What Toddlers Can Learn from Bugs (Yes, Even in Your Back Garden)


Confidence. Curiosity. Conversation. It all starts with a wiggly worm and a magnifying glass.

They’re small. They’re wriggly. And they’re hiding just under the flowerpot.

To a toddler, bugs aren’t gross, they’re fascinating.
And if we let them lead, those tiny creatures become the start of something magical: conversation, courage, early science and imagination.

You don’t need a field or a forest. Just a patch of grass, a keen little explorer, and a few simple tools to turn your garden into a learning wonderland.

Why are bugs so brilliant for toddler development?

According to the Montessori approach, exploring insects supports key areas of early learning:

  • Language - talking about what they see builds vocabulary

  • Confidence - many children start nervous and end up bold and buzzing with excitement

  • Scientific thinking - noticing patterns, movement and habitats

  • Empathy - learning to care for tiny creatures and treat them gently

And of course, outdoor play itself builds better sleep, stronger bodies and calmer brains.

5 Things Your Toddler Can Learn From Bugs

1. Observation skills
Use a magnifying glass to look at legs, colours, wings and patterns. What’s moving? What’s hiding?

2. Gentle hands
Learning to pick up a worm without squishing it is a lesson in kindness and control.

3. Curiosity without fear
“What’s that?” turns into “Can I hold it?” which turns into, “Let’s go find more!”

4. Imagination
That spider isn’t just a spider. It’s a builder, a ninja, a superhero. Let the storytelling begin.

5. How to love the little things
Being outside with nature teaches calm. It encourages children to be present, careful and kind.

What you need for your garden bug adventures

Start with our Let’s Play Bug Catching Kit. It includes everything your toddler needs to explore, observe and learn, safely and gently.

Pair it with a comfy garden blanket and a few props from our Montessori Toys and Wooden Toys collections for an afternoon of joyful discovery.

For curious toddlers aged 2 and up, our Toys for 2 Year Olds range includes games, puzzles and sensory tools that complement nature-based learning beautifully.

Final Thought

You don’t need a lesson plan. You don’t even need to know the names of the bugs.

Just follow their finger. Follow their “What’s that?”
Say yes to searching. Yes to squatting in the dirt. Yes to letting them explore the wonderful, wiggly, wild world at their feet.

Because in those tiny moments, they’re growing in ways you’ll never forget.

🪲 Explore the Let’s Play Bug Catching Kit
🌿 Build your toddler’s nature play set

And remember, every garden is a jungle to someone two feet tall.