Fun Littles

Fun and easy kids activities

Sticky Ladybug Craft

Apr 10, 20149,393 views
Crafts
Ages2–5 yrs
Prep25 min
Activity15 min
Leveleasy
MessLow
Works for1:1 · Small group · Class

Build a big ladybug from black poster board and sticky-side-up red contact paper wings, then let little ones press black paper spots onto the sticky wings. It is a simple fine motor workout even toddlers can do, and it ends up as window decor.

⚠️ Safety first

  • An adult handles the scissors and does the cutting.
  • Googly eyes are a choking hazard. An adult attaches them firmly, and close supervision is needed with toddlers who mouth things.
  • Supervise toddlers so they don't mouth the small paper spots.

Before the kids arrive

  • Trace a large circle on the black poster board and on the red contact paper, using a foil pie plate as a template, then cut both out.
  • Trace and cut a head and lots of smaller spots (circles) from the same black poster board.
  • Cut two black antennae.
  • Involve an older sibling in the preparation if you have one.

Steps

  1. Adult: without peeling the backing off, cut the red contact paper circle into 2 halves.

  2. Adult: flip each half sticky side up and carefully remove the backing.

  3. Adult: glue the 2 halves to the black poster board circle, sticky side facing you, leaving a little black body showing between them.

  4. Adult: attach the head, googly eyes and antennae.

  5. Set out the black spots in a small dish next to the ladybug.

  6. Pick up a spot and press it onto the sticky red wings.

  7. Keep adding spots until the ladybug is covered the way you like.

  8. Tape the finished ladybug to a window.

Tips

  • Contact paper works like a charm when doing fine motor activities with toddlers.from the author
  • Cut the contact paper into 2 halves before peeling the sticky backing off. That makes it much easier to handle.from the author
  • It needs *some* preparation, but it is not that bad in terms of time, money and energy.from the author
  • My 5.5 year old helped with the preparation. I always try to involve her when I prepare my 3 year old's activities.from the author

Make it your own

  • Hang the finished ladybug on a window.
  • Try more contact paper fine motor play: sticky garden, sticky apple tree, sticky yarn and sticky scavenger hunt.

The story behind it

By TurkeyMom · April 2014
Fine Motor Activities : Sticky Lady Bug Craft
Gotta love ladybugs, right? This kids craft doubles as a fun fine motor activity even toddlers can do, and even the little ones get a fine motor workout.
1 / 5

Sticky Ladybug Craft: the original post

Gotta love ladybugs right? This kids craft which doubles as a fun fine motor activity even toddlers can do is pretty straight forward. Although this lady bug craft needs some preparation it is not that bad in terms of time, money and energy. A big plus is the fine motor workout even the little ones get. Here is the “how-to” Materials ( Click on these links to take you the product page) - Black Poster Board { available at most craft stores and dollar stores} Solid Red Contact Paper { Occasionally available at office supplies stores} Googly Eyes { available at most craft stores and dollar stores} materials for ladybug craft I used a foil pie plate to trace a large circle on both the poster board and the red contact paper. I also traced out smaller spots (circles) and a head using the same poster board. Cut out black antennae for the bug. Without peeling the sticky back off of the contact paper I cut it into 2 halves. Then I flipped the contact paper with sticky side up and carefully removed the backing. Now I glued the 2 halves of the contact paper (sticky side facing towards you) to the black poster board with a little bit of black ( the body) showing. Attach eyes and antennae. Set out the “spots” ( black circles from the poster board) { My 5.5 year old helped with this preparation. I always try to involve her during preparation for my 3 year old’s activities}

ladybug craft activities with sticky bug

Then it is time to get those spots on the lady bug. Contact paper works like a charm when doing fine motor activities with toddlers. Have you seen our “sticky garden” and “sticky apple tree”? Don’t forget our**“sticky yarn” and “sticky scavenger hunt”**

fine motor activities with lady bug theme

I taped the lady bug on our window.

sticky lady bug on the window

Thanks for reading

Feel free to pin this

Fine Motor Activities : Sticky Lady Bug Craft

If you are looking for a more “save it and play over and again” type of activity - take a look at my friend Stephanie’s “Lady Bug Counting and Matching Set” — you will love it.

What readers say

No comments yet. Be the first to tell us how it went.

Tried it?

Reviewed before it appears. No links, and please no children's names.

Similar activities

🛒 Materials