Ladybugs (or Ladybirds, for our UK friends) are one of the first insects to emerge in the spring. California doesn’t have much of a winter anyhow, and on our after-dinner walk yesterday we came across a swarm of ladybugs!
Learning About Ladybugs
What You'll Find on This Page
Since the ladybugs (or Coccinellidae, if you want to use their scientific name) were everywhere, the kids had plenty of opportunities to gently observe them up close. It was really neat to see the different shell markings, and to watch them crawl around until they got tired of visiting with us and spread their wings to fly:
Johnny had one ladybug that flew from one hand to the other, so we got to see the wings slowly retracting:
Until they vanished entirely as the shell plates (called Elytra) close.
One ladybug liked us so much that he caught a ride home on Emma’s shirt. We decided to leave it on a flower near our home.
Ladybug Books for Kids
Do your kids love ladybugs? Here are some great books about and featuring ladybugs – some non-fiction and some fiction! This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.
- First Discovery books are lovely, and The Ladybug and Other Insects is no exception. This non-fiction text introduces kids to the life cycle of the ladybug, bringing it to life with spiral-bound transparencies for some of the illustrations.
- Julia Donaldson’s What the Ladybug Heard is a wonderful story about how you can make a BIG difference even if you are very small. It also makes wonderful use of friendship and teamwork.
- Yoo-Hoo, Ladybug! by Mem Fox. This hide and find book is one of my toddler’s all-time favorites!
- Ladybug Girl by David Soman is the first in a series of fictional books about a spunky girl who wears a ladybug costume and enjoys the beauty of pretend play. This is a lovely book for preschoolers and kindergartners.
Last year we found our first ladybug in February! Are you seeing any signs of spring where you live? Do you have a favorite book that features a ladybug?
After School Activities for Kids Aged 5-12
 
The Educators’ Spin On It, Boy Mama Teacher Mama, Mama Smiles, The Measured Mom, Planet Smarty Pants, Relentlessly Fun Deceptively Educational, This Reading Mama
These posts stood out to me from last week’s linky:
- Creating Effective Morning Routines for Your Elementary School Child from The Educators’ Spin On It
- 5 Different Activities for 6 Lines of Tape from Hands On: As We Grow
- Balloon Archery Games from Brain Power Boy
What learning and playing is your family enjoying after school? Did you celebrate Pi Day on Saturday? If you share your family’s activities below, I or one of the other linky hosts may feature your post next week and to pin it to our After School Activities board on Pinterest!
MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.
I love ladybugs too. I think they are good luck. We tried to raise them from eggs though, and were not successful.
What an amazing discovery! A swarm of ladybugs . . . are you kidding my kids would be totally thrilled! Ladybugs are perfectly enchanting.
We are currently on the lookout for the monarchs that migrate through Texas each Spring. And Miss Enigma is on the lookout for fairies. She has been busy making fairy houses in our garden.
I used to LOVE lady bugs as a kid – thanks for reminding me of the sweet lessons to be taught!
I love ladybugs! Such a great insect to discover!
You got some amazing pictures of the ladybugs. My kids loved “The Grouchy Ladybug” when they were little.
We love ladybugs (all except for A, who hates all bugs). It’s a little early for them to show up here, but we’re looking forward to spotting the first one of spring.
Great photos! I’ve been missing nature photos from you, probably because of all the dry weather you’ve endured.
What a neat experience to see a whole swarm of ladybirds :) together!
A toddler-favourite here is Ten Little Ladybugs. Looking forward to checking out the ones you recommended!
The dry weather combined with the fact that I no longer have nature right outside my door – so I have to think to bring my camera when we go on walks and outings to places that do have nature.
I absolutely love ladybirds – it’s not yet warm enough for them to arrive – but we have been recording each year when we see them and this year is possibly the latest one and yet no snow… I hope that they are going to survive.
A little known fact my Mum’s thesis was on Ladybirds as pollution indicators :D
Wow that’s some amazing photos if you were able to capture their wings extended! My kids love ladybugs too, though we don’t get them as much (and so they’re even more of a find when we do).
Thanks! I really enjoyed capturing them on film.