Hungry Caterpillar
Sensory Table Insert & Food
Transform storytime into a hands-on adventure with a Hungry Caterpillar Sensory Table Insert and Play Food! 🐛🍎 Dive into the world of Eric Carle’s beloved classic by creating an interactive sensory experience that brings the story to life.
Crafting a Hungry Caterpillar Sensory Table Insert and Play Food is not just an engaging activity for kids but also a rewarding project for parents.
Let's get started!
There are two main elements to this project - the table insert (i.e. the hungry caterpillar) and the food. If you've read the Hungry Caterpillar book you already know how we have lots of fun food elements to make! And if you're parent like me, I am going to assume you don't have many consecutive hours to sit around making these all at once, which is why for me (and maybe for you) - This is an ongoing project at this time.
I'll be updating this page as I create more of the elements, so remember to check back in! And keep me posted on your progress as you make them too!
NOW - Let's really get started!
Table of contents
Introduction
Dear parent:
Doing a creative project like this is not just about an end result useful, fun, engaging, learning thing for your child - it offers a lot more value. In today's fast paced and always busy life there is value in slowing it down and making something with your hands. There is value in your children seeing you plan out a project, gather the materials you need, sit working with your hands and, see you being creative. Isn't this after all things we wish for our children?
I also I find I am a better, more relaxed and grounded parent when my life includes creative projects and doing things with my hands. Therefore, my hope for you with this project is that you enjoy the process. See the value in doing it because doing it is fun and not worrying too much about how it looks or how fast it is getting done. Or worrying that you "should" be doing something "more productive". The end product will be awesome for your child, but there is also value in you doing it and your children seeing you do the project (or participating).
Inspiration
I've had my eye on the IKEA Flisat sensory table for a long time - probably even before we had a child. For a long time I wondered if it was worth it or just a hyped-up kids' item that we see in picture perfect playrooms. One day, while shopping at IKEA I sent my mom and husband pictures of it and my mom loved it and graciously gifted it to us - yay!
Having it now I can say - it is not just a hyped-up item - I love it and definitely recommend it to parents who like to do sensory set ups and DIY things for and with their kids. Elba has used it every single day, multiple times a day and I don't see it getting old anytime soon.
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Long before we got the table (because I had been looking at getting it) I joined a Facebook group dedicated to the Flisat table inserts. It was fun seeing the creative things parents came up with. Once I got the table, I was more invested in seeing the things that other people do - which is where I found the inspiration for this table.
Inspiration for this project goes to Lindsay (@i.gobymama) who shared, on the Facebook group, the insert she made for her kid (see the images below that are screenshots of what she made). Two things sparked my excitement about doing something similar to what she did.
Firstly, I have been wanted to crochet a hungry caterpillar with all the food pieces, but I am still a beginner crochet-er and I thrift yarn which means I will need to plan out the project in detail and then spend time thrifting the yarn - making this a very challenging project for me (stay tuned because I will one day soon-ish do it). So, I've had my mind on making something to accompany the Hungry Caterpillar book, but crocheting a hungry caterpillar is on hold for me to improve my crocheting skills.
And then secondly, I recently did my first felt project - which was making pieces for a thrifted Educating Amy book. So, I was pretty excited because before this, I had only made 2D felt items and with this project I decided I wanted to make 3D food items. And this was the starting point of this very fun DIY project!
What you'll need
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The IKEA Flisat sensory table or something similar. I also recommend having the IKEA stools (or similar) and not chairs with a back. I find the stools a lot more stable and less prone to tipping over. This means more independence and less parent hovering.
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The inner bins. Given how large I have made my food items I will be using the larger bin for this insert.
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Paint brushes
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Thread in many colours. I recommend finding thread packs at the thrift store.
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Paper
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Cardboard. I used cardboard from online order boxes.
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A needle
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A doll needle. If you're unfamiliar with a doll needle (I was before this project) - it is essentially a very large needle that is typically used in doll making that is long enough to go through a "doll". I found an affordable pack on Amazon with many sizes that is working well for me.
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Scissors. Normal scissors will work fine, but I do like to use sewing/fabric scissors for cutting felt.
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Glue
I have linked some of the items that I used for this projects. Some of these are affiliate links, but for reassurance I literally purchased those items, and you will see them in the photographs of the project. For more information on the use of affiliate links see my Disclaimer page.
Since this is an ongoing project with lots of elements - please also see the individual item being made for a detailed list of what was used to create that part of the project.
The Items to Make
This project has two main elements - The table insert (the hungry caterpillar) and the food items.
The Hungry Caterpillar Table Insert
The food items
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Apple x 1
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Pears x 2
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Plum x 3
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Strawberries x 4
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Oranges x 5
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Chocolate Cake
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Ice Cream Cone
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Pickle
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Cheese
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Salami Slice
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Lollipop
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Cherry Pie
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Sausage
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Cupcake
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Watermelon Slice
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Leaf
Why not give it a try and create your own Hungry Caterpillar sensory table? It’s a rewarding project that will bring joy and learning!
This project is still a work in progress - continue to check back or follow me on social media to see the new items being made.
If you found inspiration in this project - please share it and give credit, thank you!
