Kid Activities, Crafts and Printables for Fun Learning and Creativity

Bug Themed Kid Lunch Ideas, Outdoor Activities, & The Love to Learn Linky #2

Happy Thursday! This post is packed with tons of stuff as we continue our bug themed week with some cute bug themed kid lunch ideas, some amazing outdoor activities I handpicked to share with you, and the Love to Learn Linky for other bloggers to share more kid related activities for all to enjoy, Yeah! So let’s get to it.
Recently I discovered “Food Art” as I call it, or Bento. I am not sure what makes something officially Bento but I figure if you make a picture out of your food it qualifies. I don’t always make food art, but Ms. Tiger always asks for it. So be warned, once you start you may never be asked to stop :). 
I try to keep my food art simple because I am not going for masterpiece, just recognizable pictures made out of healthy food. The pictures get the kids interested in their food and usually results in an empty plate. I figure an extra minute putting lunch together is worth it if it helps the food actually get consumed…the whole point of putting food on a plate right?… 
These ideas are to inspire, really it’s all about getting creative with whatever you keep in your fridge. 
1. Plate one is made with half an avocado as the bug body, mini bell pepper wings, ritz cracker head, 1/2 grape for each eye, and a mozzarella stick for dirt.
2. 1/2 a sandwich cut in triangles with sprinkles glued on with peanut butter, avocado pieces for grass, grapes for flowers, yellow bell pepper for sun, and I used my Betty Crocker food coloring pens to draw clouds, heart, and butterfly antennas on the plate. 
3. Red mini bell pepper bodies, banana wings, 1/2 cherry for each head, and a mozzarella stick for dirt.
On these kid lunch plates I also used bento tooth pick decorations. I use them often to decorate food or bring out for sensory play activities like in our play dough icecream activity. 
Now it’s time for The Love To Learn Linky #2
Love to Learn Linky
Thank you to all those who linked up last week for the 1st Love to Learn Linky party. We had an amazing turn out and we are so grateful for your support. Please continue to spread the word! This week I chose 4 Outdoor Activities for Kids to feature. Don’t forget to check out the other features that have been put together by my co-hosts Left Brain Craft Brain & Totschooling for more great ideas!

1. Vision Therapy in Disguise shared by Mosswood Connections
2. Garden Math Ideas shared by Stimulating Learning with Rachel
3. 20 Amazing Outdoor Music Stations shared by My Nearest and Dearest
4. X-is for Xylotheque shared by Eager Ed
Congratulations, grab your button! 
Love to Learn Linky Featured

Love to Learn Linky Featured

Now it’s time for some more links! Bloggers, share your posts every Thursday and watch as we round them up and share them all over the place. Almost anything goes, we’re just hoping your activities teach kids (or us!) something (science, art, cooking, behavior, crafting, parenting etc…).

The Love to Learn Linky is hosted by:

   a little pinch of perfect
A Little Pinch of Perfect: Katie combines creativity, play, and learning for the perfect mishmash of fun activities that keep kiddos entertained throughout the day. She wholeheartedly believes in the power of play and feels that all activities naturally provide a fun way to learn.

Left Brain Craft Brain
Left Brain Craft Brain: Anne is an ex-engineer, current stay-at-home mama writing about crafty ways to encourage creativity (and brain power!) in our kids. Each of her projects gives kids the chance to learn about a new subject and do something crafty at the same time.

  photo 86dc3214-616a-44fc-919e-39cbe9235c1b_zps229eaa2a.jpg
Totschooling: Viviana is a blogging mom to a toddler and a preschooler, sharing ideas and resources for early education. She specializes in unique, hands-on printable activities that are educational, fun and inspire creativity in young minds.


Love to Learn Linky Etiquette:

  • Posts should be about educating our kids in any way – science, art, cooking, crafts, behavior, parenting, etc. Please keep them family friendly and please no Etsy shops or giveaways unless they are relevant to the topic.
  • Upload your direct post link to the InLinkz widget. Link up to 3 posts.
  • Like the hosts on Facebook: A Little Pinch of Perfect,  Totschooling, Left Brain Craft Brain.
  • Or follow the hosts on Pinterest: A Little Pinch of Perfect, Left Brain Craft Brain, Totschooling
  • Post our button on your site.
  • By linking up, you agree to have your images shared with credit.

Link up and grab a button! 

Love to Learn Linky Featured

Love to Learn Linky Featured

Click here to enter the linky: An InLinkz Link-up

Filed Under: Butterfly, Food, Food Art, Insects, Love to Learn Linky, Lunch, Uncategorized

Top Resources

Comments

  1. If these Cheerios could talk... says

    Cute Bug Food! I'm right there with you in keeping food art simple. It's definitely worth the extra minute; my oldest can't get enough "Egg Mice" for breakfast – hard-boiled egg, matchstick carrots and slivered almonds!

    • Katie says

      Thanks so much for the compliment and the great idea. I am going to have to try out Egg Mice, I just hope my hard boiled eggs work right…I have the hardest time with boiled eggs which is so frustrating. LOL 🙂

  3. Ashlee Kasten says

    So cute! Isn't it fun to let them "play" with their food? We do lots of silly things with our food over here. I just look at it like I'm garnishing a two-year-old's plate! : )

    • Katie says

      Hi Ashlee, thanks for visiting. I love the idea of thinking about it as garnishing. It is fun to let the kids play with their food. My kids like to make their food walk around the plate before eating it.

  4. Michelle Nahom says

    That is so cute and very creative! Love it! My kids are older now, and would probably laugh, but maybe once I have grandkids…. Thanks for linking it up with us at Foodie Fridays!

    • Katie says

      Hi Michelle thanks for stopping by. I am guessing there comes a point where making pictures out of food would seem a little silly… the teenager me probably would have been embarrassed. Thank goodness I have kids so I can play with my good again. LOL 🙂 Have a good day!

  5. Cathy Mini says

    My mom only ever made me "ants on a log" to eat as a kid for fun, but you've definitely taken it to the next level! Great post!

    Cheers,
    ~Cathy Mini~
    OurMiniFamily.com