Preschoolers and older actually. I just like alliterative titles.
Children should spend more time outside. There are many benefits such as higher levels of creativity and less depression. One of the major barriers to children enjoying the great outdoors (in my opinion) is lack of knowledge. We never ask children to do math problems without some education. So why should we ask them to go outside without education about how to enjoy their time? I know that my time in Boy Scouts was integral in developing my appreciation of nature. Children do not need a formal organization; parents can act as naturalist guides. Spending time together outside is a great way for families to grow closer.
In comes birdwatching. As a low-impact activity, birdwatching is one of the easiest ways to spend time outside. It requires a relatively small investment: a couple of binoculars and any small patch of trees or water. Birds are everywhere. You do not need to find a pristine national park to partake. I have taken my preschool-aged son out to “look at birdies” many times and want to share my experiences and successes with anyone who might be interested.
The most important consideration for birdwatching with young children is the equipment. Most binoculars have a focus knob to sharpen the image depending on the distance of the target object. Preschoolers lack the hand-eye coordination necessary to operate the focus knob. Nobody wants to handle a tantrum when the little one is frustrated because they can’t see anything. Instead, get a pair of FIXED FOCUS binoculars. Some companies use the terms autofocus or free focus. There are plenty of options by well-known companies such as Bushnell and Tasco. I bought my son a small pair of 6×16 binoculars that was marketed for kids. It is bright blue and comes with a colorful lanyard. However, older children might like the more “mature looking” and powerful options available.
After the equipment, you want to think about the identification. Identifying and recording bird sightings is the basis of the entire hobby. Although the Merlin app by Cornell is what I use for my recording, when I am with my son, I always bring a physical field guide. I find it easier to show him the bird in a book rather than on a phone. Also, your traditional binoculars might be powerful, so you will see a clearer image of any bird. I make it a point to not ask my son to examine any bird I am unable to identify with my naked eyes. I ask him to focus on the most obvious aspects of the bird. I like to use questions such as, “What color is the bird’s beak?”. I use the field guide and identify the bird before letting him look at the book. Instead of telling him which bird it is, I point to the two or three birds visible on the page and ask him which one we are looking at. I try to give him as much input as possible. My goal is that he enjoys himself, not that I add to my life list.
Finally, I want to talk about the importance of location. Parks are usually close and full of pigeons and other ground-based birds. However, I think lakes and wetlands are better for young children. Wetlands attract a wider variety of birds. More importantly, wetlands attract “slow” birds. I call ducks, herons, egrets, and the like slow birds since they are the types of birds that will stay still for a long time which is good for young children. The only downside is that these birds may be too far for kids’ binoculars. You may need to walk a bit to find a bird close enough to identify with your eyes.
If you think you want to try birdwatching with your children, I recommend reading this great article from REI about how to choose binoculars. While binoculars can be expensive, the pair I got my son was only about $20. When I first got into the hobby, I used a pair of $50 Bushnells and they worked fine. Eventually, when I realized I this was a hobby I wanted to pursue, I upgraded and spent around $400 for my current pair. Like any hobby, your interest should drive your spending. Don’t jump into the deep end all at once.
The Keasy Depot 