Spring Nest Craft for Kids - Two Ways

They say necessity is the Mother of invention, and they aren’t lying. With the COVID-19 quarantine well underway, we’ve had to get more resourceful than ever before. I think this is a good thing? No running out to the store to get cheap plastic toys, just looking at what ya got!

We may be stuck at home, but Spring is in the air. The birds are chirping. The flowers are blooming, and everything is screaming GET OUTSIDE! Except it’s been raining almost non-stop.

So we decided to bring the outdoors in, with Spring birds nests - two ways. Both are extremely easy and used items we already had on hand.

NEST #1

Ages: 3 and up (they need to be out of the throwing things on the floor and putting things in their mouth stage)

Messy: medium

Time: 5-30 minutes depending on how many nests and if you use real or fake eggs

Materials: bowls, moss, eggs, flowers

I wanted a centerpiece for our table, so this was really for me LOL. This is good for most ages but if you are using antique porcelain and real eggs, you’ll need to assist. You can modify this with plastic eggs and baskets if needed.

We happened to have these quail eggs in our fridge. They are tiny so they were perfect for these bowls. I love the spotted pattern on them, so that meant to painting. Can it get any easier?! You’ll want to poke a hole in them to let the yolks out, just as you would Easter eggs (this is the part you’ll need to do yourself!).

They are seriously, so cute!

I used pretty bowls I had on hand from my vintage shop. You can use tea cups, baskets, whatever!

And this preserved moss which can be found at most craft stores. This variety pack is great for sensory-play.

Nest, I mean next (ha!), we started filling the bowls. This was great because there was really no wrong way to do it, meaning, I didn’t have to give instruction or monitor things. My daughter loved feeling the different textures of the mosses.

Then pile on the eggs!

Before we started, I had Lokee pick little flowers growing in the yard. We also have an abundance of Forsythia so it was perfect timing.

Ant there you have it!

There’s nothing better than an easy, kid-friendly craft that’s also pretty to look at!

Nest #2

Ages: All ages

Messy: no

Time: 5 minutes

Materials: pipe cleaners, plastic eggs

This one is great for learning fine motor skills. And other than the pipe cleaners, there’s really no mess unless…umm…you purchase a LIFETIME SUPPLY OF PIPE CLEANERS like I did and your little one dumps them all out on the floor. LOL

This one is so simple. Grab a plastic bowl or basket and let your child jumble up the pipe cleaners into a nest. This is great for developing fine motor skills. My daughter loved wrapping them around her finger to make spirals!

I found the plastic eggs to go on top at the dollar spot at Target. They feel like recycled plastic. Definitely more durable than the kind you fill (but you could use those too)

I’m sure I’ll be thinking of more ways to keep her entertained during this quarantine. These are such crazy times and we all have to try to keep from actually going CRAZY. Life is not meant to be spent indoors, away from people. That much is true. This whole experience has made me appreciate the small things so much more, so maybe that’s the silver lining?

Be well, friends!

-Katie