Best butterfly growing kits for kids

Butterfly on flower
(Image credit: @Sean Stratton on Unsplash)

It might be hard to imagine that beautiful butterflies begin their lives as crawling caterpillars. A butterfly growing kit demystifies this complex insect's life cycle, inviting kids to raise caterpillars into their next phase of life. These kits provide a habitat where chrysalises can be built, and butterflies hatched. Little bug enthusiasts will have the opportunity to care for and observe these magical insects as they mature. We've collected the best comprehensive butterfly growing kits so kids can raise and release these transformative insects.

Staff pick

(Image credit: Insect Lore)

Insect Lore Butterfly Garden

Take part in the change with this butterfly-raising kit

Kids, ages four and up, will love raising crawly caterpillars into fluttering butterflies with this educational set. They will observe the humble beginnings of five caterpillars as they take their transformation journey. The caterpillars will enter chrysalises to become maturate adult painted lady butterflies. Once the caterpillars have constructed their chrysalises, they can then be moved into the included 12-inch pop-up butterfly habitat until they hatch. From caterpillar to butterfly, the metamorphosis takes about three weeks. Once the butterflies emerge, children will enjoy feeding the new hatchlings nectar from the flower feeder and then releasing them into nature. This kit also includes a journal to record observations.

Host a butterfly family

(Image credit: Insect Lore)

Insect Lore Giant Butterfly Garden with voucher

Nurturing butterfly habitat and more

Little entomologists, ages four and up, will become a part of the butterfly's life cycle with this nurturing kit. The hangable mesh habitat is the perfect home for growing caterpillars and butterflies. It will be the new residence of five caterpillars when the included voucher is redeemed. Once received, the caterpillars will develop into painted lady butterflies with the assistance of the handy instruction booklet. Kids will also learn about the growth stages from the fun plastic figures provided.

Get in the habitat

(Image credit: Nature Bound)

Nature Bound butterfly growing habitat kit

Caterpillars will grow into maturity with this essential set

It's fun to raise and release beautiful butterflies with this growing kit. This comprehensive set includes everything needed to care for a maturing caterpillar, the most important item being a home. The 12-inch popup habitat offers caterpillars the room to take flight. To ensure caterpillars embark on a successful transformation journey, the provided instruction manual offers helpful insights. But, before the journey can begin, the voucher for five live painted lady caterpillars must be redeemed. Kids ages six and up will enjoy helping these caterpillars creep into adulthood. 

Portable habitat

(Image credit: Amazon)

RESTCLOUD insect and butterfly habitat

Happy collapsible home for caterpillars to develop

Catch caterpillars and raise them into adulthood with this cool collapsible habitat. This sizable 15.7-by-15.7-by-23.6-inch home is ideal for growing caterpillars into soaring butterflies. It's shaped with lightweight and breathable mesh panels for great ventilation and has a large zipper door for easy access. The habitat also includes an instructional manual to make maturing butterflies simple. Kids ages three and up will love this fun insect-friendly home.

Live caterpillars

(Image credit: Amazon)

Nature Gift Store 5 live caterpillar butterfly kit refill

Fill an existing habitat with this set of five caterpillars

For kiddos that already have their butterfly habitat ready to go, this set of five painted lady caterpillars will make the perfect guests. This collection includes necessities vital to support and raise healthy caterpillars and butterflies, like food, a butterfly feeder, a mister, an eyedropper, and instructions. With the proper care and habitat, these five inching caterpillars will transform into the most beautiful butterflies.

Take flight

From caterpillar to chrysalis, a butterfly growing kit offers kids the tools to help caterpillars into adulthood. They'll observe caterpillars create their chrysalises and emerge as beautiful butterflies. Our staff pick is the Insect Lore Butterfly Garden because it's a comprehensive kit including a 12-inch pop-up habitat, chrysalis station log, flower feeder, five caterpillars, and a journal. Kids will be amazed as tiny caterpillars morph and mature into adulthood, fluttering around their habitat as full-grown butterflies.

If kids want to catch caterpillars on their own, they'll just need a habitat. We recommend the RESTCLOUD insect and butterfly habitat because it's a sizable, lightweight, and ventilated home for insects. It's made of breathable mesh and has an accessible large zipper door for nurturing specimens. An instructional manual is also included to assist with butterfly maturation.

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