Let’s Learn!

What can you do with it? Many things can be taught when you have your child’s attention with this snack activity. What is your focus? Eye hand coordination? Color words? Beginning sounds? Letter recognition? Number words or number recognition. Writing practice? Action words(verbs)? Prereading and prewriting skills. Reading and wring. All of these can be practiced with making bugs on a log.
How?
The eye hand coordination is in holding that slippery celery and a knife or spoon to corral the peanut butter. What a fun way to strengthen those pincer muscles that will need to hold a pencil, crayon or marker. Those same muscles that control putting the food in our mouth need to be strong to put words on paper.

Color words

Have several small pieces of paper precut to use. Make a color word book. One color on each page. Crayons require more muscle to use than markers.

A blue bug (Encourage your child to draw with a blue crayon)
A green bug
A yellow bug, etc.

Make a Book

Or for an older child, use a learning poem.

Bugs

Bugs have a head.
Bugs have a thorax.
Bugs have an abdomen, too.
Add 2 antenna
And 6 tiny legs
And see what a bug can do.

Make your own book about bugs to read to or with your child. A younger child can learn from a chart or book with the words put on it by you. Letter recognition. Circle all the letter a’s, or b’s on the chart.

Action words

Observe a bug in a jar for a few minutes while eating or making the snack.
Then,
Add paper and pencil and keen observation.

A bug can _________.

Talk about what a bug can do. Have your child write the words or draw the pictures (depending on age and skill level). A bug can walk, climb, fly, stop, sleep, eat, etc.

Remember this is a fun learning activity. No pressure, lots of help and quality time together. The bug on a log shown in the picture has 3 dried cranberry body parts, 2 dried apricot slices for antenna and 6 cheerio legs. Enjoy!

Why Bugs on a Log?

This is one of my favorite snacks because...
it is easy, nutritious, versatile and tasty. Celery is crunchy, inexpensive, and durable to stand up to small hands.

Celery can be spread with peanut butter, cream cheese, almond butter, pimiento cheese, hummus, cottage cheese and the list goes on…
What is your child’s preference? Or yours?


A fun snack time is the perfect time to experiment with new and different foods.
Children are usually more willing to try new foods when they are involved in the preparation. Choose a good time when you are both rested and snack hungry.

Getting Ready

Have all items gathered and prepared beforehand so everything goes smoothly. Include your child in as much of the preparation as you think your child can handle.
Together with your child prepare the celery by washing and drying the stalks using paper or kitchen towels. If your child is too young to use a knife(even a plastic one) then precut the celery. Stress good hygiene
Wash hands, wear an apron, smock or kitchen towel.

Bugs On A Log


What you need:

celery sticks
peanut butter (or spread of your choice)
raisins (or bugs you choose)

What to do:

1. Wash and dry the celery and cut it into pieces (3 to 5 inches long).
2. Spread peanut butter in groove shaped section of celery. You can use a knife or spoon.
3. Push raisins into peanut butter.
Now, eat and enjoy!

Raisins are traditionally used but also craisins, sunflower seeds, dried cherries or blueberries, peanuts, granola clusters, dried fruit pieces(apricots, apples, dates). What would you like to introduce to your child’s palate this week?