Finding ladybugs is a great indication the warmer weather has arrived. Here is a fun craft your toddlers can do with you to welcome these cute little bugs.
What you'll need:
3 small paper plates
Red and black paint
Red and black construction paper
Disposable foam paint brushes
Scissors
Googly eyes
Glue
Hole punch
Pipe cleaners
How to make your Paper Plate Ladybug:
Cut the center circle out of one of the paper plates. Paint the circle black.
Paint the second paper plate (the whole plate) black.
Cut the third paper plate in half and then paint both halves red.
Glue the black circle to the underside of the black paper plate.
Glue the red halves to the black paper plate body so that they are split a little bit (so you can see some of the black body underneath them).
Dip the handle end of one of the paint brushes in black paint and use it to make the spots on the red ladybug wings.
Cut 6 thin strips of black construction paper that are all the same length. Accordian fold the strips and glue them onto the underside of the body, 3 on each side.
Use your hole punch (or if you don't have a hole punch have an adult poke two holes in the ladybug's head with scissors) to punch two holes in the ladybug's head near the body. Stick half of a pipe cleaner into each hole and twist very slightly at the bottom so they don't fall out.
Glue two googly eyes onto the head.
Cut a smile out of red construction paper and glue onto the head.