Listen, I know we’re all just trying to survive craft time without losing our minds (or finding glitter in our sheets for the next six months). Here’s my tried-and-true list of bird crafts that might—emphasis on might—keep your sanity intact while delighting those little artists. I’ve organized them by age, but you know your kiddo best!

Bird Crafts for Toddlers (1-2 years)

Handprint Birds

Handprint birds are cute bird crafts for toddlers.

Materials:

  • Washable paint (the “washable” part is crucial, trust me)
  • Construction paper
  • Googly eyes
  • Glue stick
  • Wet wipes (LOTS of them)

Instructions:

  1. Paint your toddler’s hand (while they wiggle and try to touch EVERYTHING)
  2. Press hand onto paper to create the “body” (horizontal palm) and “tail” (fingers)
  3. Add a googly eye and triangle beak once dry
  4. Hang on fridge before they decide to “fix it” with another color

Cotton Ball Baby Birds

Cotton ball baby birds are cute bird crafts for toddlers.

Materials:

  • Paper cupcake liners
  • Cotton balls
  • Yellow paint or food coloring
  • Googly eyes
  • Orange paper scraps
  • Glue

Instructions:

  1. Slightly tint cotton balls with yellow paint or food coloring
  2. Help little one stuff cotton balls into cupcake liner “nest”
  3. Add googly eyes and paper triangle beak
  4. Watch as they immediately try to remove and eat the eyes (because of course they will)

Paper Plate Chicks

A paper plate painted in yellow representing a chicken.

Materials:

  • Small paper plates
  • Yellow paint or crayons
  • Orange construction paper
  • Glue stick
  • Googly eyes

Instructions:

  1. Let your little one color/paint the plate yellow (and probably their arms too)
  2. Cut small triangle for beak (you do this part unless you enjoy heart palpitations)
  3. Help them glue on beak and eyes
  4. Marvel at how they call it a “duck” despite your repeated “it’s a chick” explanations

Bird Crafts for Preschoolers (3-5 years)

Toilet Paper Roll Owls

Toilet paper roll owls are easy bird crafts for preschoolers.

Materials:

  • Empty toilet paper rolls (the only time hoarding them feels justified)
  • Brown paint
  • Construction paper scraps
  • Googly eyes
  • Feathers
  • Glue

Instructions:

  1. Paint toilet paper roll brown
  2. Cut out wings and ears from paper
  3. Glue on eyes, beak, and wings
  4. Add feathers (warning: they will use ALL the feathers)

Pine Cone Bird Feeders

A pine cone bird feeder.

Materials:

  • Pine cones
  • Peanut butter (or sun butter for allergies)
  • Birdseed
  • String
  • Paper plates
  • Old clothes for everyone involved

Instructions:

  1. Tie string around pine cone
  2. Spread peanut butter all over pine cone (every crevice will somehow also get peanut butter)
  3. Roll in birdseed on paper plate
  4. Hang outside and wait for birds (prepare for 73 questions about “when will birds come?”)

Craft Stick Bird Puppets

A craft stick bird puppet painted in orange, with a googly eye and a yellow feather.

Materials:

  • Large craft sticks
  • Construction paper
  • Feathers
  • Googly eyes
  • Glue
  • Scissors
  • Markers

Instructions:

  1. Cut out simple bird shapes from construction paper
  2. Glue bird shape to the top of craft stick
  3. Add googly eyes, paper beak, and feathers
  4. Let preschooler decorate with markers
  5. Prepare for a puppet show that makes absolutely no sense but is apparently hilarious

Paper Bag Bird Nests

Paper bag bird nests are cute bird crafta for lids.

Materials:

  • Brown paper lunch bags
  • Scissors
  • Easter grass or shredded paper
  • Plastic or paper eggs
  • Markers or paint
  • Toy birds or make simple birds from pom-poms

Instructions:

  1. Cut down paper bag to about half height
  2. Roll the top edges down to form a nest shape
  3. Let kids decorate the outside with markers/paint
  4. Fill with Easter grass or shredded paper
  5. Add eggs and toy birds

Bird Crafts for Early Elementary (6-8 years)

Paper Plate Bird Masks

A paper plate bird mask painted in orange color and with attached colorful feathers.

