One fantastic way to encourage children to connect with nature from an early age is by making homemade bird feeders. It’s a hugely popular activity amongst children of all ages, so today’s post is all about how to get started with your child. Although bird feeders can be made at any time of the year, the activity is perfectly suited to the winter and early spring. At this time, wild birds like robins, blackbirds, doves, and sparrows are really struggling to find food. And, with World Wildlife Day arriving in the first week of March, it’s very timely. Take a look!
Why Make Bird Feeders with Your Child?
Making bird feeders is a wonderful way to nurture children’s curiosity, creativity, and understanding of the natural world that’s just outside their door. The activity is also a great way to introduce children to the importance of caring for wildlife, which often struggles to survive in the coldest months of the year. As well as helping wild birds survive, making homemade bird feeders will bring delightful birds closer and provide an enjoyable and educational experience for children. Through this hands-on activity, they will soon learn about different types of birds, what they eat, and how we can help them thrive. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to encourage fine motor skills, sensory exploration, and a love of the outdoors.
Easy Bird Feeder Ideas for Children
Our suggestions below will give parents/carers some ideas for the kind of bird feeders children can make. However, they should be undertaken under appropriate adult supervision, paying close attention to safety, well-being, and allergies, etc*. Some of the bird feeder ideas are extremely simple, while others offer greater potential for creativity. Take a look and see what may be suitable for your child.
Pine Cone Bird Feeder
- What You’ll Need:
-
A large, dry pine cone- Some string or garden twine
- Peanut butter (or suet for a nut-free alternative)
- Some birdseed
- A shallow dish or bowl
A large, dry pine cone- Instructions:
-
Tie a piece of string securely around the top of the pine cone to create a hanger. Then, let your child spread peanut butter all over the pine cone using a spoon or butter knife. Next, roll the sticky pine cone in a tray of birdseed until it is fully coated. Once completely covered in birdseed, hang it outside on a tree branch or hook and watch as birds come to enjoy their treats!
Tie a piece of string securely around the top of the pine cone to create a hanger. Then, let your child spread peanut butter all over the pine cone using a spoon or butter knife. Next, roll the sticky pine cone in a tray of birdseed until it is fully coated. Once completely covered in birdseed, hang it outside on a tree branch or hook and watch as birds come to enjoy their treats!Monkey Nut Garland Feeder
- What You’ll Need:
-
- Monkey nuts (unroasted peanuts in their outer shells)
- A darning needle (for adult use only) …
- Or children can use a spent matchstick to make the holes
- Strong thread or relatively thin string
- Instructions:
-
Carefully thread the string through the outer shell of the monkey nuts, tying knots if needed to keep them spaced apart. Once you have a long garland, either tie the ends together to form a loop that can be suspended vertically or attach each end to stretch them horizontally between branches of twigs on a tree or bush. Once birds are used to the new addition to the garden, watch as blue tits, great tits and others enjoy cracking open the shells!
Carefully thread the string through the outer shell of the monkey nuts, tying knots if needed to keep them spaced apart. Once you have a long garland, either tie the ends together to form a loop that can be suspended vertically or attach each end to stretch them horizontally between branches of twigs on a tree or bush. Once birds are used to the new addition to the garden, watch as blue tits, great tits and others enjoy cracking open the shells!Recycled Carton Feeder
- What You’ll Need:
-
- A clean, empty milk or juice carton
- Scissors (to be used by adults only for the youngest children)
- Some string or garden twine
- Some birdseed
- Markers, stickers, or non-toxic paint for decoration
- Instructions:
-
Cut out one or more large holes on the sides of the carton to create openings (adults should do this part for younger children). Thread can be attached at the top – try trapping it under the lid or get an adult to thread it through a hole. Let your child decorate the feeder with paint, stickers, or non-toxic markers. Fill the carton up to the opening(s) with birdseed and hang it up in your garden or balcony.
