Introducing Babies to Birds

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

02 Jun 2008 01:41 PM

Perhaps it is the fact that my mother used to call me a Butterball turkey (I was a fat baby) or the many references to feathering one's nest in preparation for a child or having a nesting instinct, but I have always seen an association between babies and birds. Both are delicate creatures that are tiny, cute and can make a lot of noise.

Introducing your baby to birds can be a fun and educational experience for you both. Through birds, you can introduce the following concepts:

Colors from a bright red cardinal to a dull brown mourning dove, brilliant white swans with black beaks, all black crows, blue bluejays, yellow canaries, etc.

Sounds such as the sharp call of a crow, the gentle cooing of a mourning dove, the bright song of a sparrow

Sizes that vary from the small tufted titmouse to the large hawk, the tiny chickadee and the tall crane

Names of birds may be difficult to master, but naming the different kinds of birds introduces your baby to different words, syllables and patterns, things that are important to language mastery. And some names are just plain silly, such as the yellow bellied sap sucker.

Texture can be explored through books or through assimilation. For example, you can talk about how a chick is soft and fluffy and then offer a craft feather for your baby to feel. Although there are other ways to explore the texture of birds such as through petting zoos, I would suggest that you keep the safety of your baby foremost in mind.

To introduce your baby to birds, go out into nature, whether it is your own backyard or a nature preserve. Just stop to listen and observe. Consider building a birdhouse or a feeding center right outside a window to encourage the birds to come to you. Check out board books, CDs and videos from the library. These are all great ways to introduce babies to birds.

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. Starting June 1st, don't miss her articles in the Baby Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.

Related Articles:

Our Backyard Birds

Identifying Backyard Birds: Cardinals

Identifying Backyard Birds: Mourning Doves

Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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