Button Ladybugs DIY Learning Resource for Early Years
Ladybugs are the first “bugs” my kids look for on warm days. They’re the first bugs every spring to get hand-made homes, official “pet” status, and kid-made picnics held in their honor. The kids usually build a new “ladybug habitat” every week! Naturally, ladybugs are also a favorite animal to read about and play and learn with! We made these clip-able button ladybugs to go with one of our favorite preschool books: 10 Little Ladybugs by Melanie Gerth.
10 Little Ladybugs is a rhyming book that starts with ten ladybugs and counts down to one little ladybug, “sitting all alone.” But, in the end, all ten ladybugs (and ten of their garden friends) find themselves at “home!” It is a charming book with cutouts, bright pictures, and touch-able textures that my kids start to love as soon as they can touch the ladybugs and poke their fingers through the holes.
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Our clippy button ladybugs have read the book with us, acted it out on paper, been clipped to sticks, and taken all over the house and yard. They are wonderful for counting, dramatizing, and just playing with! We’ve even had fun counting and adding the dots together!
You can make an activity out of making the little ladybugs or make them yourself and pull them out for play and learning with your kids!
How to make the Button Ladybugs
All you need to make your own are buttons, acrylic paint (red, black, and white), clothespins, and hot glue. I used white, clear, and red buttons. The red ones were definitely the easiest, but they all worked fine. Paint your buttons red first and let it dry. Obviously, if you use red buttons, you get to skip this step! I actually want to make some colored ladybugs next time! When the red paint is dry, add the black head, line down the middle, and dots on the side. After the black dries, add two white eyes. When the white is dry, glue your new little button ladybugs to your clothespins! Ta da! Cute little clip-able button ladybugs!!
Next time you read 10 Little Ladybugs, place your clip-able ladybugs next to a stick and let your preschooler count along. Or see if your kiddo can re-tell the story in their own words with the ladybugs as props! You can even take them outside and see what the “real” ladybugs think of them! We’ll be clipping some onto the next “ladybug habitat” our kids make!
Carla is a science teacher turned homeschooling mom of four who shares preschool and homeschool ideas, resources, and freebies at Preschool Powol Packets! She loves a good hike, steamy curry, fun experiments, and (most of all!) her family!
You can get more great ideas and inspiration for preschool and homeschool at her PreschoolPowolPackets Facebook Page, Pinterest, Twitter, Inst