We Raised Caterpillars to Butterflies

Last year we did this really awesome activity with Cindy where we watched caterpillars turn into butterflies.  We didn't do it this spring because they did it at her preschool.  It was a memorable experience for her and so I wanted to share it with you all in case you would want to do it with your kiddos.  Be warned though because it can be a little sad to let the butterflies go.  

I will admit this was completely OUT of my comfort zone.  I hate bugs, they make me squirmish and queezy.  The hubby took one for the team with this one because he did most of the dirty work.  We got a kit, paid the $5 for shipping and got our caterpillars mailed to us in this container. 

Thankfully you never have to open it.  They eat the food at the bottom and get bigger and bigger each day!  Really all I want to say is gross.  

When they are ready, they start to crawl to the top of the cup where they will form their chrysalis. 

And before you know it. they are in and ready to be transformed. 

The hubby was such a trooper, bless his heart!  He took the paper off the lid and pinned it into our habitat.

We made sugar water for butterflies so they could eat when they came out. 

A few days later they started to break through.  It was really interesting to see how slow and messy it was.  Yes and also very creepy to me.  

We watched each one of our five caterpillars turn into butterflies!  It was pretty awesome. 

Then of course the hardest part would be letting them go.  This is the part she remembers the most.  She was only three then but she still talks about how sad it was to let her butterflies go and how she wished they could have stayed with us.  A thought that boggles my mind because she was just as grossed out as I was. 

One last pep talk...

Unzipped... [he had to give them a little shake too].

And off they went!

This is really a great activity for the kiddos and a neat way for them to experience metamorphosis first hand.  I will for sure be doing this again with her and now that she is older she can be a little scientist and record data each day we observe these icky little creatures. 

Until next time.  Toodles!

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