With school out for summer, there may be a time or two when the kids say “I’m bored.” Just in case that happens, we’ve got some great ideas for ways to keep them entertained and having a GOLDEN experience while celebrating animals!

Birdfeeders

Grab some birdseed and then take a look around your home – and recycling bin – for something to use for a homemade birdfeeder! Here are some ideas:

  • Soup can
  • Gallon of milk
  • Milk carton
  • 2-liter bottle
  • Toilet paper roll
  • Pinecones

Make sure the recyclables have openings for the birds to reach in and eat their breakfast! Cut holes in the milk carton, soda bottle or milk gallon; tip the soup can on the side and slightly cover the opening to hold the seeds in. Decorate to your heart’s desire, fill with birdseed and hang it in a tree.
For the pinecones and toilet paper rolls, have the kids slather the item in peanut butter…then roll each in birdseed. Grab some twine or string and hang from a nearby branch.

Now, sit back and wait for the birds to flock in to eat! For more fun, take pictures of each bird who visits and research what type they are if you don’t already know.

Toilet Paper Roll Animals

If you’ve ever tossed away an empty toilet paper roll and contemplated what kind of craft you could possibly do with it instead, here you go! All you need is some colored construction paper and your kids’ imagination (plus some other crafty extras as you see fit).

First, cover the toilet paper roll in construction paper – possibly coordinating with the color of the animal you’ll be making, but that’s not a necessity – and stand the roll up. Then, cut out a circle of construction paper for the animal’s face and glue to the top edge of the toilet paper roll. Now, decorate! Add googly eyes, ears, paws, a tail, stripes, and more.

Animal ideas: A lion, tiger, elephant, bear, polar bear, panda bear, penguin, cat, dog, pig, zebra, hippo, rhino…and maybe even a goldfish or two? If you make a goldfish, we’d love to see it!

Animal Masks

Kids of all ages can make animal masks out of paper plates! To start, gather paper plates, ribbon or string scraps (to tie the masks on) and supplies to decorate with – markers or crayons, colored construction paper, glitter, sequins, feathers, cotton balls, etc.

Cut a paper plate in half. Then measure and cut out holes for eyes. Now, it’s time to let the creativity flow! Make a peacock face out of layers of colored construction paper, feathers and a beak. Or, try a deer with a little nose, ears and antlers. Perhaps an elephant with large, floppy ears and a trunk? The options are limitless!

Finally, make two small holes on either side of the face and thread a string or ribbon through it, making sure it fits around your child’s head. Enjoy!

Pretend to be a Fish

Well, not entirely – but kids as young as 4 months old can learn to swim at Goldfish Swim School! Visit a location near you to sign up today, and watch as our instructors use integrity, compassion and trust to teach kids to swim. We have tons of cool benefits to offer kids, including providing extraordinary results – and you’ll also notice our WOW! customer service!