Of course you love it when your kids make crafts and bring you pictures -- it's just that displaying them all can get a little overwhelming. But if you make a hummingbird feeder together, you won't have that problem; it will have to go outside! It will even have to stay outside. Plus, it should attract hummingbirds to your yard so your little ones will get to see them up close.
Hummingbirds species do live in every region of the United States, but that doesn't mean they are hanging out in your yard. If you don't typically see hummingbirds in your neighborhood, you can try attracting them to your yard by attaching red ribbons to your trees and planting the flowers that attract them, says Scholastic. Shrubs and trees like azaleas, manzanitas, mimosas and red buckeyes are possible ideas. Some flowers and plants that attract hummingbirds include bee balm, coral balm, lupines, yucca, fuchsia, impatiens and petunias.
Let your preschooler help you gather the materials you'll need to make the feeder. Kids can get the cookie cutters and rolling pin required for a handmade hummingbird feeder. Parents will need twine, a shallow jar with a lid and a drill, plus polymer clay in several different colors. Make sure that kids pick red as one of the colors, as hummingbirds are attracted to red, reports Scholastic.
Making the Feeder
Let your little ones help you wash and dry the jar thoroughly. Then can help you roll out the polymer clay and place the jar lid on top of one of the colors. You can also let little ones use the clay to make a design of their choosing on the lid. After baking the clay and lid, let them cool and then drill a small hole through the middle. The hummingbirds will be able to use their beaks to get to the nectar in the jar, but insects won't be able steal the hummingbird food. To hang the feeder, tie the twine in a loop around the jar, leaving enough twine to tie the other end to a tree branch.
After making the feeder craft, little ones will want to see it attracting hummingbirds. Fill the jar with nectar; fortunately, this doesn't mean you have to do anything tricky with flowers. For a simple nectar, boil one cup of water and add a quarter cup of sugar. Little ones can help you measure the sugar. Pour some into the jar part of your feeder and attach the lid. For the final touch on your hummingbird feeder craft for kids, take it outside and hang it. For the best possible viewing, put the feeder in a shady spot that's protecting by the wind, says Scholastic. Hummingbirds are bold, so don't worry about placing it near your home. That will make it a lot easier for your kids to spot the hummingbirds and let you know when they need more nectar.
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