Birdhouses For Kids To Make

Building birdhouses with your child is not only good for the child's motor and creative skills but it can also help your child build a better understanding of nature. Here are some ideas for simple birdhouses for kids to make.

One of the easiest birdhouses for a kid to make is made out of an empty half-gallon milk carton. Make sure that the milk carton is washed thoroughly and dried before you start constructing it. First recluse the milk carton and staple it shut. Then wrap the entire milk carton with 2" masking tape so that none of the original carton shows. Rub the wrapped carton with shoe polish or color it with markers so that it resembles tree bark. Make a hole in the side of the carton so the birdhouse has a doorway. Poke several holes in the bottom of the carton with a sharp pen to make holes so that water can drain out when it rains. Pierce another hole in the top of the milk carton through which string or wire can be threaded to hang it from a tree.

You can also build a birdhouse using paper mache and balloons. The recipe for papier mache is newspaper strips boiled in water for thirty minutes and two cups of flour. You then construct this unusual round birdhouse by layering strips of papier-mache over the balloon but at the same time making sure that you leave a hole that will serve as the bird's front door. Once the papier-mâché has dried you can pop the balloon, paint the papier-mâché with brightly colored paint and hang it in a tree.

Another one of the simple birdhouses for kids to make is created out of an old garden hat. Simply find an old straw hat and tape fabric to the bottom of it so that it makes an enclosed structure. Make a hole in the side of the hat for a doorway and suspend this from a tree. The birds will use the rim of the hat as a perch.

Another idea is to build a nesting shelf for barn swallows, robins or phoebes. These can be made from any wooden box that does not have a lid and that is roughly the size of a shoebox. All this shelf needs is a hook that is situated so that the rectangular box can hang vertically. The birds will naturally roost and build their nests in the open cavity. This type of "open" birdhouse can easily be nailed to a tree, fence post or front porch.

Another very simple project for kids is a nesting cone for doves. Doves dislike birdhouses and instead prefer to hang around in trees. Unfortunately they also build very flimsy nests that are quickly blown away by the wind and rain. To make a more secure home for doves, simply take a foot long length of finely meshed screen and wrap it into a cone shape. You can stabilize this armature using tiny pieces of wire. The dove cone nest is then placed high up in a tree so that the birds recognize it as a good place to build their next home.

Bird watching is a fun, inexpensive activity for families. You can reserve a special space for bird feeders anywhere in your yard, and throughout the year watch the variety of birds that come to visit. If your child is a little older and can handle hammer, nails and glue there are a large variety of plans for birdhouses that kid can make available for free all over the internet. Usually the provider of the plans can tell you what age group the project is best suited for. Your library is a superb source of blueprints for many types of nest boxes. In addition, your state wildlife or provincial wildlife department or boy or girl scout troupe may offer free, or inexpensive waxed cardboard bluebird boxes, which only require folding to create a sturdy little structure.

You can also buy commercial bird house kits for kids that come with pre cut lumber, galvanized screws and bird-friendly non-toxic paint. Once again these are for older children who are more experienced with carpentry and handling sharper tools.

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Top Reasons Why an Aerobed is Better Than a Sleeper Sofa Or a Cot Type Folding Bed

The Aerobed Air Mattress is nearing its two decades of existence. That's a lot of years of providing great comfort and well rested sleep for a lot of people who have patronized the product. In the past these beds have been viewed as beds just for camping or travel, but more and more people are realizing how useful these beds are for visitors to your home; both kids and adults.

It is a known fact that nothing beats a good rest. And it can only be achieved if you have the most comfortable bed or mattress to lie down on. But do you have to buy air mattress beds to have that ultimate in sleeping convenience? Let us take a closer look at the other alternatives that you can buy and you probably have been used to all these years.

Folding Bed

Almost every home has one, especially apartments and those that do not have an extra room or space for another full sized bed. By itself it is not so comfortable to use because it is usually made of hard materials. However you can put kapok or other softer mattresses over it so you can have a better sleeping time.

