It’s summertime and that means there is a whole world of possibilities for activities your kids can do. It is always fun to build new things with your kids and then let them see it in action. If your kids love animals, have your kids build a new oasis for their feathered friends and then let them watch as the birds enjoy themselves in their new homes.
Bird Feeder
Using either an empty toilet paper roll or a pine cone, your child can make bird feeder all on their own and it is easy. Simply have them take the object (if using a pine cone show them how to hold it without it poking them) and cover it with peanut butter – smooth, not crunchy. Once the object is covered, help them to roll it in birdseed, completely covering it. Next, secure a string to one end of it and hang it from a tree or pole. Then let them sit back and watch as the birds find their new treat.
Create a Birdhouse
This one can be a little more difficult. There are kits that you can buy or you can make it from scratch; just be sure not to forget to include an opening for them to go in and out of. Plans for birdhouses are available online and many are free for you to follow; or just have fun and let your child help you make one up from scratch using their imagination. If you make it from scratch, you are going to need at least six boards that are roughly even in size. Let your child help you nail them together to form the house. Then, using paint that will hold up outdoors, let them have fun painting the outside in whatever design or color they choose. You will need to either secure the birdhouse to a tree or pole so that it will stay up as the birds come in and out of it.
Build a Bird Bath
For this project, you will need three flower pots that are slightly different sizes. The flower pots will be sitting open-end-down and stacked on top of each other to create the base for the bird bath. The largest of the pots will be on the bottom and the smallest on top. There should be enough difference in size that when the smaller is placed on top of the larger pot it doesn’t fully slide all the way down. Let your child paint the flower pots before you put them together so that it will be easier for them. You can use glue to hold them together or just let the rest on top of each other, so that you can take it down when needed. You can use the saucer from the largest flower pot as the actual bird bath on top. If you really want to get creative, fasten the smallest pots saucer to the side of the larger to create a resting perch for the birds.
