When it’s backyard exploration time for bugs, insects, and other entomological specimens — whether buzzing in the air or wriggling on the ground…
First-time bug hunters need a bug catcher to capture AND a critter case to contain the insect.
Friends like the robust grasshopper, curious caterpillar, and angelic butterfly. Foes like the hairy spider, yucky slug, and unbearable fruit fly.
Get your toddler’s bug catcher set together — you never know when the rarest, juiciest, most-sought-after type of real insect might show up!
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Best Toddler Insect Catcher Kit
We’re out for real bugs found in nature. When I’m on the hunt for a special creepy crawly — and OMG there it is! Good thing I’ve got my trusty bug tool pack.
I can catch, cage, examine, and release with my top-notch bug catcher collection. Start with these eco-adventurous top picks:
- (01) Matty’s Toy Stop Carry-Along Wooden Bug House (3 Pack)
- (02) Darice Wooden Insect Box with Take-Along Rope Handle
- (03) Out on a Limb Natural Wood Bug and Critter Cage
- (04) B. Toys Bug Bungalow Complete Insect Catching Kit
- (05) Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Bug House Toy with Carrying Handle
- (06) Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Butterfly Home with Swivel Butterfly Door
- (07) Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Giddy Buggy Kids Bug-Catching Net
- (08) Restcloud Professional Extendable Insect and Butterfly Net
- (09) M-Jump Telescopic Outdoor Bug & Butterfly Catching Net (3 Pack)
- (10) TickiT Toddler Wooden Magnifying Hand Lens for Examining Bugs
- (11) Beauy Girl “Bug’s Eye View / Bee Eye” Wooden Toddler Kaleidoscope
- (12) Manhattan Toy “Little Insect Photographer” Wooden Pretend Camera
(01) Matty’s Toy Stop Carry-Along Wooden Bug House (3 Pack)
This deluxe critter cage is great to engage the little explorers in some outdoor activity and explore nature closely. The colors are vibrant to make it a really amusing and adorable gift for children (also suitable for the children with special needs) for school, pre-school, for observing and exploring live backyard bugs scientifically rather than getting bored or learning through flashcards, pictures and books only.
(02) Darice Wooden Insect Box with Take-Along Rope Handle
Very light-weight and reasonably small size to be a bug’s next door. This unique wooden bug catcher is very suitable for backyard play and art & crafts projects for school children because of its size. Very handy and easy to carry with taking along the rope for a garden trip on holiday or educational outdoor bug-hunting activity for the little explorers.
(03) Out on a Limb Natural Wood Bug and Critter Cage
Having this handmade bug and critter cage is great for a meaningful outdoor family time pass and bug hunting activity. The screened sides and easy sliding door are both functional and helpful to keep the critters safely packed inside the cage. Perfect size for little hands and professionally well-constructed. Made with natural and unfinished pinewood, this cage is longer lasting than other wooden cages.
(04) B. Toys Bug Bungalow Complete Insect Catching Kit
Having this bug-catching kit is an enriching experience for toddlers and children. The cage is roomy enough to capture a variety of bugs and butterflies. The screen-in lid and the magnifying glass allow the children to inspect the bugs and butterflies by zooming in. The tweezer is suitable for the tiny hands to pick up the bugs and release them back into their habitat after observation. And lastly, the handle is sturdy to carry the cage anywhere in the backyard, garden, or beach.
(05) Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Bug House Toy with Carrying Handle
This cheerful, eye-popping, and bright-colored bug house is a great alternative to screen time. This Giddy Buggy bug habitat has wired mesh construction, a sturdy carry handle, and a cute sunny push-aside door. It’s inspiring for children age 3+ and the whole family to encourage gross motor skills, outdoor exploration, and the world of nature.
(06) Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Butterfly Home with Swivel Butterfly Door
Having this whimsical, adorable pink bug catcher is itself inviting to encourage the children for an active outdoor play and scheming for critter catch along with mum & dad. This Cutie Pie Butterfly bug habitat has wired mesh construction, a sturdy carry handle, and a cute push-aside swivel door with enough room inside to house the bugs in ventilated space. A great weekend or holiday activity to develop an understanding of the world around us and explore different creatures from close quarters.
(07) Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Giddy Buggy Kids Bug-Catching Net
A good item for nature expedition and to make some memorable summer holiday moments to cherish and revive life-long. This cheerful poppy eyes Giddy Buggy net has a colorful sensory rainbow-striped handle, durable frame and strong polyester net to scoop butterflies, dragonflies, moths, and other flying insects. Encouraging exploring the world around, gross motor skills, and a great family and sibling fun.
(08) Restcloud Professional Extendable Insect and Butterfly Net
This high-quality professional net makes bug-catching simpler and more adventurous for beginner catchers. The extra-long and extendable handle is sturdy to be locked and unlocked easily to adjust the reach while aiming at the bug. The best thing is that it is equally suitable for the bigger birds like hens and gentle enough for a delicate butterfly too. A great tool to aid the little explorers hunting different creatures habituating in the backyard, observing their mode of movement, or gathering some creatures for a biology unit project.
(09) M-Jump Telescopic Outdoor Bug & Butterfly Catching Net (3 Pack)
Having these colorful telescopic catching nets is worth buying for the family or siblings’ hunting activity as you get 3 mesh nets for the price of 1. The vibrant colors are appealing and the comfortable soft rubber handle is suitable for the little explorers for an extended time of fun. Great bundle for a great outdoor activity to catch birds, small fish, and insects and engage the whole family in a combined expedition for making memories.
(10) TickiT Toddler Wooden Magnifying Hand Lens for Examining Bugs
This sturdy magnifying hand lens is a fascinating learning toy for toddlers and young children to assist them to observe things keenly. Equally beneficial for the grandparents either to accompany their grandchildren readers or zoom into some medicine instructions leaflets. The smooth wooden handle and the plastic lens make it safe for little explorers to grip on and use conveniently for zooming into things they want to inspect. Great tool for keeping the children away from screen time and engaging them to develop a love for learning, exploring, and observing things around us.
(11) Beauy Girl “Bug’s Eye View / Bee Eye” Wooden Toddler Kaleidoscope
These mini kaleidoscopes are a good tool to help the children spark new ideas to see the world from different perspectives. Each one has attractive sensory colors and a cute honeycomb-like shape to be very handy for great hand-eye coordination for a bee eye view. A cute artifact to amuse children and make them look at things for a unique visionary experience.
(12) Manhattan Toy “Little Insect Photographer” Wooden Pretend Camera
Having this wooden camera is a great gift to evoke imagination and stimulate the senses through pretend play. The interchangeable lenses are ambidextrous to change each view artistically for an added dimension play. Very suitable for a birthday or a holiday gift to inspire the children to observe gardens, forests, tropics, animals, birds, and bugs and pretend to show some photographic skills while walking through the natural phenomenon.
