Try these two time-honored crafts for children in the Spring: making a bird feeder and planting something.
Bird Feeder: There are many different ways to create a bird feeder. You could take a plastic bottle that you’ll fill with bird seed and punch holes on each side near the top and the bottom and push wooden spoons through them–do this at an angle so that when the birds sit on the spoon end, some bird seed will fall out of the bottle onto the spoon. Screw an eyelet into the cap so that you can hang the bottle from a branch. Or, you could simply nail an old shoe to a tree and fill it with bird seed! Pinecones, too, can make for great feeders. Lather them with lard or peanut butter and stick bird seed into the mix before hanging.
Mini-Garden: Planting seeds is very rewarding because they grow quickly and creating something living is always a thrill. You can get small plastic pots from a nursery or the “trays” they sell seedlings in. Add compost and seeds of your choice (growing herbs is nice because you can “harvest” and eat them!) and you’ll soon have little growths popping out of the surface. Don’t over water and put popsicle sticks with the name of each plant in each separate seeding area.
Happy Spring!
As the founder and managing director of Destination Sitters, LLC, a national hotel and event babysitting service, and the mother of two children, I strongly believe that family comes first. I personally needed babysitting when I moved to San Diego 14 years ago. Like most parents, I assumed there were standards for temporary babysitting; in reality, there are no state standards or licensing requirements for temporary babysitting. The idea for Destination Sitters was born! I wanted to Give Parents Peace of Mind® when traveling with their children, so I created strict screening requirements for the sitters we refer. There is nothing like the peace of mind that comes from getting great professional help to care for your children, especially when traveling away from home. I and my partners, along with our office staff, have that one goal in mind with everything we do.
Through the years of working with children, I have been inspired to write three books, and this blog for parents’ and children’s wellbeing. I believe the best way to teach a child is leading by example, with love, honesty, integrity, compassion, perseverance, and personal responsibility. Learning these values and teaching children that all women and men are equal will encourage them to dream big to be anything they want to be!
An entrepreneur for over 35 years, I previously spent years running a construction and design company with two offices in California and built million-dollar estates and remodeled existing ones. For three and half years, I was one of the primary designers on HGTV’s Curb Appeal. I have also been published in books, magazines and newspapers, and have been a featured designer in multiple showcase houses.
