Best DIY project I've done: birdhouse with the kids

Dec 241 min read

Picked up some untreated cedar from Lowes, cut it into pieces (I did the cuts, kids did assembly), painted them with outdoor paint. Total project maybe 90 minutes with my 6 and 9 year olds. Cost like $25 for materials to make 3 birdhouses. Now we're checking them daily with binoculars. So much easier than some of the Pinterest projects I've tried and the kids are actually engaged.

Pro tips:

Skip the stain, just paint
Pre-drill holes so kids can actually drive the screws
Make it small - one afternoon max

11 comments400 views

Comments(11)

BBob G.RegularDec 24

This is the kind of project that they'll actually remember. My kids still talk about the birdhouse we made like 2 years ago. Not because it was complicated but because we did it together.

DDave K.RegularDec 24

This is the template for good dad projects tbh - under 2 hours, actual tool use but supervised, and they have something to show for it. Lowes is like a perfect source for this kind of stuff.

PPete S.RegularDec 24

Untreated cedar is smart. My first birdhouse was treated and lasted like 2 seasons before paint started peeling. Cedar actually holds up. Good call letting the 6yo help with assembly too - they can't usually do cuts but they can nail/screw stuff.

FFrank T.RegularDec 26

We did the same project last month and our 9yo is still checking it daily for birds. Idk if anything will nest in it but he doesn't care - he built it. That ownership is everything.

DDante J.New DadDec 24

Did they want to put it up right away or were they okay waiting? My kids always want immediate results but building something to hang is hard for them mentally.

EEli L.RegularDec 25

doing the cuts yourself and letting them do assembly is the right call. Keeps it safe but they still get to build something real. Way better than one of those pre-cut kits where they just glue stuff.

BBen D.RegularDec 26

This is the kind of project that sticks with them forever too. Not some plastic toy, something they made that serves an actual purpose. That's worth way more than the $20 it costs.

HHank C.RegularDec 26

The cost part is key here too. Didn't need some fancy kit, just actual materials and time. That's the whole point.

FFritz N.RegularDec 26

90 minutes is perfect for that age - long enough to feel accomplished but short enough they don't get bored and lose interest. The cedar choice is smart too, won't rot in a season.

NNeil C.New DadDec 26

90 minutes with both kids actually working and not fighting? That's a win. The birdhouse is cool but getting them engaged together is the real project.

WWalter T.RegularDec 27

untreated cedar is clutch - none of that pressure-treated stuff. How long did the painting take? That's usually where mine lose patience with projects.