If you have a Mason jar, a net, and proximity to any six-legged critter, you’re in luck! There are plenty of pest-themed summer activities for kids of all ages to enjoy this summer. Not only is this plague-themed craft a fun way to entertain your kids: It also allows them to hone their motor skills and sharpen their minds, especially since school is out for three months!

Here are some fun activities your kids can do this summer:

#1: Homemade bug pot

For this craft you will need a Mason jar and some colored paper. Start by having an adult cut leaves and grass from a green piece of paper. Next, you want to glue it to the pot for decoration. On top of that, stick on googly eyes, an antennae (made from pipe cleaners) and a bug design – we recommend bees or ladybugs—to the lid of the pot. Finally, let the bug collection begin! This is a great way for kids of all ages to participate in their own bug hunt at home.

#2: Colorful Butterfly Cell Phone

Who doesn’t love butterflies? Their delicate and detailed wings are too beautiful to go unnoticed. This craft is such a fun way for your child to explore their artistic abilities. Simply have them paint a unique, colorful and potentially sparkly butterfly pre-cut by an adult. Once they are done and dried, attach the butterflies to a 12″ embroidery hoop with string and hang it from your ceiling.

There are so many creative ways to decorate and set up your cell phone that the opportunities are practically endless. As already mentioned, this craft allows to spark creative freedoms in your child! This beautiful craft will look great hung around your home.

#3: Scavenger Hunt

Do you need to let your kids run around outside and get rid of the energy that builds up inside? Print out a list of insects for your children to look for while playing outside. Not only will they be out of the house a bit: They’ll also be working hard to check off all the boxes in front of their siblings or friends (a little healthy competition is perfect for a hot, summer day!).

Here are some examples of bugs and insects you can include on your scavenger hunt:

• Fly;
• Mosquito;
• Ladybug;
• Butterfly;
• Spider;
• Ant;
• Besie.

Helpful Hint: Have your child bring their homemade bug jar (reference #1) so they can catch each insect each time they check it off their scavenger hunt map!

#4: Creepy Crawly Bingo

Maybe it’s a rainy day and you’re stuck inside. This is an activity that is perfect for a rainy day kind of scenario. Print out a card with all the creepy crawlies (and their names under each photo too) and play Bingo! Of course, playing the game is fun, but talking about each insect can be just as entertaining! Your child will be able to look at realistic photos of each insect, making it easier for them to identify in real life!

#5: Snack Attack!

No day is complete without a snack, so create fruit bugs! Use the fruits you have on hand—bananas, strawberries, apples, blueberries, kiwis, and more—to create cute, yet utterly delicious, insects. For example, make caterpillars from blueberries and toothpicks, butterflies from kiwi slices for wings, and beetles from apple bodies and blueberry eyes. The ways your child can get creative with this is truly endless, so let them have fun with it!

And if you need a way to make an antenna, use Airheads! Adding peanut butter or Nutella as a form of glue will also help. Your kids will love adding these sweet treats to their fruity insects.

Create more! Go crazy!

Now, that short list of crafts and activities is just a fraction of what is available to you and your child. Summer is long, but that doesn’t mean it has to be boring! We hope you use some, if not all, of these pest-themed summer activities for kids to not only entertain them—but also to educate them about insects, bugs, and pests.

Contact us at Vulcan Termite and Pest Control for more information!