Cut out one or more large holes on the sides of the carton to create openings (adults should do this part for younger children). Thread can be attached at the top – try trapping it under the lid or get an adult to thread it through a hole. Let your child decorate the feeder with paint, stickers, or non-toxic markers. Fill the carton up to the opening(s) with birdseed and hang it up in your garden or balcony.Plastic Bottle Bird Feeder
- What You’ll Need:
-
- A clean, empty clear plastic water bottle
- Scissors or a knife (to be used only by an adult)
- Some string or garden twine
- Two wooden spoons or sticks (optional)
- Some birdseed
A clean, empty clear plastic water bottle- Instructions:
-
There are a few options for this type of bird feeder, as indicated in the photo examples. Either way, small feeding holes or ‘hatches’ will need to be cut (by a supervising adult) as openings. Optionally, cut small holes on opposite sides of the bottle and insert wooden spoons or sticks through them to create perches. Fill the bottle with birdseed and tie a string to hang it outside. Watch as birds land on the perches and enjoy their treats!
There are a few options for this type of bird feeder, as indicated in the photo examples. Either way, small feeding holes or ‘hatches’ will need to be cut (by a supervising adult) as openings. Optionally, cut small holes on opposite sides of the bottle and insert wooden spoons or sticks through them to create perches. Fill the bottle with birdseed and tie a string to hang it outside. Watch as birds land on the perches and enjoy their treats!Apple Bird Feeder
- What You’ll Need:
-
- An apple
- Some string …
- or a garden cane or stake
- That’s it!
- Instructions:
-
Expose some of an apple’s sides by removing some of the skin. Then, either attach string through (or around) the apple and hang it from a branch outside, or push a stick into it (carefully aimed away from you in case it goes right through) and push the other end into the ground. Watch as birds peck away at the tasty treat! Blackbirds, in particular, love apples!
Expose some of an apple’s sides by removing some of the skin. Then, either attach string through (or around) the apple and hang it from a branch outside, or push a stick into it (carefully aimed away from you in case it goes right through) and push the other end into the ground. Watch as birds peck away at the tasty treat! Blackbirds, in particular, love apples!Which Bird Feed is Best?
There is a huge variety of bird food on the market and it can therefore be difficult to know which type to purchase. While there are many ready-made ‘birdseed’ mixes available, we have found that many types of harder seeds within such mixes go to waste as they are not eaten. So, what’s best?
- Our personal favourite and key recommendation is sunflower hearts. These are the little kernels inside sunflower seeds and the good news is that by buying them as sunflower ‘hearts’, birds don’t need to remove the shells. Robins, blackbirds, doves, dunnocks, bluetits, great tits and pigeons love them! They’re generally inexpensive, in our experience, and are available widely, including in supermarkets.
- Wild bird ‘suet balls’ are also a huge hit with garden birds, whether put into commercial suet ball ‘cage’ feeders, suspended on s string, or crushed up to put into children’s homemade bird feeders. They’re available widely, including in most supermarkets, and birds love them! However, ensure they are made from proper suet, which should feel rather hard and be crumbly when crushed, not soft and malleable.
- Bird-safe peanuts (unroasted) are another obvious option and are popular with birds. However, they present a choking hazard, so keep them away from young children and supervise closely if you do use them. Note too that they are a choking hazard for chicks and fledgling birds that are around in Spring and early Summer. So, if you do decide to use peanuts, it’s best to crush or chop them into tiny pieces (Mum or Dad should help with that part) so they’re more easily eaten and the potential choking aspect minimised. Also, inspect peanuts for signs of mould (e.g. dark dots or flour-like dust) before putting them out for birds because mould can make birds ill — or even prove fatal.
Our personal favourite and key recommendation is sunflower hearts. These are the little kernels inside sunflower seeds and the good news is that by buying them as sunflower ‘hearts’, birds don’t need to remove the shells. Robins, blackbirds, doves, dunnocks, bluetits, great tits and pigeons love them! They’re generally inexpensive, in our experience, and are available widely, including in supermarkets.As a side note, we think feeding mealworms is a bit mean (to the mealworms), so we don’t recommend that. With so many other foods available, there really is no need for mealworms to have to suffer in our view. Perhaps that’s a potential lesson in empathy and responsibility for children to learn from too.
What Birds Might You Spot?
