10 Cool Bug Toys in 2018

The best way to study other living organisms is in their natural environment, out there in the wild. We’re not saying that your child should also venture into the wilderness. What we are saying is that he or she can take some twigs, grass, or even fallen leaves where insects happen to reside and then place these altogether inside the Toysmitth Backyard Exploration Critter Case. Just think of it as a dog kennel kind of temporary shelter for bugs, critters, and insects so your kid can get to study them a lot closer and with their natural environment partially undisturbed. The Backyard Exploration Critter Case may not be your idea of insect toys but it sure can provide a fantastic opportunity for children to safely observe insects and critters a lot closer and without the risk of being bitten, stung, or even left with very itchy substances. The Critter Case has flattened base to help secure it against accidental tipping over or being knocked over. The tubular body is made of high grade plastic screen frame and completed with mesh fabric on both sides of the case. There’s a hatch that can be easily opened so your child can easily deposit and remove plants, twigs, branches, leaves, and even his or her insect guests. The Critter Case comes with a sturdy carry handle for optimum transportation.

BENEFITS

This sturdy build is best for wild adventurers. It can hold sticks and leaves along with the bugs which gives a better observation in the natural environment. With the ability to hold a lot, high energy kids can collect whatever they would like, keeping busy for hours. The mesh give a view from multiple angles for maximum observation. The simplistic design of the door makes it easy for little ones to open and close while working on their hand-eye coordination. When you’re done playing with these bugs, it’s simple to dump out and start collecting again.

Pros

• Not easily spilled
• Simple design
• Large observation area
• Safe for bugs

Cons

• Some bugs might chew through mesh
• Door doesn’t lock shut

Most adults are squeamish every time they see a cockroach or even a spider or any kind of crawlers and critters. Some are morbidly afraid of centipedes and scorpions and even tarantulas. That’s why there are also some people who love to play pranks on these individuals by purchasing insect toys and toy bugs that are almost as real as their counterparts in the real world. One such plaything is the Darice 16-Piece Plastic Insects. Al of these bugs measure about 2 inches in length so it would really freak out someone who is mysophobic or germophobic of ordinary flies since these don’t necessarily grow 2 inches in real life. Such is the realism of the craftsmanship of some of these Darice bugs. We said some because not all of these come with realistic features or even colors. The only critters that we think come really close to representing the real animals in the wild include the fly, the spider, and the ant. The grasshopper and the caterpillar also look real but are missing in some detail. Nevertheless, detailed or not, these can be fascinating insect toys for kids since it’s a great introductory tool to the world of arthropods.

BENEFITS

These plastic insects have detailed design in flexible plastic which is perfect for sensory exploration. They work perfectly for bathtime and for learning anatomy. Science lovers will love the hands-on education with the variety of insects. Older kids can learn different names of species and types of bugs while little ones can still explore the body parts and different shapes. Don’t forget to pull out a bug book to play some matching games to take this toy to the next level. These bugs are even sturdy enough to withstand younger, handsy children. Bonus points if you manage to scare someone!

Pros

• Realistic features
• Great for sensory exploration
• Many learning opportunities
• Good variety of insects and colors

Cons

• Does not state that it’s BPA free

If you can remember the classic fishing game where you have wooden blocks of fish fully embedded with rings that you’d have to hook, the Melissa & Doug Magnetic Wooden Bug-Catching Puzzle Game is just that. It’s a wonderful wooden puzzle that features insects in the garden like a grasshopper, a butterfly, a spider, a firefly, a caterpillar, a dragonfly, a bee, a ladybug, and a moth. Your kids will have plenty of fun catching these insects with his or her magnetic net which will stick to the magnets atop each of these lovely insects. Melissa & Doug has always been known for incorporating a variety of learning concepts in their toys. In the Bug-Catching Puzzle Game, kids are destined to expand their vocabulary with the names of these insects and help enhance their language development. Kids, too, can master their spatial intelligence, motor and visual coordination, and balance to fish these insect toys from the puzzle board. It even helps reinforce their knowledge of colors. Just think of the Bug-Catching Puzzle Game as a very bug-gy board game designed specifically for young kids.

BENEFITS

This traditional fishing game has a fun, colorful twist. These insects pieces are caught by a magnetic “net” which develops hand-eye coordination. While actively playing, kids can also expand their vocabulary and knowledge of our outdoor environment. It is engaging and fuels children’s imagination. Ages 3 and up can be inspired to explore and pushed to increase their curiosity. Children are also encouraged to be independent with this solo game and grow their fine motor skills and use of tools.

