Insect Week 2026: Fun Activities for Kids

Did you know there are more than 24,000 species of insect in the UK alone? From the bees bumbling through your garden to the moths that visit long after bedtime, insects are absolutely everywhere — and they’re doing some of the most important work on the planet.

Insect Week (22–28th June 2026) is the perfect time to get children curious, outdoors and discovering the tiny creatures that keep our world going. Organised by the Royal Entomological Society, the week is packed with events, competitions and free resources for families and schools.

Here’s how to join in with some easy, hands-on ideas children will love.

Why Insects Matter (and Why Children Should Care)

Insects pollinate our food crops, break down dead matter, feed birds and bats, and keep ecosystems in balance. Without them, life as we know it simply wouldn’t work. Yet insect populations are declining at an alarming rate across the UK.

Getting children interested in insects from a young age builds genuine empathy for the natural world, and research shows it makes them more likely to care about the environment as they grow up. The best part? You don’t need to be a scientist or an expert gardener. You just need a bit of outdoor space and some curiosity.

5 Easy Insect Week Activities for Children

1. Go on a Bug Hunt

Grab a magnifying glass and head outside. Lift stones, peek under logs, and look closely at flower heads. Encourage children to count how many different species they can spot in 15 minutes. You can download free insect ID sheets from the Insect Week website to help identify what you find.

2. Make a Minibeast Hotel

A bug hotel gives solitary bees, lacewings, beetles and many more minibeasts a safe place to shelter and lay eggs. Children can build one using:

•       Hollow bamboo canes or dried stems bundled together

•       Pinecones, dry leaves, and bark tucked into gaps

•       An old wooden pallet or stacked bricks as a frame

Place it in a sheltered spot and watch who moves in!

3. Plant Pollinator-Friendly Flowers

Growing pollinator-friendly flowers is one of the most powerful things children can do for insects. Native wildflowers are particularly valuable — even a single pot on a windowsill or balcony can provide vital nectar. Aim for a mix of plants that flower at different times to support insects across the from early spring through to autumn.

4. Keep an Insect Journal

Encourage children to draw or photograph every insect they spot over the week and record where they found it. This is a brilliant way to develop observation skills and scientific thinking. At the end of the week, see if they can identify patterns: which flowers attracted the most visitors? Which insects came out only in the evening?

5. Go Moth Watching After Dark

On a warm summer evening, drape a white sheet over a washing line and shine a torch at it. Moths are attracted to light and will settle on the sheet, giving you a rare chance to see these beautiful, often overlooked insects up close. It’s a genuinely magical activity for children and adults!

Build an Insect-Friendly Garden Together

You don’t need a big garden to make a difference. A few pots, a small patch of lawn left uncut, or a window box full of the right flowers can all provide food and shelter for insects. Here are some simple things children can do:

•       Leave a small patch of garden to grow wild

•       Put out a shallow dish of water for insects and other wildlife to drink from

•       Avoid pesticides wherever possible

•       Plant single-flowered plants (double flowers are harder for insects to access)

Keep the Learning Going

The best way to sustain a child’s enthusiasm is to give them the tools to explore independently. A good bug book means they can identify insects on their own, learn fascinating facts, and feel the confidence that comes with real knowledge.

Join the National Insect Week Pledge

The Royal Entomological Society is inviting everyone to Discover, Observe and Protect insects this June. Sign the Insect Week Pledge and you’ll receive a free downloadable poster with insect ID tips and pollinator-friendly plant ideas – perfect for sticking on the fridge or in the classroom.

There are also free activity packs, insect ID sheets, and an insect photography competition for budding young photographers. Head to insectweek.org to explore everything on offer.

However you celebrate, we hope Insect Week 2026 sparks a lifelong love of the natural world in your child, one tiny creature at a time.