Why Is A Bug Hotel For Kids Important?
Get outdoors and explore nature’s creepy crawlies, minibeasts and more! In this blog, we’ll guide you through the benefits of a bug hotel for kids and why it’s important for your children and garden wildlife.
What is a bug hotel?
A bug hotel (also known as a bug house) is a man-made building for small creatures & insects such as ladybirds, bees, woodlice, beetles and spiders to find shelter in the winter/ from the weather. These little air bee-n-bees are usually made from wood, logs, pinecones and other natural materials like straw and leaves to make bugs feel at home. The purpose of a children’s bug house is to help encourage biodiversity and make sure pollinators like bees and butterflies stay safe to help a range of plants grow. However, there are other reasons why a bug hotel might be beneficial. Explore our guide on why a bug hotel for kids is important below.
Educational benefits
Have you got little ones who are buzzing with energy? Getting them outdoors can help them blow off some steam and engage with the outdoors. A bug house or hotel can be a great way for kids to get outside and learn about nature & wildlife. Children can learn about all sorts of insects, what habitats they live in and why it's important to look after these bugs. Another benefit of a bug hotel (that sounds obvious) is that it encourages children to spend more time outside. Research has shown that outdoor play has a positive impact on kids’ social skills, physical development and creativity.
So not only will you be learning about wildlife, but helping your kid to become a well-rounded individual. Bug hotels will help kids to nurture their natural curiosity about the cycle of life and survival. By observing the minibeasts in their stick homes, kids can watch them change and find out more about how they live. This helps your tot develop their empathy skills as they start to care for nature and discover more about how you should treat living creatures.
Learning about bugs is important for kids because it teaches them how to engage safely with wildlife. A lot of adults may be a bit scared of bugs (i.e. that spider in the bathroom), which kids will pick up on, hindering their curiosity about these little creatures. By teaching kids about how bugs live, what they look like and how to safely observe them, your children will be able to stay inquisitive about the bugs they see in their daily lives in a way that (hopefully) won’t make your skin crawl! Learning about insects with a bug hotel may also help your kid’s mental wellbeing, as it can boost your little one’s confidence and allow them to feel empowered. Kids can tell their friends how brave they are looking after the creepy crawlies and bug adults with their knowledge of garden beasts.
You can build a bug house together to encourage their creativity and construction skills (this can be great for improving dexterity & motor skills!) or check out our premade bug hotel after this guide.
Earth-friendly fun
Bug hotels are not only important for kids, but for our environment too! Bug houses can be vital in protecting bees and other pollinating insects to help keep our earth happy and healthy. These pollinating bugs are very important as they help with the reproduction of many plants that help us breathe, and crops that humans rely on to eat and survive. By building habitats for these mini beasts, you and your little one can make a difference to our world. Many pollinators are declining in numbers, so by having a little bug hotel in your garden or at the allotment, you can keep these creatures cosy and hopefully increase the number of helpful critters in your area.
Another reason that bug hotels are important for the environment is that they are made of natural materials. You and your children can recycle garden waste like sticks, fallen leaves and dried flowers to build a bug house, so that they get another lease of life in the outdoors! These bug hotels are also great for adults growing bee-friendly plants and flowers, as they attract insects that keep away unwanted pests, so your tomatoes can stay safe from hungry beasts. This also reduces the need for pesticides, another great reason why bug hotels are fantastic for the earth.
Family activities
Bug houses make great children’s outdoor activities, but they can be fun for the whole family. Playing with a bug hotel together will help you to strengthen the bond with your little ones as you spend more time with each other, away from the business of everyday life and screens. Sharing this time together outside will help you to connect and pay attention to each other without the distraction of a smartphone, TV or tablet. By playing together in the garden, with a bug house or otherwise, you can foster a shared interest in nature and wildlife, giving you and your kids something to talk about for years to come. Your children will remember these happy moments with you and the reasons they’re so interested in creatures. Who knows you might even raise a future entomologist!
Bigjigs Toys Bug House
Take a peek into the lives of insects and little beasties with our larvae-ly wooden Bug House. Our bug hotel kit is designed like a comfy home for miniature wildlife and features a removable green roof, a bright red door, and windows to observe little creatures. This child-friendly design allows kids to get up close and personal with bugs in a safe way, helping them to learn about nature and engage in outdoor play. As you little ones open the box plants and discover bees and ladybugs, they will learn respect for the natural world and how important bugs are for our planet.
Our beautiful bug house is made from sustainably sourced materials and premium quality FSC® Certified wood, making it extra important for the environment.
More Kids' Outdoor Toys
Discover more of our bee-utiful garden toys & outdoor games on our website and enjoy exploring wildlife together.