Pros

• Colorful and eye-catching
• Engaging learning tool
• Adds knowledge of nature and the environment
• Improves hand-eye coordination
• Easy to use for toddler age children

Cons

• Puzzle pieces may become lost

For those who are familiar with sport fishing where you catch a fish, take some measurements, admire the beauty of the catch, document the whole thing, and then release the fish back into the water, then they will also understand just what the Carson BugView is all about. The mechanism of the BugView is pretty much similar to a fishing rod, hook, and line following a catch and release protocol. Kids will be catching insects with the BugView, trapping the bugs in the device’s clear dome, and observe the bugs or critters through the clear dome. Catching bugs is made humanely possible and easier, too. It doesn’t involve squishing or even destroying the natural habitat of these critters. Best of all, the clear dome can actually magnify its contents – your bugs – up to 5 times, thanks to an integrated acrylic lens in the design. Our suggestion is for kids to try operating the BugView on some toy bugs first to gain confidence in the use of the device. Once confidence has been established, then they can readily set out in the backyard and hunt for their own bugs. Just remind them to release the poor creatures after done examining them, though.

BENEFITS

This bug view is perfect for a budding scientist who has already developed some coordination. The viewing window allows you to observe the finest details on all types of insects. With this, kids never have to touch the bugs and risk getting bit or hurting them. The sliding door captures them safely and you can immediately release them as soon as you’re done watching them. Even parents love being able to catch and relocate uninvited guests found in the house.

Pros

• Magnified view
• Safe way to capture bugs
• One year limited warranty
• Perfect for catch and release

Cons

• Can be difficult to operate

For kids who already had a terrarium or even an aquarium, they already know how it’s like to watch animals grow in their habitat. That’s exactly what the Insect Lore Ladybug Growing Kit Toy promises. These are not insect toys for kids because these are habitats that are designed specifically for raising beautiful ladybugs from larvae. Each purchase of the Ladybug Growing Kit entitles you to a voucher which you can use to obtain 15 to 20 ladybug larvae which will be shipped separately. Also included in the larvae shipment are special instructions on the care of these immature bugs and their special food. Your kid can then place the larvae in the volcano diorama where these will form cocoons and emerge as beautiful Francis’ from A Bug’s Life. The whole experience will be priceless as your kid gets to grow these lovely insects right in the comfort of home. There are special gels on the volcano reservoir for the larvae to thrive on. The dome of the Insect Lore is built like one huge magnifying glass so kids can easily see their work in progress. We strongly recommend, however, that kids release the ladybugs a few days after turning into adult forms so they can work their wonders in your garden.

BENEFITS

Kids love to watch the life cycle of ladybugs while learning about their transformations. After the bugs are done with their metamorphosis, you can release them into your yard so they can benefit your garden. Then the life cycle can start over again in your backyard. This is also perfect for classroom settings. The dome lid allows viewing from all angles as the larvae grow into adult ladybugs. We recommend young biologists to keep a journal to record all observations like activity level and how they transform.

Pros

• Educational tool
• Magnifier at the top
• 360-degree view
• Includes watering area and food
• Repurchase larvae over again

Cons

• Some insects may not survive
• Requires maintenance

Designed specifically for pretend and play activities, the Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Bag of Bugs are just the perfect insect toys for kids who love nothing else but to explore their natural environment. Now, parents can feel more confident and more secure every time their kids set out in the garden in search of colorful bugs as you will be using the Sunny Patch critters as wonderful hide-and-hunt tools to train your child’s observational and exploratory skills. It can also be played as a sorting game since the sturdy plastic insect toys come as two of each kind. So you get a pair of centipedes, grasshoppers, June beetles, ants, and ladybugs. These also come in vibrant colors so kids can also use color as a sorting parameter. Their language abilities as well as motor skills can also be enhanced just playing with the Sunny Patch bugs. These are very friendly insects that will never bite your kid.

BENEFITS

These colorful bugs can be used for numerous games. Little ones can learn to count, sort and match with the 10 creepy crawlies. Add some outdoor time by playing in your yard to hunt for these fun critters while working on color recognition. This sturdy plastic is safe and well made so kids can be entertained for hours without fear of breaking off pieces. Recreating “bug homes” and different environments pushes children to develop their imagination and creates a love of nature and all creatures.

Pros

• Bright, fun colors
• Tactical stimulation
• Well made, sturdy plastic
• Variety of bugs
• Multitude of games to play

Cons

• Not realistic looking

A lot of people don’t look at the Scientific Explorer Backyard Kit as anything resembling toy bugs or insect toys. It’s a kit, that’s for sure. And it’s especially designed for exploration. Your kid gets a 2-way bug viewer for magnifying even the smallest critter he or she can find, serving as a portable field microscope. It also comes with a bug net for catching specimen and a collecting case for keeping and organizing catch. There are tweezers so your child doesn’t really have to hold the bugs or critters he or she has caught. And in case your little angel doesn’t know how to proceed with the exploration, he or she can simply follow the accompanying guide where he or she can make a sundial or even a “worm” hotel. The science kit also guides your kid to experiment with shadows. The Backyard Kit offers young explorers the chance to really get up close and personal with the critters and bugs that live right in their backyard.

