Thanks to my baby boy, whose whispers about “birdies” hatched my idea for the Discovery Window (pardon the pun).

While toddlers love the great outdoors not every day is suitable for outside play. So how can we can bring a little of the outdoors inside and a little wonder and education to our toddlers at the same time?

The Discovery Window is simple to put together and the possibilities for education and entertainment are as wide as your child’s interests.

The discovery window allows your little one get up close and personal with birds, bees, and other critters when your pre-schoolers’ noisy ways might otherwise scare them off.

To get started simply pick a window, one your child can look out with ease or without breaking your rules!

Bring on the wonder: hang a variety of bird feeders, wind spinners, or birdhouses outside the window. You can place a birdbath near a first floor window or plant flowers just outside of a garden level window. As the flowers push through the soil and the bees pay a visit you will find your discovery window as busy as your pre-schooler.

Adding items like a wind spinner, thermometer, and rain gauge help start basic science discussions and teach children about weather.

Let your child assist in filling the feeders. While getting the job done (and making a mess let’s be real!) your kiddo will be stretching their developmental muscles, pouring, estimating, and learning what animals eat. As your child gets older she can help maintain a small window side garden.

The Discovery Window is yours to fill, be creative, let your children create or pick out the feeders or make it mom’s favorite too by including your own garden style. Decorate the window at holidays or change up the feeders seasonally to keep both the birds and your child interested.

It doesn’t matter if you have an apartment with balcony or only a window box, a house with picture windows or no trees at all, you can create a discovery window of your own for your child.

What works for us & the critters?

Our windows are not garden level so hanging the feeders under the eaves of the house works well. It keeps the feeders and houses out of the rain and snow so they last longer. The little bit of shelter also gives the birds a reprieve from rain and bitter wind in the winter.

In my feeders:

I recommend that you use safflower seeds to attract cardinals, jays, and other song birds. Grackles, house sparrows, and pigeons won’t eat this and the squirrels won’t bother your feeders as the seeds are very bitter! Safflower is available in 5 lb. bags at Wal-Mart in spring and early summer otherwise visit a local bird store or tractor supply year round. Make sure to store all birdseeds in an airtight plastic or metal container to keep rodents from having a field day! Cardinals love safflower and will literally be singing your praises for putting it out.

Use thistle seed in a feeder with small openings (it’s not cheap) to attract a wide variety of finches. If you want to avoid squirrels and common birds avoid store bought “wild bird seed mixes”, these contain filler which often ends up as a mess on the ground, however they are inexpensive and will attract birds none the less. Keep your feeders full and the birds will keep coming back.

Start creating your Discovery Window today and you will find that it attracts toddlers, song birds, and frazzled mothers alike. Bringing the outdoors into our home even on the coldest days of winter or noisiest days of toddlerhood brings both calm and cheer. Good luck and let me know what wonderful items you add to your Discovery Window.