Sleeper Sofa

There are many types of this sofa variant. This is a bigger alternative to an air mattress or any ordinary mattress. It is really a full sized sofa that has a part, usually under the sofa, that allows you to pull out the mattress portion. This will then transform the sofa into a complete bed. All you need to do is to put a bed sheet over it and a soft pillow and your guest is all set for a comfy all-nighter. However, these type sofas are generally know for being a very heavy piece of furniture.

Sofa Bed Mattress

Any sofa bed or sleeper sofa needs an actual mattress, usually as an addition to the existing cushion or upholstery which is normally not soft or comfortable enough for most people. This is a great thing because you can then choose the sofa bed style that you want, and then separately pick and purchase a mattress for it. What this means is that even if you don't like the cushion that comes with the sofa that you like, you can just get another mattress to put over it.

Now that we have listed and described the three main alternatives to an Aerobed, why should you still prefer the latter? One good reason is for the comfort that it provides to the sleeper. Because it is made of air, you can easily adjust the softness or the firmness of the bed just by adding or letting out more air. It's all your choice.

Second, you can easily store away an Aerobed in a closet, under another bed or just put it aside in a corner. By simply deflating it, you can pack it wherever you want.

Third, with an air mattress frame you can raise the air mattress off the floor. There are many designs and styles available that you can choose from. If you don't want to use a frame you can still be raised off the floor some by getting an Aero bed Raised. This style is a little more comfortable for adults because it is easier to get up and down to and from. Kids typically like the Aerobed For Kids version.

In the end, it is still your own choice on whichever type of bed that you want to use in your home. However, keep in mind the many factors that you should consider like the amount space that you have, the ease of use (especially during times when you have surprise guests), and also the durability of the product. You are after all buying another piece of furniture that you will certainly expect to give you service for many years to come.

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Best Twin Bed Frames to Accommodate Kids Mattresses

Every mother loves to decorate her child's room. If you have kids in your house then you can accessorize their room with the help of a good bed with twin bed frames. Your kid's room is generally small - that is why installing a twin frame bed would be very convenient for you. It would not only help you in saving money and space but would also make the room look more trendy and attractive. The beds have solid built-in wood or metal panels on top of which you can easily accommodate mattresses. The bed provides more support and comfort while your child is sleeping.

So, now let us look at some important things that you need to keep in mind while purchasing this product for your child.

1. Considering the bed
A typical twin frame bed usually contains a rail system, a bed frame, box spring, headboard and mattresses. If you are purchasing the fame bed for your kid's room then there is no need to install a separate box spring. They have a very solid slat support system that makes the bed solid and sturdy. Your kid would surely feel safe when he or she is sleeping in this bed.

2. Price of the bed
I would like to tell you that the kid's twin frame bed is not at all expensive and you can easily purchase it whenever desired. If you are investing your hard earned money on this product then it would surely help you in saving a large amount of cash.

3. Style factor
These beds are designed in a simple manner but they are very stylish. They have a very good support features that provides comfort to your kids while they are playing on the bed. The bed does not have a box spring that is why you are provided a large storage area underneath the bed. If you want you can also install additional drawers and storage containers for keeping your kid's toys and other stuff.

4. Customized beds
Your kid's beds are usually near to the ground surface that is why there is no danger of your kid falling from the bed while sleeping. Foot boards that are provided with the mattresses make sure that your kid is safe all the time.

So, the next time you are looking for the perfect bed for your kids you must purchase the twin frame bed with comfortable mattress and easy support system.

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Goal Setting Activities For Kids

The power of setting and achieving goals is perhaps the most significant lesson a child can learn. Whether your child wants to be a doctor, a professional athlete, a teacher or a scientist, goal setting should be a key aspect of their lives.

Here are some goal setting activities for kids that will help in their development as children, and perhaps as adults as well:

Let their imaginations run wild:

Kids have unlimited imaginations. Get them to think about their goals and to use their imaginations to visualize what they want to achieve. Let them imagine what they would like to become, what they want to do, where they want to live, and who they want to be.

