Let me tell you about the time I discovered that combining small children, melted lard, and several pounds of bird seed could result in something other than a call to professional cleaners.

Making bird seed cakes with kids turns out to be one of those rare activities that’s equal parts mess and magic. Picture this: your kitchen counter becomes command central, with eager little hands ready to dive into what can only be described as the world’s most bird-friendly baking session.

You’ll need bird seed (any mix will do, though I find the ones with sunflower seeds make the birds particularly happy), a block of lard that will make you question your life choices, some string for hanging, and whatever cookie cutters you can rescue from the back of your drawer. Pro tip: those Christmas shapes work just fine – birds aren’t picky about whether their dinner comes shaped like a star or a heart.

The fun starts with melting the lard, which I promise is less dramatic than it sounds. While you handle the hot stuff, let the kids measure the bird seed. Yes, they’ll probably spill some. Actually, they’ll definitely spill some, but that’s part of the ‘charm’. Mix the melted lard with the seed until it looks like something between wet sand and granola gone wrong.

Here’s where those little helpers really shine; pressing the mixture into molds. Make sure to thread the string through before filling – unless you want to create some very fancy ground feeding stations instead. The kids will love squishing and pressing the mixture down, and you’ll love watching their concentrated faces as they work on their ‘masterpieces.’

Pop these creations in the fridge until they’re solid. It usually takes a couple of hours, or about the time it takes to vacuum up the first round of spilled seed. Once they’re hard, they should pop right out of the molds, ready to be hung in your garden.

The real payoff comes when you hang them outside. There’s something magical about watching your kids press their faces against the window, waiting for the first brave bird to sample their creation. They’ll squeal with delight at every visitor, and you’ll find yourself becoming an amateur bird watcher by default.

And here’s the thing nobody tells you: while you’re sweeping up seed and picking it out of mysterious places, your kids are actually learning. They’re learning about birds, about helping animals in winter, about following steps to create something useful. They’re developing their motor skills, practicing patience, and experiencing the joy of making something with their own hands.

Just remember: as you’re sipping wine at 9pm, crying into your vacuum cleaner while picking bird seed out of your jumper, take solace in knowing that you’ve just given your kids a core memory of ‘that time Mom let us destroy the kitchen to feed the birds.’ Sure, your house looks like a bird seed bomb exploded and you’re pretty certain there’s lard in your hair, but somewhere out there a family of pigeons is telling tales about the mysterious midnight feast that appeared in the garden. And hey, at least this mess was in the name of wildlife conservation. Now, pour another glass – you’ve earned it, you magnificent patron of avian cuisine, you.