7 Lessons Kids Learn From Feeding The Ducks

With the schools closed and families social distancing, there isn’t a whole lot for my kids and I to do these days. We love the outdoors, and with spring here, we often take walks and go “visit” the ducks. Feeding the ducks is a great outdoor activity for kids to learn about nature.

Feeding the ducks teaches kids about bird behaviour. Children are fascinated at the way ducks dip their heads in the water and stick their tails up in the air. They like to watch them take flight and then land with a splash, or use their webbed feet to paddle upstream.

I’ve noticed lately that feeding the ducks has become more than just a fun past-time for my four daughters. Now that the ducklings and goslings have hatched, my kids are learning some valuable life lessons during our waterfowl adventures.

Classroom learning may be on pause for now, but here are 7 lessons my kids learn from feeding the ducks.

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Look Out For The Little guy

If you closely watch a family of ducks, or geese, you’ll notice the smallest duckling following behind the flock. If they are swimming, this little fella will be fighting the current harder than the others and, no doubt, trailing behind.

Mama or papa will circle back behind and help the little duckling until he/she rejoins the paddling.

Watching these birds look out for their smallest teaches my kids to do the same for each other.

Whether it is by demonstrating to my eldest daughter how to protect her younger sisters or showing my girls how to stand up for kids who are bullied – the ducks teach my children to form a tight circle around those that are less strong than themselves.

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Kids Grow Up Fast, So Seize The Moment

We walk down to the duck park about every other day, and my kids love to see how much their fluffy friends have grown since our last visit.

The ducklings and goslings start waddling out of their nests in early May at our local park. When first spotted, they are tiny enough to fit in your palm.

But, between each visit they have grown bigger and bolder.

With age comes independence, and my girls witness this rule of nature by watching their feathered friends. They are learning how quickly the stages of childhood pass and that it is important to appreciate every special milestone.

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Families Come In All Shapes And Sizes

There are a variety of duck and geese families at the pond.

Some are the traditional duck and drake pair, plus a couple of offspring.

There is also that over-tired duck couple with the stressed-out tone to their quacks. These poor parents have 15 little ducklings trailing behind them at our park!

Over by the rushing stream is where the single geese hang out. They honk and splash around, and seem generally uninterested in my kids.

But, my daughters have learned the most about how families come in different packages by watching the male drakes who pair-up together.

Now, I have no idea if ducks form same-sex relationships in nature, but my kids and I pretend they do and we like to keep tabs on these families too.

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Sometimes It’s Okay To Break The Rules

Like I mentioned, we visit the duck pond a lot! It is our go-to “what should we do now” activity.

We don’t bring food for the ducks everyday, because…well…we’re not supposed to feed them. There are signs up at the duck park telling people not to feed the waterfowl. There is a bylaw against it. I’ve read my children the sign – that feeding the birds can interfere with their natural feeding and migration patterns.

So, mostly, we just go to observe them.

But, occasionally, we break the rules too! We don’t do it often, but sometimes rules should be broken. The small ones, of course. The ones that give you a little thrill to break – that by thwarting them make you feel alive and want to live life with a bit of risk.

Note – I’ve learned that feeding the ducks lettuce scraps and duck pellets is better for their diet.

Mama’s Got Your Back

Have you ever walked past a mother (or father) goose who is with their young? Geese can be mean! If you come too close to their babies, a goose will hiss at you.

It is more menacing than it sounds.

A mother goose will raise up, spread out her wings, and flap and hiss as she runs at you. All with the purpose of protecting her goslings.

It scares my kids enough that they have learned not to approach one. There was one outing when we had to change our route because a goose was blocking the bridge like some nursery rhyme troll.

So now my kids have seen firsthand how a mama-goose will take-on any formidable threat to her babies.

Though it’s been awhile since I’ve hissed at anyone, the same goes for us mama-humans.

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Waddle Your Own Path

The ducks have my kids number! When we arrive at the pond, they swim or waddle over to see if we’ve brought any food.

My girls love the challenge of trying to toss crumbs to their favourite birds, which can be tricky with 15 waterfowl jockeying for prime position.

However, there is usually one clever duck who forges her own path. This trailblazer will break off from the others and approach my kids from a different angle – the results being she is rewarded with her own treats.

I want my girls to follow the example of that duck.

Don’t be afraid, my darlings, to break away from the group and try something new. Blaze your own trails in life and be rewarded for your ingenuity.

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How To Speak

This lesson is only for my youngest daughter, my just-turned 1-year-old.

After the word “mama”, “duck” is the next word she learned how to say.

As we approach the duck pond on our walks, she starts pointing her cute little finger and repeating “ducka, ducka, ducka” until pretty much the moment we head home.

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Feeding The Ducks: Activities For Kids

Here are some other fun activities for kids to do when feeding the ducks:

1. Count the ducks – this is especially fun when there are new ducklings and goslings at the pond.

2. Talk about duck behaviour – ask your kids questions such as; why they think the ducks float, how the ducks can swim so quickly, why do the ducklings follow their parents around, where do they go in the winter?

3. Sing a duck-themed song such as Five Little Ducks.

4. Make your own homemade duck feed:

2 cups Old Fashioned Quaker Oats

1 cup brown rice

1 bag assorted vegetables (peas, corn, carrots and green beans)

shredded lettuce or spinach

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