Let's make it
Instructions.
- 1
Print and cut: print your favorite turkey designs and cut out the top and bottom pieces. The free printable includes two turkey designs in both color and black-and-white, so kids can color and decorate their own. For extra durability, laminate the printed turkeys before cutting them out.
- 2
Attach to a clothespin: an adult should use a hot glue gun to attach the top half of the turkey to the upper jaw of a wooden clothespin and the bottom half to the lower jaw. Hot glue gives a stronger hold for repeated squeezing during play. Glue dots or strong tape may also work, but may need extra reinforcement. Make sure the two halves line up when the clothespin is closed, and keep glue away from the spring and gripping surfaces.
- 3
Let it cool and dry: allow the glue to cool completely before giving the turkey to your child.
- 4
Make your turkey gobble: squeeze the clothespin and watch the turkey's mouth open and close. Gobble, gobble!
- 5
Set up the game: scatter colorful pompoms across the table and give each child a talking turkey.
- 6
Gobble up the pompoms: have kids use their turkey's mouth to pick up one pompom at a time and drop it into a section of the muffin tin. Keep going until all the pompoms have been collected!
Safety tip
- Adult supervision is required.
- Pompoms and small craft pieces can pose choking hazards and should not be used by children under 3 or those who mouth objects.
- Clothespins can pinch fingers.
- Only adults should handle the hot glue gun. Allow the glue to cool completely and check that the pieces are securely attached before play.
- Use child-safe scissors for kids, and supervise all cutting.
More Ways to Play
Want to switch things up? Try these variations!
Color Sorting: Have kids sort pompoms into different muffin tin sections based on color.
Roll and Gobble: Roll a die and pick up that many pompoms.
Pattern Play: Create a color pattern for kids to copy using their turkey.
Turkey Race: See who can transfer a set number of pompoms first.
Counting Challenge: Call out a number and have kids collect the matching number of pompoms.
You can easily adjust the activity based on your child's age and abilities.
Why We Love This Activity
We love activities that make skill-building feel like play, and this simple Thanksgiving craft and game offers lots of chances to practice.
Hand strengthening: Squeezing the clothespin works the small muscles of the hands used for everyday activities like writing, drawing, and using classroom tools.
Fine motor coordination: Opening and closing the turkey's mouth to grab pompoms takes controlled finger movements and coordination.
Hand-eye coordination: Children visually locate a pompom, position their turkey, grasp it, and release it into the muffin tin.
Visual scanning: Finding specific colors or locating pompoms scattered across the table encourages kids to search their environment with their eyes.
Graded force: Kids practice adjusting how hard they squeeze the clothespin to pick up and release the pompoms.
And because it feels like a game, kids practice these skills while having fun!
Field Notes
- Turning the turkeys into a pompom game was our favorite part!
- Print on cardstock to make your turkeys sturdier, and laminate the pieces before assembling if you plan to reuse them often.
- Use larger pompoms for children who need an easier grasping challenge.
- Start with a bowl before moving to individual muffin tin sections if your child finds releasing the pompoms difficult.
