Nature activities for children
Looking for some wildlife-themed activities to inspire the kids? Browse our guide to nature activities for children for inspiration.
Published:
Here are some great nature-themed projects for children (and their parents) to get stuck into.
We’ve split these ideas into the following categories:
- Activities for the garden
- Get baking!
- Learn how to identify wildlife
- Books about activities for children (including our list of nature books for children and teenagers)
- More ideas for connecting with nature whilst inside (including game reviews, nature documentaries to stream, and wildlife webcams)
Activities for the garden
How to make a small pond for wildlife
Ornithologist, presenter and author Dan Rouse provides a step-by-step guide to creating a small pond by adapting items such as washing-up bowls, large plant pots or old sinks. Plus, find out how to identify what species might live in your pond.
How to monitor your garden wildlife
Watching your garden wildlife is not only enjoyable; recording your observations will contribute to important national data.
How to make a pine cone birdfeeder
Encourage hungry birds into your garden with this simple feeding station.
How to make a bird bath
Fresh water is essential for birds, and a bird bath is a simple way to provide it.
How to make a pooter
A pooter enables you to observe tiny insects without touching them and is an essential tool for any young wildlife enthusiast.
How to make a pitfall trap
Set up a pitfall trap to carry out a small-scale survey of the insects in your garden.
How to make a reptile rockery
A simple project to provide a hiding place and basking spot for lizards.
How to make a footprint tunnel
Use a footprint trap to find out which mammals visit your garden during the night.
How to make a kite, from BBC Countryfile Magazine
There are few joys as simple and exhilarating as flying a brightly coloured kite in the breeze. For great family fun, build your own kite with this easy step-by-step guide.
How to make leaf-pressed coasters, from BBC Countryfile Magazine
Capture the beauty of leaves in clay and display them in a pretty and practical way around your home, giving your coffee table a natural uplift.
How to draw feathers, from BBC Countryfile Magazine
One of the best ways to appreciate the splendour of a feather is by drawing it – follow these simple steps.
How to make a sea glass and driftwood mobile, from BBC Countryfile Magazine
Look out for driftwood and sea glass on your next beach trip to create this natural hanging decoration.
10 gardening projects for kids, from BBC Gardener’s World Magazine
These simple garden projects are a great way to get the kids outside, entertained and away from the TV or computer screen. Little ones will need a bit of extra help and guidance, while the more grown up can be given planning and decision-making responsibilities, and the use of tools such as hand drills and shears.
Get baking!
Foraging recipes
Fancy a spot of foraging? Blackberry picking is a great activity to do with children, and our recipes for blackberry pudding, bilberry muffins and wild cherry ice lollies are delicious! Learn how to identify wild fruits in our wild guide.
Our sister magazine, BBC Good Food, has loads of recipes for delicious food. Here are some inspired by wildlife:
Hedgehog rolls
Perky penguins
Spider biscuits
Spooky spider cakes
Chocolate spider cookies
Bunny cupcakes
White rabbit biscuits
Chocolate bat biscuits
Polar bear peppermint creams
Discover beautiful wildlife-inspired cakes created by BBC Wildlife readers.
Learn how to identify wildlife
Our wildlife ID guides will help you identify a range of wildlife – both in the garden and further afield. Here are some garden species to look out for:
How to identify rockpool wildlife
Heading to the coast this summer? Learn how to identify the different animals in a rockpool. Plus, how to identify seaweed and how to make a rockpool viewer.
Identify bird song and bird calls
Birder and author David Lindo explains the difference between bird calls and bird song, and how to learn how to identify bird song from different species.
How to tell the difference between a common frog and a common toad
Have you seen a frog or a toad? Pat Morris explains how you can tell them apart.
How to identify insects and invertebrates under stones and logs
Lifting up stones and logs and taking a look at the creatures below is always a fascinating activity. Our illustrated guide will help you identify some of the species you might find.
If you’re interested in identifying other insects and invertebrates, check out our guides to beetles, hoverflies, caterpillars and pond wildlife.
Books about activities for children
Read our recent reviews of books for younger readers.
365 Days Wild, by Lucy McRobert
The Bumper Book of Nature, by Stephen Moss
RSPB: Born To Be Wild, by Hattie Garlick
National Trust: Go Wild In The Woods, by
The Stick Book: Loads of things you can make or do with a stick, by
101 Things For Kids To Do Outside, by Dawn Isaac
More ideas for connecting with nature whilst inside
Play some games
Read BBC Wildlife Magazine‘s reviews of wildlife games, including a bird-themed Monopoly, matching butterfly wings cards, and an augmented reality mobile app.
Watch wildlife live around the world
There is a huge variety of animal livestreams available online – pandas, puppies, kittens, donkeys, sheep and more. We have focussed on wild animals (including wildlife rehabilitation) in our comprehensive list of wildlife webcams to livestream around the world.
Watch wildlife documentaries
Find the best nature documentaries of all time to stream from the comfort of home with our ultimate TV guide.
More online resources
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