Once your bird feeder is in place, keep an eye out for common garden birds. Typically, birds that are attracted to bird feeders in gardens include robins, bluetits, sparrows, and dunnocks although it does depend on what food you put out for them. Children are also likely to see larger birds like blackbirds, doves, pigeons, magpies and even crows, as they are likely to scavenge underneath for seeds that have dropped from the feeders. To help children identify which birds visit, ensure you have printed out our free bird-spotting identification sheet for your child. It features 40 British birds that children can try to spot. Children can tick them off, using the included tick boxes, as each one is spotted. It’s a great way to add extra interest and learn to recognise different species.
Final Thoughts
Making bird feeders is a wonderful way to help wildlife while also providing a fun and educational activity for children. It’s a chance to get creative, develop new skills, and foster a love for nature that can last a lifetime. What’s more, spending time in and around nature is incredibly beneficial to children (and adults!). So, why not give this incredibly worthwhile activity a try this weekend and see which birds come to visit? Have fun and happy bird feeding!
Little Acorns Nursery, Padiham
The Natural Choice for Childcare in Padiham, Lancashire
Little Acorns is a first-class nursery in Padiham, Lancashire. Here, children are given a wonderful start in a warm, homely environment with caring staff and a curriculum that brings out the best in them. As well as fabulous indoor facilities, children can enjoy our lovely garden where they can explore the wild zone and get close to nature under the care of our childcare practitioners. It’s a wonderful childcare setting that supports funded childcare through free, government-backed childcare schemes for eligible children as young as just 9 months and right up to children aged 3 and 4. To learn more, arrange a visit with your child, call us, message us, or apply for a place today. We’ll be delighted to meet you!
As a nursery and preschool in Padiham, we may also be a convenient choice for families in Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham and Wood End.
*Safety Tips to Keep in Mind
- Always supervise young children when using scissors, peanut butter, or small items that could pose a choking hazard.
- Make sure bird feeders are securely fastened to prevent them falling and hurting birds or children.
- Choose bird-friendly ingredients with no added sugar or salt.
- Wash hands after handling birdseed or peanut butter to maintain hygiene.
- Be mindful of bird food ingredients if your child has allergies, for example nuts.
One of the many reasons we love nature and nature-based children’s activities here at Little Acorns Nursery is that nature is incredibly beneficial to children. What’s more, the benefits start right from their earliest years and are profoundly powerful to little ones. There have been many studies about this over the years and they all seem to conclude that nature is incredibly good for us all, especially so during the early years. Today’s post looks at 20 of the key benefits that spending time in and around nature holds for children and, with Spring now upon us, it’s the perfect time to begin getting little ones outside more, weather permitting.
Spending time in and around nature means children are more likely to be active, for example, walking, running, skipping, climbing, playing, making, or simply building a den. Such activities will not only help them hone fine and gross motor skills, but will also improve coordination, balance, and fitness. Those skills will help them day-to-day while expending energy in this way will help them maintain a healthy weight and body-mass index.
One of the more obvious benefits of nature is that it gives children a huge sense of freedom that they might not otherwise experience. Being in The Great Outdoors allows children, under appropriate supervision, to run, explore, and play in ways that are far more free than in any other situation. This will also give them a huge sense of natural joy.
The stimulation of the senses is never more important than during children’s early years and spending time in nature is the perfect vehicle through which to do so. With so many colours, sounds, smells, textures and even (under adult supervision) tastes available in the natural world, it is indeed a feast for children’s senses. Through the senses, children will learn more about the world and generate millions of new connections in their developing brains. It’s almost magical!
Being around nature regularly can also help children lean naturally towards environmental issues, learn about the problems and become part of the solution. An appreciation of nature is indeed the first step towards becoming environmentally conscious and proactive. That’s a great thing for the planet, particularly as today’s children will become tomorrow’s custodians of the Earth.
Children generally team up with friends when they’re playing and exploring outdoors. Spending time playing together in natural environments fosters many different kinds of interaction. This can boost confidence, language, communication and social skills. Stronger bonds and a deeper understanding of peers are likely to form from this.
At