Birdwatching with kids can really be fun. With just these few simple tips on how to go about it, you’ll be ready to make birdwatching with kids both simple and enjoyable.

#1 – Find a Birdwatching Spot

In the eyes of a child everything is new. Find a birdwatching spot close to your home and go there with your child or grandchild. To get down to the child’s level, don’t worry about seeing some really rare birds. It’s more critical that you are able to focus on accommodating a pace that works for the child.

#2 – Sit, Watch, and Wait for Birds

What has worked really well for me is to just find a spot to sit, like a bench in a nature reserve, or by the shore, then sit down and let the child explore around me.  When I see a bird I use my binoculars and the child soon notices and wants to get involved.

#3 – Hear a Bird?

If you have some kind of tape recording device (does anyone except me still have these) you can have it ready for when you hear a bird. Again, wait for the bird, then switch on the device. Most kids will notice this too and want to get involved in making a recording.

#4 – Simple is Fun

I find that adults all too often get excited and want to make things all planned and complicated, dragging along lots of stuff and visiting out of the way places. I’m repeating this here – when it comes to most things with kids, simple is fun. It’s better to pick a place 5 minutes from home where you barely need to step out of your car to see some kind of bird than to drive for an hour then walk for 20 minutes, dragging along the binoculars and recording device, not to mention the child.

So, there you have it, think lazy, think grandparent pace. Keep birdwatching simple and you’ll want to do it again because it will be easy, fun, and won’t require that you have a PhD in either Birdwatching or Parenting before you start.

If you liked this you might enjoy:

• Feel the Sea
• Lazy Gardening – choosing seeds
• Splash, Learn, Contribute

Related posts:

1. 5 Ways to Winter Bird Watch with Kids
2. Green Kids Activities
3. Ten Tricks to Get Kids Outdoors