So, the kids will soon be out of school, Mom and Dad. Yikes! What to do other than let them lose themselves in those tablets, smartphones, or video games. Here are a few suggestions that you can undertake to engage their brain cells around conservation actions that may lead them to new interests in nature and its wellbeing.
Yes, conservation awareness begins with you. And as a parent and grandparent, I am well aware of the energy this will require and the frustration of dealing with whiny kids, especially teens, but the rewards for them, and you, can be fun and may give you all something to tackle together for the rest of the year.
On those cold, rainy days, you might feel sorry for the poor birds having to deal with the wet and cold of winter, so you might:
- Clean and fill that old feeder, or go out to the store and purchase one, together.
- Have those children “search” those electronic devices to discover what is best to feed local birds, and discover the common birds that live in their backyards https://www.ourmshome.com/biodiversity-challenge-birds-in-your-backyard/ or find out what winter birds may be about this time of year. https://ourmshome.com/discovering-birds-of-winter/ and perhaps https://ourmshome.com/sapsucker-sap-wells-feed-many/
- Consider adding a suet feeder for those birds that they learned do not come to seed feeders. https://www.ourmshome.com/a-winter-treat-for-birds-suet/
- Clean out or put out a nectar feeder for winter hummingbirds that show up across the eastern U.S. in winter – traveling from the western U.S. https://www.ourmshome.com/winter-hummingbirds/ and https://ourmshome.com/become-a-winter-hummer-host/
- Help save a couple of electrons by having children read an actual book or magazine about birds or wildlife – you know, from a local library or bookstore.
If the sun comes out, you might:
- Start with a backyard scavenger hunt. Learn how easy it is here https://ourmshome.com/backyard-scavenger-hunt-fun-for-all-ages/
- Take a trip to a local nature center or state or national park. If you do, ask them about what projects you can do at home to help birds and wildlife.
- Take a trip to a local nature trail, taking the time to observe nature in winter. https://www.ourmshome.com/the-best-nature-trails-on-the-mississippi-gulf-coast/
- Apply a few other simple activities that can help birds in winter and throughout the year. https://www.ourmshome.com/christmas-gifting-to-our-feathered-friends/
- If you haven’t already raked the leaves from your yard, consider not doing so, as leaf litter in winter houses many pollinators that overwinter there. https://www.ourmshome.com/critters-in-the-leaves/
- And don’t forget to recycle that Christmas tree – a perfect base for a brush pile or brought to a local tree recycling site.
If you want to do even more, consider learning, together, about how you and your kids can document diversity of organisms in your yard and beyond by uploading and using the free iNaturalist app. For children 16 years old and younger, the free Seek app is available and is designed to keep them safe from online trackers and threats. It is easy to use, and you may well get hooked. Once mastered, you and your children can expand your exploration anywhere you go. Oh, and it is easy to use on one of those smartphones. In that sense, your kids will catch on faster than you will and it presents an opportunity for them to teach you something!
And if you need last minute gift ideas for kids and yourself here are suggestions. https://ourmshome.com/what-to-get-a-young-naturalist-for-christmas/ or https://ourmshome.com/green-christmas-gifts-for-critters-and-yourself/
Yes, it will be work to pry those children away from those devices, but I promise you it will be worth it. You and your kids will discover a world worth understanding and helping to conserve.
Hope to see you in our great outdoors!