Does anyone in your family like butterflies? The Little Explorer is pretty much obsessed with them. When he was very young, he was happy chasing butterflies. But as he got older, he was ready to become a butterfly watcher. Here’s what we’ve done to foster his sense of wonder and interest in these magical, winged creatures:
- Learn what butterflies are native to your area using a local field guide, which you can buy or check out from a library.
- Use binoculars or practice getting close up to spot a butterfly’s unique features. Look for colors and markings on the wings, its size – even how it flies.
- Take photos of butterflies to identify them later.
- Use a butterfly net to capture a butterfly, identify it, then release it. Be careful not to touch the butterfly if possible.
- Adopt a caterpillar and watch it grow into a butterfly. Seeing the entire metamorphosis up close is simply amazing for kids and adults alike. We were hooked when we raised ours! You can order butterfly kits online if you’d like to try.
- Consider planting a butterfly garden. Then watch to see what visitors stop by. Michele at FunOrangeCountyParks.com has a great story about some monarch butterflies in the school garden.
- Take a field trip to learn more. Our local natural history museum houses live butterflies during the summer, where we can see different varieties and learn more about them from experts.
🙂
When we raised our caterpillars, I couldn't believe how much we all enjoyed it. There's something magical about butterflies – I'm convinced of it!
We just release some butterflies that we raised from caterpillars. I thought it would be interesting, but I was surprised at how much I loved watching them.
Butterfly watching and Bird Watching …. my favorite things!!!<br />