Bug Life

From observation to imagination, kids will explore the tiny world of ladybugs, Huhu beetles, centipedes, Wētā, slaters and cicadas, maybe even a kauri snail or two, designing and building imaginative bug homes or motels for them to visit.

This fun, hands-on holiday workshop with Leela Bhai brings ideas to life using tactile mixed media full of texture and colour. We’ll start by looking closely at our chosen bugs, studying their shapes, patterns, legs and antennae. Observational drawing builds focus, curiosity, and confidence, while strengthening how kids’ express ideas through images and language.

Using upcycled packaging, tapes, and glues, children will construct a 3D bug home complete with rooms, tunnels, slides, and gardens. This hands-on making supports problem-solving, spatial thinking, and fine motor skills, while encouraging creativity and persistence.

Finally, we’ll decorate our homes and bug characters with paint, markers, collage, textures, and natural materials, designing cosy, imaginative spaces while exploring storytelling, sustainability, and care for the natural world.

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Images: Leela Bhai