Find your own caterpillar: head down to the void deck, a nearby park, or more exotic places like Gardens by the Bay. When you find your caterpillar, gently pluck off the leaf it is on and place it in a sufficiently large plastic container. Caterpillars need to be treated with care, and may die if handled too roughly.

Name your caterpillar: Let the creative juices flow!

Care for your caterpillar: Your caterpillar needs air, food, water and a twig. Place it in a location out of direct sunlight and air-conditioning. 

• Air: Keep the container well-ventilated by poking holes in the lid beforehand. This reduces the chances of accidentally injuring or frightening your caterpillar. Optionally, containers with pre-existing ventilation slits can be purchased.

• Food: If you found it at a nearby place, you can replenish your stock of leaves every day; otherwise, pick additional leaves from the plant you found it on to keep your caterpillar well-fed. Ensure there are no other insects on the leaves: ants, spiders and the like can harm your caterpillar. 

• Water: Caterpillars require very little water directly, but they do need a humid environment. Use a small mist spray bottle to spray the container (not the caterpillar!) occasionally if possible; if not, a few small drops of water, frequently replenished, should suffice. Be careful not to drown your caterpillar or to cause mold growth, which may occur if the environment is overly moist.

• Twig: Your caterpillar will eventually need to rest on a twig in order to turn into a pupa. Find a twig that is slightly longer than the diameter or width of the container, and carefully fit it inside (cut it if necessary). This allows your caterpillar to crawl onto the twig and hang upside down, so that when it emerges from the chrysalis, gravity will facilitate the pumping of fluids into its new wings. 

Research on your caterpillar: Look up the Internet or some books on caterpillars in Singapore to identify your caterpillar's species. With that information, you can also learn how to better care for it: what food it prefers, the length of its pupation, etc. You can even get a sneak preview of what it will grow up to look like!

Watch your caterpillar grow: Clean up after its waste (frass), and don't disturb it if it is lethargic or changes colour - that is a sign that pupation will soon begin! When it is 'due' to emerge from the chrysalis, ensure that it is not left out of sight for long periods of time. The butterfly might emerge, dry its wings and begin flying while still enclosed in the container, which might damage its wings. 

Release your new butterfly: Ideally, this should be done while your butterfly is still drying its wings so that it can immediately fly in an open environment. Bring it downstairs or to its original location, if possible. Open the lid and watch it go!

Reread Maxilla: You might be surprised at some of the new insights your child or children can offer.