood. Your guests will love stringing them together as they make their bug themed jewelry. - Make Balloon Bugs
Your party balloons can easily be transformed into bugs with paints, construction paper, and googly eyes. Have your guests make bees, lady bugs, or wherever other bugs they can think of. Afterwards, they can hit the balloons back and forth to each other for some simple party fun.
- Paint a Bug
Set out some rocks and paints and let your guests paint their very own bugs. This is an easy and inexpensive activity that your guests will love. The easiest bugs to paint for this activity are ladybugs and bees. - Create a Caterpillar on a Leaf
Have your guests create a caterpillar on a leaf with beads, a pompom, a pipecleaner and construction paper. First, cut out a leaf from the construction paper. Then, string your beads through the pipe cleaner to make the body of the caterpillar. Next, attach the pipecleaner to the pompom which will be the caterpillar’s head. Finally, attach the caterpillar to the leaf. You can even add googly eyes to the pompom to give the caterpillars some eyes.
- Decorate a Safari Hat
If your guests are going on an adventure to look for bugs, then they will need a safari hat. So, let your guests decorate their own by setting up a hat decorating station. Just set out some Safari Hats, paints, bug stickers, and any other crafting materials they will need. - Create Bug Wings
Help your guests get into the party spirit by having them create bug wings that they can wear during the party. To make the wings, bend wire coat hangers into wing shapes. Some different wing shapes to consider for your bug party are butterfly, dragonfly, or bee wings. Then, slip stockings over each wing. Your guests can then paint whatever designs they want on the stockings as they create their one of a kind wings. If this activity is something you want to add to your party, then check out this article by Rachel Wolf Clean. It gives an in depth overview of how to make the wings. - Create a Bug Hotel
Encourage your guests to attract bugs at home by helping them create a bug hotel. The best part about this craft is that you can build the bug hotels out of any recycled materials you have. Some items you can use are toilet paper rolls, shoe boxes, plastic bottles, pots, leaves, sticks, and newspapers. For a tutorial on how to make your hotels, check out this article National History Museum.
Physical Activities:
- Move Like a Bug
Turn your guests into bugs by playing Move Like a Bug. Call out different bugs and have your guests mimic them to the best of their ability. You can call out the insects randomly or roll a dice with different bugs on each side. Some moves you can use include hop like a grasshopper, buzz like a bee, and fly like a butterfly.
- Bug Hunt
Hide some bugs throughout your party and let your guests hunt for them in a bug hunt. You can provide them safari hats and magnifying glasses to help them get into character. - Pin the Spots on the Ladybug
Tape the outline of a lady bug to the wall and let your guests try to pin the spots on the lady bug. To make this activity challenging, blindfold your guests and spin them around before they place their spot. For younger guests, use felt for the ladybugs and spots and let them decorate the bug as they see fit. - Shoot the Beanbag into the Ladybug Spots
For this game, paint a lady on a wooden board and cut out holes where the spots are. Hang the board up and then have your guests take turns trying to toss a bean bag into the ladybug’s spots. Whoever can get the most beanbags in the spots is the winner.
- Paper Caterpillar Race
Have your guests make these paper caterpillars by Chasing Those Moments, These caterpillars can inch forward when you blow on them with a straw. So, of course they would be perfect for a caterpillar race. Set up a start and finish line and your guests can compete to see who can get their caterpillar across the finish line first. - Busy Bee Race
Create a busy bee relay race to bring out the competitive side of your guests. For the relay, pick out different activities that a bee might do. For example, you can have a jar full of cotton balls “pollen” that your guests have to ferry across the party to a jar “beehive.” - Grasshopper Competition
Challenge your guests to a hopping competition as they pretend to be grasshoppers. Pick somewhere to be your starting point and let each guest jump as far forward as they can. Whoever can jump the farthest is the winner.
Creative Activities:
- Build Your Own Bug Block Kit
Check out these Insect Building Sets. This pack contains 24 different types of insects that your guests will love putting together. These sets would also make great party favors. - Build a Bug
Provide your guests with play dough, pipe cleaners, and googly eyes and watch as they create their very own bugs. This is a great way for your guests to show off their creativity and create a souvenir that they can take home. - Bug Excavation
Check out these Insect Excavation Kit. It contains a block of stone that houses 6 real insects trapped in amber. Your guests will love working together to free these amber chunks. Once free, they can be taken home as a unique party favor. - Dig for Bugs
Playing in mud is a great sensory activity for children. To make this activity bug themed, hide some bugs in the mud and provide shovels for your guests to dig them out. For a taste safe play mud recipe, check out this article by Mother Could.
- Bug Dress Up Corner
Help your guests get into the party spirit by dressing them like bugs. Provide them with different kinds of wings, antenna headbands, and other costume items and soon enough you’ll have a party full of bugs. - Bug Tattoo Station
Let your guests pretend to be at a tattoo parlor and provide them with lots of bug themed temporary tattoos. The kids will love decorating themselves and each other. Check out this listing for 200 Bug Themed Temporary Tattoos. - Adopt a Bug
Have your guests pick out their very own bug to take home. You can provide them with an adoption certificate and let them get creative with naming their new friends. Check out this listing for 6 Mini Bug Plushies.
I hope you found these activity ideas helpful. Let me know in the comments if you plan on trying any of these ideas for your bug themed party.
