Children are bored easily. It is not that difficult to find activities that will hold their interest, provide quality time together, and be educational. Studying from books in school is not the same as real life study. Children learn and retain more when real life study enters into the picture. Bird watching fits the category of being a fun activity that needn't cost a penny.

You can start the interesting bird watching hobby even before the kids are of school age. Bird watching begins with identifying the common birds you know like robin, crow, bluejay, seagull. From identification you move on to how high birds fly, where they like to sit, what they like to eat. Identification is not just about what the bird looks like, it is also about the sounds they make and what their eggs look like.

Bird watching in your own yard lets the kids learn which birds they share their space with. Teach them how important the birds are when they are eating the yucky bugs in the yard as well as the weed seeds. The earth belongs to us all and each living creature has a reason to be here. Learning respect for life begins at an early age.

Backyard bird watching also allows special attention to the birds nesting habits. In spring you and the kids can put up birdhouses and supply a pile of nesting material like dryer lint, old ribbons, strips of cotton cloth, hair from their brushes or the dog's. Cat hair will have the birds keeping their distance since they recognize the cat as a natural enemy. Robins use pieces of moss to line their nests when their eggs are just about to hatch.

If there doesn't seem to be enough birds to watch, you and your kids can set up a shallow birdbath and feeding station. Some birds eat seeds from a feeder, others forage on the ground like mourning doves. Crumble up the bread heels, crackers, and dry cereal the kids won't eat. Cut up fruit that is past its prime.

As one season changes to another, observe which birds stay, which migrate away, and which just stop by for a visit. When you find a bird you can't identify, turn to the internet for answers. ENature.com offers one of the best free online bird field guides available.

On rainy days, you and the kids can work on a blog about your bird watching. Wikipedia has lots of images you can use for free. Alternately you can create a scrapbook and maybe incorporate some photography into your bird watching hobby. These will be fun to share with friends and family.