School’s out for summer!
If you’re looking for ways to keep your little ones entertained over the next few weeks, why not encourage them to get interested in wildlife and nature by introducing them to a fantastic hobby that will stay with them for life?
Bird watching is suitable for children of all ages, and they don’t even need to travel far to get started. A wide variety of birds visit gardens and parks, and there are plenty of fun indoor activities for days when the weather isn’t too great.
We’ve teamed up with Etsy to inspire you with 12 great gift ideas for kids that will keep them entertained all summer long.
Designed by award-winning illustrator, Alexia, Claire, this beautifully designed print brings to life some of Britain’s favourite garden birds.
Hand-painted in watercolour and pencil in Alexia’s countryside studio, the illustration uses no digital techniques, and the fluidity in the design brings a lovely sense of calm. Each bird is named so kids will quickly start to learn how to identify the birds that visit their garden.
Printed on recycled card, the print is available in A4 and A3, and would make a lovely touch in a child’s bedroom or hang it in the kitchen for the whole family to enjoy.
Encourage children to start making notes about the birds they spot with this lovely notebook. Each double page spread contains a watercolour illustration of a garden bird with space on the opposite page to document key information such as where they saw the bird, how many, and what the weather was like.
There’s also an ID check list and some blank pages for additional notes.
The journal is made from recycled materials and is a compact A6 size so your little twitchers will be able to easily pop it in a bag or pocket wherever they go.
While away a few hours with your kids helping them build a nest box to provide a home for birds and their babies. The kit contains treated wood panels, sandpaper, screws, and a screwdriver, a nail for hanging, and full instructions.
The fun woodwork project is suitable for children of all ages with supervision, and the finished box will attract sparrows, tits, pied flycatchers, and nuthatches.
The bird box has a hinged front panel so it can be cleaned easily, and the non-toxic, weatherproof treatment means it will last for years in the garden.
A compact pair of binoculars ideal for smaller hands. Your children will appreciate seeing birds close up even from a distance and with a simple-to-use focussing wheel they’ll soon learn how to get the best view.
The binoculars have 8x magnification and a 21 mm objective lens and measure just 60mm x 90mm x 30mm when folded so a perfect companion on walks and bird watching activities.
They come complete with a cleaning cloth and neck strap, and a bag featuring a hand cast robin for a personal touch.
Birds will enjoy these pine cone feeder treats and your children will enjoy making them. The activity set contains pine cones, suet, and bird seed all packaged in stylish jute bag.
Simply melt the fat, spread on the pine cones, dip in the bird seed, and use the string supplied to hang the homemade feeders from a branch of a tree or a bird table and watch as your feathered friends come flocking.
A bird watching field trip in the sun can be thirsty work so ensure your kids stay hydrated with their own personalised water bottles.
The stainless steel insulated bottles hold 500 ml of liquid and feature a beautifully illustrated bird. Designs include a robin, kingfisher, bullfinch, and great tit, with the option to include a name of up to 15 characters.
For those rainy days, keep kids entertained with this gorgeous jigsaw featuring hand painted watercolour illustrations of 24 British birds including a great spotted woodpecker, a jay, a starling, and a brambling.
The 1000-piece puzzle is made from vegan ink printed on 100% recycled board and includes a cotton drawstring bag to keep the pieces safe.
An ideal mindfulness activity for budding ornithologists who will be delighted as the puzzle comes together and the birds are revealed.
Your kids will be proud to wear this cute pin badge to show their friends just how much they love birds. Or why not buy one for everyone in their gang so they all feel part of the club?
The colourful enamel badge features a host of little birds and measures 32 mm wide. It includes 2 pins and a rubber clasp on the reverse.
Summer wouldn’t be summer without a day out at the beach and your kids will be sure to take everything they need in this cheeky seagull backpack. Plenty of pockets means there’s room for all the essentials while the water-resistant material will protect what’s inside from whatever the great British weather decides to throw at it.
The backpack is made from 100% polyester and measures 42 x 31 x 10 cm and has a soft mesh back and ergonomic straps.
Your kids will have tons of fun getting creative with this paper craft activity and then racing the blow ducks across the water to try and save the ducklings on the lily pad maze.
No glue or scissors are needed to put the ducks together, and the pack includes some quacking duck jokes and facts.
Designed for the Wetlands and Wildfowl Trust, 10% of the profits from the sale of the blow ducks go towards their important conservation work in the UK.
Beautifully designed flash cards for helping children learn to identify the birds that visit the garden. The set of 20 cards include many regular visitors including the goldfinch, coal tit, wren, and wood pigeon.
They measure 74 x 105 mm and are professionally printed on silk finish card. A double pack is also available to play matching pairs games.
12 stickers illustrated with some of the most popular birds found around the coast of Britian including the gannet, avocet, and puffin. Ideal for journals, notebooks, or personalising luggage, the stickers are kiss cut for easy peeling, and come on an A5 sheet.
Also available is a set of British duck stickers.
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