Exploring nature and expressing interest in wildlife is one of the purest trademarks of childhood. From bird watching to bug hunting, children express a natural curiosity towards the wildlife they encounter--even in their own backyards. One of the most beloved little critters for kids to enjoy is the monarch butterfly. From their distinctive orange wings to their fascinating caterpillar stage, monarch butterflies are genuinely charming.
If your little bug enthusiast is interested in learning more about monarch butterflies, we have some valuable resources to help you cultivate their interest.
What Kids Need To Know About Monarch Butterflies
When it comes to teaching young explorers about the world of monarch butterflies, there are a few things we recommend showcasing to your child to help them learn more about the monarch butterfly.
The Life Cycle of Monarch Butterflies
The life cycle of the monarch butterfly captures the interest of kids. Monarch butterflies undergo a metamorphosis in a four-stage development cycle: egg, caterpillar, pupa, and butterfly. The transformation process is impressive, and each stage is uniquely distinctive from the next. So as kids go through their own stages of development, admittedly a longer and more complicated process, it can be fun for kids to imagine what it is like for a tiny caterpillar to grow up into a beautiful butterfly. And perhaps even dream about what their own adult life will look like as well.
As kids learn about the stages of development for monarch butterflies, they can sharpen their observational skills and point out which characteristics have changed with each stage. You can learn more about the details of a butterfly’s life cycle here.
Habitat
Your little scientist will appreciate learning where monarch butterflies live, and it allows caretakers to teach their children about where they live in relation to the monarch butterfly. Monarch butterflies live across North America. During the summer, monarch butterflies live in the northern part of the continent, reaching the southernmost part of Canada. In the fall, monarch butterflies will migrate south to Mexico and California, where they spend the entire winter. Pull out a map with your child and take a look at where these regions are, and be sure to find where you live too! Teaching kids about the monarch butterfly’s habitat can be an excellent opportunity to learn about geography.
Monarch Butterflies Are In Trouble!
It’s important to teach kids about the real problems facing the monarch butterfly population. The overuse of pesticides, intensive agricultural development practices, and urban development are threatening monarch butterflies homes. This can be an excellent opportunity to teach your child about the importance of protecting our environment. It’s never too early to teach your child about environmental impact. How can we help the monarch butterfly population? Start a butterfly garden. Monarch butterflies eat milkweed and adding some milkweed to your garden can help give the monarch butterflies some much-needed support. Be sure to grow pesticide-free milkweed and watch as your garden begins to attract more monarch butterflies to your home. Creating a little monarch habitat at home will help encourage your child to be more mindful of the environment of others.
Activities For Your Monarch Butterfly Enthusiast
There are countless butterfly activities you can do with your child. Depending on their abilities and interest, you may find yourself trying more than one of these at home--maybe try them all!
Draw Pictures
Monarch butterflies are beautiful and have such distinctive patterns on their wings. There are so many coloring sheets out there that you can choose from. Personally, I love the ones provided here. They are easy to print, provide lots of options, and are importantly free, so go ahead and print as many copies as you need. Kids will love coloring in their monarch butterfly picture and practicing putting their own observational skills to the test--what color is the monarch butterfly? Be sure to have orange crayons on hand.
Take Pictures
We live in a world that loves taking pictures, and our kids are no different. If you have the ability to give your child a disposable camera or possibly use yours, kids can make believe they are wildlife photographers like our friend Mia. Having a friend like Mia can spark new interest in wildlife appreciation, not just for monarch butterflies, but for all kinds of other creatures that your child can explore and observe.
Raise Caterpillars
This one takes some commitment, but it’s genuinely a memorable activity your child will love. Raising caterpillars in your home is a unique experience that provides countless learning opportunities for your child. You can find helpful resources to help raise caterpillars into monarch butterflies here. It is important to know that this activity is quite a commitment. You will need resources for your caterpillars and a container to keep them safe. However, it is truly valuable and gives your budding explorer an in-home opportunity to learn daily about the life cycle of the monarch butterfly. Learning truly happens best at home; encouraging your child by engaging in their interest can create lifelong learning skills for your child.
Final Thoughts
Monarch butterflies are fascinating creatures; it’s no wonder why children go through a butterfly phase. All children go through phases of life where they express so much interest in a subject they care about, whether it is dinosaurs, animals, or butterflies. We truly believe that every interest can be turned into a learning opportunity. Continually practicing learning skills for your child based on their interests can create invaluable lifelong STEM skills. We hope your try some of these activities in your own home; whether it is a simple coloring page or raising caterpillars in your home, showing children you care about their interests is an act of love.