Writing goals down:

Get them into the habit of writing down things they want to achieve every week or every month. It can be really simple like what level they want to reach in the video game they're playing, or how many points they want to score when they play sports, or how much of their pocket money they can save every week.

Once they get into the habit of writing down their goals for small activities, they will feel at ease with the idea of writing down their goals of the bigger things they want to accomplish. This may be one of the simplest goal setting activities for kids, but also the most beneficial.

Develop plans:

Once the kids have defined their goals, perhaps with your assistance, they must create a plan of actions that they must take to achieve their goals. This is an important factor of goal setting activities for kids. It will teach them that they will need to develop plans as to how to achieve anything.

Regularly checking whether they are on the right track will also teach them to remain focused, or to adjust their plans if it is necessary.

Remaining focused:

Get them into the routine of reading their list of goals every day, preferably before they go to bed and after they wake up. This will keep them focused on what their goals are and will get them to continually think about their goals.

Celebrate accomplishments:

Perhaps the most enjoyable and most rewarding of the goal setting activities for kids is to allow the kids to celebrate after achieving a goal. Give them something as a surprise reward for the dedication, focus and persistence they displayed during the process of achieving the goals.

Goal setting activities for kids should be fun and enjoyable. They also contain valuable life lessons for the kids that will serve them well right into their adult years.

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Redecorating Your Kid's Room With Metal Beds and Sheets

As your kids begin to grow older, they start to express the need to have a more personalized room. This is the perfect time to remodel their bedroom. Aside from the overall decor, there a several add-ons available that will make your little boy or girl ecstatic. This is by adding metal beds and personalized bed sheets. This brings a bit of style in your child's rooms. Metal beds are a practical and inexpensive way to modify room space. The metal beds come in standard sizes, which make it easier to fit in mattresses and children themed bed sheets.

It comes in single beds, double beds and bunk beds. The bunk beds are a great way to maximize room space, particularly if you have two kids that share one room. For boys, there are several widespread styles for kid's bedroom sets you can get in stock. The athletics design is most likely the most popular. Basketball, football, soccer, baseball as well as hockey are an array of frequent observed for comforter sets and several pieces could even be group or player specific. An example would be, a grown up boy's room may be entirely furnished in a LA Laker's basketball team concept, and this includes his bedding. Anime and cartoons sets may also be accepted for the boys bedding option at the same time. Disney world generally has the greatest choices of toons and motion pictures for these comforter sets.

As for girls, there are kids' bedroom sets that are available. In fact, there are countless numbers of choices that are available in the market. Purple and pink are common shades for young girls and the bedding may include these shades in numerous layouts. Young girls would love single sized metal beds. It makes them feel more independent. Polka dots, lines, blooms, stars and rainbows are just some of the most popular styles for pink and purple comforter sets for girls. Several young girls are fond of fairies and princesses, such as Tinker bell and Cinderella. They can be an excellent style to choose for their bedding. These patterns come in several shades as well, to ensure that the bed linen can easily compliment with overall room decoration. Young girls are usually a little more particular and distinct with their pillows and comforters as well as bedroom plans therefore constantly ask for your daughter's ideas and feedback. Since of course, it is actually their bedroom.

Metal beds have numerous benefits. They can be used as adornments. You can combine them with other accents in the room. They can be used to establish or improve a particular theme. They are also eye-catching and can be used to boost a set look. If you want to remodel your kid's bedroom, you can search for other themes and suggestions on the Internet before heading out to buy what you need. Since there is a lot of metal beds available, it not hard to get one that your little one will like. It is possible to get one to match the different decors since they are available in various finishes and styles.

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"Go to Bed, Now!" My Wife's Secret Method For Getting the Kids to Bed

Coming home to a warm hearth and home after a day of work is one of Dad's favorite parts of the day. After hours of irate client phone calls, financial balance sheets, monotonous factory work or even for work-at-home dads, coming home to a warm dinner, warm home and warm hugs from his loved ones is one of the very reasons we go to work.

Coming home at 9:30 one night, I was expecting to hear a "welcome home, honey!" from my wife, or, since we live in Japan, the Japanese greeting, "okaerinasai!" (Welcome home). What I heard from Emiko instead was a groan of disappointment and frustration. Was my coming home so terrible?

