| There is nothing more enjoyable than eating | | | | middle of the straw. This will provide a base, |
| breakfast and watching birds flutter and dance | | | | allowing your child to thread the yarn through the |
| outside the kitchen window on a snowy morning. | | | | cereal, not only making an effective bird feeder, |
| Unfortunately, while children often wonder at the | | | | but helping develop motor skills. When they have |
| birds and wish to take part in helping to feed | | | | threaded the cereal up to the top, carefully hold |
| them, there is rarely anything a child can do to | | | | the top of the string and then untie the bottom |
| help. Here are a couple of suggestions to help | | | | from the straw. Knot the two of these ends |
| them get involved and to let them make their | | | | together, forming a circlet of cereal, which can be |
| own special bird feeders.Most children hate eating | | | | hung outside as a great bird snack. This can also |
| crusts of bread, but birds love them. Next time, | | | | be done using different colored fruit cereals, |
| rather than tossing the crust, hand them over to | | | | helping your child with repetitive pattern |
| your child with a pencil or straw and have them | | | | exercises.Letting your child become more involved |
| poke a hole through the slices, about 1 inch from | | | | in tasks like this, not only helps them learn but |
| the top. If they wish, food coloring can be used | | | | gives them a sense of responsibility as well. Have |
| to lightly dab some color on their bread slices, | | | | them keep track of how long it takes for their |
| letting them make special designs for their bird | | | | homemade bird feeders, so they know when it |
| friends. The bread should then be left to sit on | | | | will be time to make more. Have them make |
| the counter overnight so that it will dry out. The | | | | charts or draw pictures of what kinds of birds |
| next day, thread a piece of yarn through them, | | | | come to their feeders and let them look through |
| hang the bread from the branches of a nearby | | | | books, to identify who their new feathered |
| tree and watch feathered friends flock to their | | | | friends are. Not only will the birds thank you, but |
| new bird feeders.With a string of yarn, a straw, | | | | your kids will have a great time too.James Hunt |
| and some Cheerios, even small children can help | | | | has spent 15 years as a professional writer and |
| create these fun bird feeders. Take the yarn | | | | researcher covering stories that cover a whole |
| (about 24 inches works well) and tie it around the | | | | spectrum of interest. |