Last updated on March 6th, 2024
Inside: The Very Hungry Caterpillar book is a childhood favorite that spans generations. This easy caterpillar footprint craft inspired by the book will be fun for your toddler to recreate. Read on for all the details!
Toddlers Love To Paint
Painting crafts are great for rainy days (or snowy days) when everyone is starting to go a little stir crazy. It’s a nice way to break up the day and can really work wonders at resetting everyone’s mood.
Just letting your toddler get a little dirty and do something hands on that sparks their creativity really is good for them. It engages their attention and helps them focus on building skills while having fun.
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The Very Hungry Caterpillar
The Very Hunger Caterpillar was always one of my favorite books growing up and quickly became one of Henry’s favorites too! I know that so many people have grown up reading this childhood classic.
We’ve got the board book version which I recommend for babies and toddlers because they can help lift the pages with you. This way, they are more involved in story time.
Eric Carle
I was saddened to hear that Eric Carle passed away earlier this spring at age 91. His books are such a staple in our house and I always remember reading them growing up.
After doing a little bit of reading about the author and his life, I was honestly really surprised to learn that The Very Hungry Caterpillar first came out in 1969. I had no idea!
Once I learned of his passing, I wanted to do a little something in relation to his books. I thought this craft was a perfect way to honor his memory and our love for his books.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Craft
For this craft, we used a wider sized finger painting paper so that we could fit everything properly. If you are doing this activity with babies, you might be able to get away with smaller paper, but my toddler has big feet, haha!
I kept flipping the paper upside down and back again for each alternating footprint and I freshened up the paint on my toddler’s feet each time. Leave yourself enough room for the caterpillar’s head when doing this.
Afterward, I let my toddler free-paint while I applied the finishing touches: the head, face, and feet. Once those were completed, my toddler did the sun with his handprint in two different colors.
It turned out so cute and really makes a fun addition to our artwork display in the playroom. If you haven’t read my post on How To Paint With a Toddler, go check it out. I link all of my favorite painting supplies and run through how to effortlessly set up and clean up painting activities.
Which Eric Carle book is a favorite in your house? Let me know by leaving a comment below!