A game centered around ladybugs, which is also creative and artistic in nature, involves having kids transform round sugar cookies into ladybugs. Give each child two plain sugar cookies. The game involves creating ladybugs using only colored frosting, black licorice and jelly beans. Make sure kids have access to traditional ladybug colors such as red frosting and black jelly beans. Include other colors as well to make the game more interesting. Have kids decorate one cookie to look like a traditional ladybug and one in any color combination the child chooses.
Getting small children to understand the concept of symmetry can be taught by using a coloring game centered around ladybugs. Color in one half of a picture of a ladybug. Leave the other half blank. Kids use crayons or markers to replicate the rest of the ladybug. For a twist on the game, give the kids a second sheet on which they can create a crazy ladybug where one half is normal and the other one is anything the child creates.
A counting game using ladybugs is one way to get younger children interested in basic mathematical concepts. Cut out and color an assortment of ladybugs. Make sure to create ladybugs with different numbers of spots. Kids can count the spots and then organize the ladybug cutouts from the highest number of spots to the lowest.
A new way to play a traditional memory game is to use ladybugs. Create flash cards using standard note cards. Draw and color matched sets of ladybugs. For the game to work, make sure distinct differences exist between the ladybugs. Make one set a traditional red ladybug with black spots and make another set with pink ladybugs and green spots. Turn all cards face down and have kids play in groups of two to four to find matches.