Whirligig Activities

• Get outside and enjoy activities with whirligigs. Michael Hall/Digital Vision/Getty Images

  A whirligig is a child's toy that whirls or spins, according to Webster's New World College Dictionary. Historically, whirligigs were handmade pieces of folk art mounted atop sticks for the garden. More modern versions are known as pinwheels. Today's natural whirligigs are simple. Falling from trees, seeds and fruits take on the body of tiny parachutes. Through this remarkable process of dispersal, they become whirligigs in the fall winds, bringing fun activities for you to enjoy.

Exploring the Outdoors

• Take a walk outside with a pinwheel. pin wheel image by Wimbledon from Fotolia.com

  Use pinwheel whirligigs while spending time outside exploring nature. Whirligigs are propelled by the wind. On a still day, running will spin your pinwheel quickly. On a windy day, walk slowly, holding the pinwheel stick as the propeller rotates effortlessly. Hold a pinwheel near a waterfall and watch nature work. Witness movement driven by wind.

Whirligig Air Races

• Brown helicopter whirligigs fall from maple trees. Maple tree image by citylights from Fotolia.com

  Helicopter whirlybirds that fall from trees are types of whirligigs. "They include seeds or one-seeded fruits with a rigid or membranous wing at one end," described by Wayne's World's textbook of natural history. The pitch, or angle of the wing, causes the seed to spin as it falls. Have races by dropping your favorite whirligig from a deck and watching it reach the ground the fastest. See how far your helicopter will travel from a point, as the wind is capable of carrying far distances.

Whirligig Noses

• A green helicopter whirligig sticks to the bridge of your nose. maple tree seeds image by cvrgrl from Fotolia.com

  Helicopter whirligigs sometimes fall prematurely from trees. If you happen upon a green whirligig, split the seed sack in half with your fingers and remove the wet seed from inside. Press the two sides of the sack, still attached to the wing, to the bridge of your nose. It will stick temporarily, providing a pointy whirligig nose. Have a contest to see whose sticks the longest or who can find the longest nose.

Watching the Whirligigs

• Fun colored whirligigs are entertaining in the garden. colorful windmill image by leafy from Fotolia.com

  With a collection of whirligig yard ornaments, relax outside watching them work. According to new research about nature-deficit highlighted in the book Last Child In the Woods, "direct exposure to nature is essential for healthy childhood development and for the physical and emotional health of children and adults." Take a back to nature approach. Spend time relaxing with entertainment by whirligigs.