Crafts for Kids: Homemade Bird Feeders
There is nothing more enjoyable than eating breakfast and
watching birds flutter and dance outside the kitchen window on a
snowy morning. Unfortunately, while children often wonder at the
birds and wish to take part in helping to feed them, there is
rarely anything a child can do to help. Here are a couple of
suggestions to help them get involved and to let them make their
own special bird feeders.
Most children hate eating crusts of bread, but birds love them.
Next time, rather than tossing the crust, hand them over to your
child with a pencil or straw and have them poke a hole through
the slices, about 1 inch from the top. If they wish, food
coloring can be used to lightly dab some color on their bread
slices, letting them make special designs for their bird
friends. The bread should then be left to sit on the counter
overnight so that it will dry out. The next day, thread a piece
of yarn through them, hang the bread from the branches of a
nearby tree and watch feathered friends flock to their new bird
feeders.
With a string of yarn, a straw, and some Cheerios, even small
children can help create these fun bird feeders. Take the yarn
(about 24 inches works well) and tie it around the middle of the
straw. This will provide a base, allowing your child to thread
the yarn through the cereal, not only making an effective bird
feeder, but helping develop motor skills. When they have
threaded the cereal up to the top, carefully hold the top of the
string and then untie the bottom from the straw. Knot the two of
these ends together, forming a circlet of cereal, which can be
hung outside as a great bird snack. This can also be done using
different colored fruit cereals, helping your child with
repetitive pattern exercises.
Letting your child become more involved in tasks like this, not
only helps them learn but gives them a sense of responsibility
as well. Have them keep track of how long it takes for their
homemade bird feeders, so they know when it will be time to make
more. Have them make charts or draw pictures of what kinds of
birds come to their feeders and let them look through books, to
identify who their new feathered friends are. Not only will the
birds thank you, but your kids will have a great time too.