Winter Activity for Kids: Stale Bread Birdfeeders

Please note: Bread is a known filler for birds, so you can use a pine cone instead if they are available.

As the weather gets colder and you need some indoor activities to keep kids busy, here's an oldie but a goodie: sit them at the kitchen table and have them transform stale slices of grainy bread into bird feeders that will keep cold-weather visitors happy outside your window.

All you need is a shallow dish of birdseed (available at most grocery or department stores, or even the dollar store) and some peanut butter or other nut butter.

Leave the bread out to dry completely. Then, using a thick needle, thread string — or a wire or twist tie — through the top of the bread slice (leave enough bread on top that it doesn't pull through), then spread sticky nut butter on both sides.

Douse each side in birdseed, turning it to coat and attach it to a sturdy branch in your back yard. Breakfast is served!

This post was originally published in November 2013, and was updated with video January 2020.