If you’re looking for a fun, screen-free activity for kids, bird feeding might be the easiest way to get your kids off the I-pads and into the garden. The secret is, catching their attention doesn’t start with bird books or long explanations, it’s about bringing new and exciting birds into your garden.
While tech time is something your kids are undoubtedly nagging for in 2026, children still need to experience the outdoors, and birding is the perfect family activity to get your little ones excited.
Here’s why it’s the perfect outdoor activity:
The more birds you attract, the more your garden turns into something kids actually want to check in on.
Most South African garden birds are seed eaters, but not all seeds are created equal. Different birds show up for different snacks.
Using the right mix isn’t just about feeding birds, it’s how you decide who shows up.
Westerman’s Garden Bird Mix
Best for:
Why:
A more basic blend with larger grains, it’s perfect for getting started and attracting common garden visitors.
Westerman’s Wild Bird Winter Mix
These are your everyday, always-hungry guests:
Why:
A balanced mix of added suet nibs and crumbs for extra fat, perfect if you want variety and more activity in your garden during winter.
Simple rule:
More variety in your seed = more variety in your birds.
Birds learn quickly.
Once they know your garden has food, they’ll return, often at the same time each day.
That’s when kids start to:
You don’t need to be a bird expert to raise curious kids. You just need to make your garden interesting enough to look at.
Once they start arriving…
your kids won’t want to miss it.
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