As is always the case, she had her reasons: the kids had just about drifted off to sleep when they heard my key in the front door lock. Eyes were re-opened, the "Daddy's home!" festival began.

Now far be it from me to refuse an invitation to wrestle with my 3 and 5 year old. Getting smothered with kisses from the 3 year old princess is one of the highlights of my day...however, the wrestling and kissing escalated to screaming and singing, jumping and dancing. At close to 11:00, it was getting late. And tomorrow was a preschool day.

After a few of these nights, we parents realized we had to make some changes.

Emiko at first suggested I just come home later, say 11:00, when the kids were asleep. "Just a minute," I replied, "I want to come home and see my kids!"

Finally, in a moment of genius, Emiko drew up a chart and posted it on the wall. It was full of fun drawings of our kids doing the behaviors that we all agree we should be aiming for. Getting up by 7:00. Eating breakfast, changing clothes, getting to preschool by 9:00. In the afternoon, helping mom, taking a bath, eating dinner with nice manners, brushing teeth, to bed by 9:00. You get the idea.

So for each activity, under each child's name, they can, if they accomplish their task, get a sticker. That's it. Just a little colorful "dot" next to each activity. The child decides by themself if they will reward themselves a sticker. Get ten in a day and you get a BIG sticker for that day.

Not high-tech, at all. But it's posted on the wall, and best of all, it works. When you make yours, get the kids to input some of the activities and behaviors they should shoot for. Giving them a voice in how they are disciplined helps them "buy in" and feel ownership and responsibility for their own behavior. Make it colorful, and fun, a game with no losers. I think you'll be amazed by the changes in motivation you'll see.

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Creating the Perfect Fantasy Kids Rooms

The first step to creating a fantasy kids room for your kid is to identify his or her fantasy. Does your child want to be a race car driver or an astronaut, a deep sea diver or a forest ranger, a Princess or a Pirate? To begin creating your kids fantasy bedroom, then, find out what your child's idea of a perfect fantasy kids room is.

The best fantasy kids rooms are those designed around a theme. Why? Because when all the individual elements of a bedroom contribute to the same overall vision, it creates a unity of elements and gives the room a comforting sense of wholeness that a slapdash jumble of every cool accessory and idea that catches their fancy can never give.

Help your child choose a theme for their fantasy kids room and you'll be able to create an entire world of their own that they can immerse themselves in with pleasure and delight.

Some fantasy theme room ideas for boys include: tropical jungle safari, ocean voyage, space voyage, vehicles (planes, trains, automobiles), construction zone, medieval kingdom, rock star, the Wild West - and so on.

Some fantasy theme room ideas for girls include: tea party, floral meadow or garden, Princess, movie star's dressing room, prima ballerina, carnival, animals, undersea world - and so on.

Once you and your child have settled on a theme, a easy way to begin designing a fantasy kids room around that theme is with a custom theme bed as its centerpiece. A little boy wanting a jungle fantasy theme room, for example, will go ape for a custom treehouse bed. A little girl wanting a Princess fantasy theme room, on the other hand, will treasure a custom castle bed. The possibilities are endless!

The added benefit of starting with a custom theme bed is that you can them create the rest of the fantasy kids room around that one prominent item.

A great next step is to select a color scheme based on the theme and custom bed. Pick pillows, bedding, curtains, borders, rugs, carpet, paint, wallpaper, furniture, accessories, all to compliment that color scheme. Oceanic scenes (whether above or below the sea), for example, will have a lot of blues. Garden parties and jungle safaris will have a lot of greens. You can see how easy it is to come up with colors once you've first chosen a theme.

The final step in the process, then, becomes simply to accessorize. Animal-themed fantasy kids rooms, for example, might call for some stuffed animals placed about, castle fantasy kids rooms (whether for a Princess or a Prince) might benefit from a coat of arms on the wall. Again, the ideas are endless.

So sit down with your kids as soon as you can, and start designing the fantasy kids rooms that will make their fantasies come true.

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