Bird's Nests - Easy Craft Projects

by Lauri Griffin | More from this Blogger

30 Mar 2008 03:31 PM

My family loves to watch for the return of birds in the spring. We often get a pair of nesting robins in our yard.

Here are two ways for your children to make charming bird's nests of their own. Both work for preschool children and up.

Spaghetti Nests

Uncooked thin spaghetti (thin is easier to break than regular) Brown craft paint (washable works fine) A small round bowl or disposable round container Foil or plastic wrap

Cover your bowl with aluminum foil or plastic wrap to protect it. If you are using a disposable container you don't have to protect it, but the plastic wrap still makes removing the nest easier. Take uncooked thin spaghetti and let the children break it into smaller lengths. Aim for the lengths to be around an inch or inch and a half. Place the broken spaghetti into the bowl. Add a squirt or two of regular glue and a few squirts of brown paint and mix through the noodles. Press the paint and glue covered noodles against the bottom and sides of the bowl to form a nest. Let dry for a couple of hours. Remove from the bowl and you have a very cute natural looking nest. A picture of one using just spaghetti and glue is below.

Play Dough Nests

Brown play dough Garlic press or something similar Small round bowl or container

Take brown play dough and squish it through a garlic press or a hair maker play dough toy. Press the strands of play dough very gently into the bowl so that you maintain the strands and don't mush them all together. Gently form a nest shape. Let dry for a few hours. Sunshine speeds up the drying time. The dough will turn a lighter color when it's dry.

For both nests, you can add eggs of play dough or clay, or use small painted or natural rocks that are egg shaped. Do be careful with small objects. I wouldn't do this with children who might put the "eggs" in their mouth. Older children might like learning about the different colors and sizes of bird's eggs.

Also See:

Fun and Tasty Easter Projects for Kids: Candy Nests

Bird Watching

Fun With Rocks

Learn more about Lauri Griffin

Lauri lives in Colorado with her husband and three sons. Amidst all the laundry and packing of lunches, she tries to keep parenting fun.

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Lessly (57396) 30 Mar 2008 04:46 PM

Do you have a picture of one?

Lauri Griffin (2703) 31 Mar 2008 06:30 AM

Lessly, I added a photo to the blog page so people could see how natural and cute these little nests are. Have fun making these!

JMcReynolds (95) 31 Mar 2008 10:15 AM

Could you use whole wheat spaghetti and save the painting step (although the painting might be more fun)? I think this project will wait a year or two, since they both like to eat the spaghetti, and the playdough is ALWAYS mushed together!