Preview draft. Activities have not been tested with caregivers.
A little plan for play
Open interactive activity →Add to play journal →What you need
Paper and large child-appropriate crayons.
Age: 3–5 years; choose for the individual child.
Stay with the child throughout. Check the space and supplies, including anything within reach of younger siblings. Skip any activity that is unsuitable. Stop if a child puts non-food material in their mouth or becomes distressed. Use intact books, full sheets of paper, a large child-appropriate crayon and a clean, dry towel. Follow product labels; remove torn paper and keep broken crayons and caps away from children. Adult handles and stores supplies.
Set up: Choose an insect picture to look at together, such as a beetle.
Adult's role: Stay beside the child and help count the legs.
Let's make it happen
- Notice the insect's head, middle, and back body sections in the picture.
- Draw three connected shapes for those sections. Add six legs to the middle section, counting them together.
- Add two antennae on the head and any colors or patterns you choose.
Make it simpler: Draw the insect body and count legs as an adult adds them.
Clean up: Put away the paper and crayons.
Observe live insects from a distance. Do not touch or collect wildlife.