Materials:

  • Paper plates
  • Paint/markers
  • Feathers
  • Elastic string
  • Scissors
  • Craft knife (adult use only)
  • Glue

Instructions:

  1. Cut eye holes (adults only)
  2. Let kids paint/color the plate to look like their favorite bird
  3. Add feathers around edges
  4. Attach elastic for wearing
  5. Prepare for bird sounds ALL DAY LONG

Clothespin Birds

Clothespin birds are easy bird crafts for kids.

Materials:

  • Wooden clothespins
  • Paint
  • Felt scraps
  • Googly eyes
  • Small pom-poms
  • Glue

Instructions:

  1. Paint clothespin body
  2. Cut small wings from felt
  3. Glue on eyes, beak (pom-pom), and wings
  4. Let dry completely
  5. Clip birds anywhere and everywhere

Recycled Bird Feeders

A recycled bird feeder crafted by kids.

Materials:

  • Empty plastic bottles
  • Wooden spoons or popsicle sticks
  • String
  • Bird seed
  • Scissors (adult use)
  • Permanent markers for decorating

Instructions:

  1. Cut small holes in opposite sides of bottle (adult job)
  2. Push wooden spoon or popsicle stick through holes to create perches
  3. Cut another hole above perch for birds to access seed
  4. Let kids decorate bottle with markers
  5. Fill with seed and hang outside

Egg Carton Birds

Egg carton birds painted in different colors.
  1. Materials:
  2. Egg carton cups (cut apart)
  3. Paint
  4. Pipe cleaners
  5. Googly eyes
  6. Construction paper
  7. Glue

Instructions:

  1. Paint egg cup for bird body
  2. Cut wings and beak from construction paper
  3. Add googly eyes
  4. Use pipe cleaner pieces for feet and attachments
  5. Can make a whole family of different birds!

Bird Crafts for Older Kids (9-12 years)

Origami Birds

Materials:

  • Colorful square paper
  • Markers for details
  • Patience (mostly yours)

Instructions:

  1. Follow basic origami bird instructions (YouTube is your friend here)
  2. Add details with markers
  3. Display proudly because, seriously, folding paper into recognizable shapes deserves recognition

Felt Bird Stuffies

Felt birds in yellow, light blue and green.

Materials:

  • Felt in various colors
  • Needle and thread (child-safe needles exist!)
  • Polyester stuffing
  • Fabric scissors
  • Fabric markers or embroidery thread for details

Instructions:

  1. Cut two identical bird shapes from felt
  2. Sew around edges, leaving opening for stuffing
  3. Stuff bird
  4. Sew opening closed
  5. Add details with markers or simple embroidery

Mini Bird Houses

A mini bird house made with a box painted in light blue.

Materials:

  • Small milk cartons or juice boxes, cleaned and dried
  • Acrylic paint
  • Popsicle sticks
  • Twine or string for hanging
  • Hot glue gun (with supervision)
  • Scissors
  • Decorative items (buttons, beads, small sticks)

Instructions:

  1. Cut a circular entrance hole in the carton
  2. Paint the entire carton
  3. Use popsicle sticks to create a roof or details
  4. Decorate with natural elements
  5. Add string for hanging
  6. Display outside (whether birds use it or not, it looks adorable)

Needle Felted Birds

Two needle felted birds.

Materials:

  • Wool roving in various colors
  • Felting needles (with serious supervision)
  • Foam pad for working surface
  • Wire for legs (optional)
  • Beads for eyes

Instructions:

  1. Start with a basic ball shape for body
  2. Add smaller ball for head
  3. Use felting needle to attach pieces and create shape
  4. Add details with colored wool
  5. Add beads for eyes and wire for legs if desired

Bird Mobile

A bird mobile with four birds made of clay.

Materials:

  • Air-dry clay
  • Paint
  • String or fishing line
  • Sticks or dowels
  • Acrylic sealer
  • Beads (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Form small birds from clay
  2. Let dry completely
  3. Paint birds in desired colors
  4. Seal with acrylic sealer when dry
  5. Attach string and hang from sticks in a balanced mobile

I swear by these activities for those “Mom, I’m boooooored” moments that seem to happen approximately 47 times per day during school breaks. Just remember: the mess is temporary, but those little bird crafts will migrate to every surface of your home permanently.

Remember, the goal isn’t Pinterest-worthy creations—it’s those little faces beaming with pride when they show you their masterpiece (even when you have absolutely no idea what bird species it’s supposed to be). Happy crafting, fellow brave souls!

Looking for more inspiration for easy and fun crafts for kids? Explore these:

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