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Kids love bugs, so make their summer especially buggy by throwing this sunny, silly party.

When school's out and the kids start bugging you that they're bored, it's time to take action! Gather the troops, and plan a buggy good time. Whether the party is indoors or out, kids can help make the decorations and the food!

Special Touches
"Invitapillars"
Antsy kids often create the best invitations. Supply the paper, markers and party time and date details they need to include.

Toss tiny plastic bugs from a party store into the envelopes before sealing. Carry out the bug theme by stamping or stickering the invitations with what else? Bugs, of course. You can probably even find bug postage stamps!

Buggy Party Activities
You may like to serve Critter Crunch during these activities.

Antennae
Purchase plain child-size headbands. Supply an array of feathers, plastic eyes, pipe cleaners, beads, glitter, glue, etc., and help the kids make a bug's antennae they can wear. This is a great time for photos. If available, use an instant camera so they have a take-home snapshot. With antennae in place, kids will now be able to detect the awesome food!

Bug Fun Dough
Spread a plastic tablecloth, set out various bright colors of Bug Fun Dough, get your camera ready and watch the kids create real and not-so-real critters from this not-to-be-eaten dough. Have take-home containers ready for these works of art.

Bug House Jars
Collect plastic peanut butter jars or other food jars; cover the top with heavy-duty aluminum foil, and secure with a rubber band. Kids can punch air holes with toothpicks. Supply stickers, and let kids decorate their take-home bug house jars.

Bug Bags for Take-Home Loot
If you want to offer more loot in addition to the bug jars, consider these options: bug magnifying boxes, bug stickers, squirt bugs, bug gliders and plastic bugs. Use clear plastic sandwich bags to hold the loot, and watch antennaed guests go bug-eyed with their catch.

Buggy Decorations
Kids will have fun tying string to plastic bugs (large and small) for hanging from the ceiling (adults can attach to the ceiling). Scatter plastic or wind-up bugs on tabletops to add to the festivities. Attach bug stickers to crepe paper streamers.

Lots of bug-themed party decorations are available in party stores now, but having kids make their own is more fun. Supply construction paper, glitter glue, stickers and rubber stamps for making place mats and decorating brightly colored paper plates, cups and napkins.

Provide kids with sidewalk chalk or sidewalk paint so they can bug everyone with sidewalk bug art leading up to the front entry.

Critter Crunch!
This "yummy" recipe is pictured to the right.
Critter Crunch
Great-tasting, fun-to-eat Critter Crunch is easy enough for kids to make.

1 cup animal crackers
1 cup teddy bear-shaped chocolate or honey-flavored graham crackers
1 cup small pretzel twists
1 cup yogurt-covered raisins
1 cup candy-coated chocolate candies
10 colorful ice-cream cones , if desired

1. Mix all ingredients except ice-cream cones. Serve snack in cones.
2. Store in covered container.