BENEFITS

One way to learn about bugs is up close and personal. With this kit, you can do everything a scientist does. Magnifying glass observes the tiniest of insect with tons of other tools to explore the outdoors. Don’t forget to write down everything you learn! Kids can even make a sundial experiment and learn about the sun and space. It also can be used as a worm hotel or observing space for other live bugs. Overall this kit comes with everything necessary to have tons of outdoor fun while making sure your kids never stop learning.

Pros

• Versatile
• Includes many tools
• Up-close learning and observations
• Expands natural curiosity
• Creates compassion for nature

Cons

• Some projects require things not included

Looking for real insect toys? How about the Wild Republic’s 10-piece Polybag Insect? These are way better-looking, more realistic than the other toy bugs we have in this particular list. The details of each of these creatures are so life-like that you wouldn’t really believe them to be playthings. At the very least, this should help young children hold these creatures without having to worry about getting nasty bites or itchiness because these can supplant the real creatures they represent. These bugs are also huge and are constructed of very durable materials. These also make for superb décor in your kid’s room. However your little one intends to play with these, he or she is guaranteed to have a better understanding of these members of the animal kingdom.

BENEFITS

These life-like, giant bugs are perfect for some fun education. The bugs are unique types of beetles and insects that kids can learn about. Kids can see all the details up close without fear of bug bites or stings. Adults can even use these in a classroom setting for everyone to learn about all the different species of bugs. The accurate details can teach kids about anatomy and create a compassion for all creatures.

Pros

• Realistic
• Variety of insects
• Durable with a high-quality construction
• Detailed and colorful
• Cultivates creativity

Cons

• Might have trouble figuring out what species the insects are

It’s never too early to introduce members of the insect world to infants or babies. In fact, if you’re going to get the Melissa & Doug Deluxe Bug Jug Fill and Spill Soft Baby Toy, we promise you your baby will appreciate you for life. The Bug Jug is actually a see-through jug that comes with a lid made of mesh. There’s only one function of the Bug Jug: to provide a home to 4 lovable, plush, and adorable bugs that include a butterfly, a grasshopper, a ladybug, and a spider. What’s amazing is that these 4 little friends come with built-in sensory toys such as a rattle, a squeaker, a crinkle, and a jingle bell. These are important for auditory stimulation. Helping develop babies’ tactile senses are the different fabric materials used in the construction of each of these bugs, not to mention how soft they feel to the touch. And with soft yet lovable colors, too, you have just completed the troika of sensory development for infants.

BENEFITS

This interesting toy is one of a kind. The concept is still simple enough for younger kids to increase their fine motor skills. There are different rattles, squeaks and crinkles for babies to explore and work on sensory development. Bright and fun patterns are perfect to start introducing colors. Perfectly developed for little hands to practice “filling and spilling” and develop their hand-eye coordination.

Pros

• Sensory development
• Improves fine motor skills
• Lid is attached
• Bright and colorful
• Fosters imagination

Cons

• Some kids may have difficulty with the small opening

What if you have toy bugs that can serve as a great introduction to early math concepts such as counting and sorting? That would be great, wouldn’t it? In that case, you’d better get the Bug Counters Set from Learning Resources. There’s actually two each of six different bugs in 6 different colors so you get a total of 72 counters. There are grasshoppers, dragonflies, bumblebees, caterpillars, beetles, and spiders in 6 different colors. Each of these bugs are made of soft rubber making the processes of sorting, classifying, grouping, counting, and patterning of these creatures superbly wonderful. These are conveniently stored in a clear plastic tub so any time your kid wants to hone his or her counting and math skills, then it’s as easy as opening the lid and pouring all of its contents. With such number of critters, your kid will sure master some of the basic math concepts early on.

BENEFITS

There are so many games and ways to play with these counters. Perfect for introducing concepts such as counting, sorting, and colors. Older kids can create patterns with the different colors and bug types. Younger kids can match colors and name them. All different age groups can benefit from the versatility of these counters. The details and textures can develop tactile senses while having fun with bugs.

Pros

• Many different games
• Works for a wide range of ages
• Soft rubber for hands-on learning
• Packaging can be reused for storage

Cons

• Can be distracting instead of educational