How to Make a Windsock With Your Little One

Here at All About Children, we love to get outside with the children in all weathers. One type of weather that can be especially fun for little ones to experience is the wind – whether it’s a gentle breeze or a full-on gusty gale! In this blog we’ll show you one way to have fun in windy weather, using a fun and colourful windsock that you can make together yourselves. Read on to discover how to make a windsock at home.

What is a windsock?

A windsock is a tool that can give useful information about how the wind is blowing. Made from a cylindrical tube that’s similar in shape to a sock, windsocks are used at airports to detect the strength and speed of the wind.

While windsocks are used by professionals to do important jobs, the truth is that this is a very simple piece of technology indeed! A windsock is easy to make at home from materials that you may already have. And as well as being educational, your homemade windsock can also be a bright and colourful addition to your garden or outdoor space. In winter, your windsock will look beautiful hanging from the bare branches of a tree or outside your window..

How to make a windsock at home

Windsock craft doesn’t require any expensive materials. Here’s what you’ll need to make your windsock:

A used plastic drink bottle
Wool or string, for threading
A plastic bag or bin liner
Sticky tape
Paper or paint for decorationColourful stickers or paper, for decoration

Here’s how to make a windsock with your child:

Carefully cut the top and bottom off your plastic bottle, so that you end up with a cylinder. Then pierce two small holes on each side of the bottle, ready for a handle. (These steps should both be completed by an adult,t or supported where possible for those children who are skilled and competent with scissors!)
Encourage your child to thread a piece of wool or string through the holes, then tie it at each end so that the handle is secure. This threading practice is great for developing their fine motor skills and future hand writing skills.
Take your plastic bag and cut it into long strips, to make streamers. (The more colourful, the better!)
Stick the streamers to the bottom of your cylinder, using strong sticky tape.
Decorate your windsock however you like. If you have any colourful stickers, this is a really easy way to make it look bright and colourful.

How to use your DIY windsock

Now’s the fun part. It’s time to get outside and hang up your windsock! If you have one in your garden, a tree branch is a great place to position your windsock. If not, you could let your child simply hold it by the handle and see which way the streamers blow. You can even hang your windsock indoors and see how it works when you turn on a ceiling or desk fan.

Ask your child:

Which way is the wind blowing today? How do you know?
Do you think the wind is strong? What makes you say that?
What would happen to the streamers if the wind changed direction?

With this wonderful activity you can introduce rich vocabulary, language and knowledge around recycling. Teaching children about sustainability and understanding of the world. It is also a fantastic opportunity to introduce mathematical language around velocity, speed, pressure and measurements. Another brilliant learning opportunity of this activity is to also experience expressive arts and design by seeing how creative thinking can make new tools and resources. The learning is endless.

Now you know how to make a windsock, there’s no stopping you! There are lots of brilliant weather-themed crafts that you and your child can enjoy together:

Create a paper windmill using a stick, some colourful paper and a push pin. There are Internet tutorials to show you how to fold and cut your paper.
Using another old plastic bottle, make a rain gauge to measure how much rain falls outside your house! Just cut the top off the bottle and add marks using a Sharpie, to help you measure the water.
Everyone loves the sun! Create beautiful stained glass window decorations from tissue paper, and watch for the effects when the sun shines through them into your house.

Supporting their curiosity and creativity, at All About Children

At All About Children nurseries, we are passionate about finding new ways to stimulate your child’s innate curiosity and help them learn about the world. With outdoor play a routine part of every day, there’s no end to the fun your child will have here at nursery. If you’d like to find out more about our nurseries or book a tour, please contact us.