Gobble, gobble! It’s turkey time, but not just any turkey – we’re crafting a Pipe Cleaner Turkey that’s not only adorable but also fantastic for developing those all-important fine motor skills. So, gather the kiddos around and let’s get started on this feathery friend!
What You’ll Need
- Cardboard
- Brown, red, and orange construction paper
- Googley eyes
- Scissors
- A variety of beads
- Pipe cleaners (in festive colors, if you have them)
- Hot glue gun or tape
Step-by-Step Guide
- Shape Your Turkey: First, create your turkey’s body using the brown construction paper. Cut out a round shape for the body on top of round body that is slightly larger. Don’t forget a little red snood (that funny red bit on a turkey’s neck) and an orange beak and googley eyes.
- Prepare the Cardboard: Grab your piece of cardboard; this will be the base of your craft. It should be big enough to hold your turkey and its magnificent tail.
- Attach the Pipe Cleaners: Using a hot glue gun (parents, you’re up for this part!) or tape, attach one end of each pipe cleaner to the bottom of the cardboard, fanning them out to create a turkey tail. Make sure to leave enough space for the turkey’s body in the center.
- Add the Turkey Body: Now, glue the turkey body you made earlier on top of the base of the pipe cleaners. It’ll look like the turkey’s feathers are proudly displayed behind it.
- Bead the Feathers: Here’s where the fine motor skills really come into play. Hand your kids the beads and let them thread them onto the pipe cleaners. They can make patterns, sort by color, or just go wild – it’s all good fun and great for their dexterity.
- Secure the Feathers: Once the beading is done, poke small holes in the cardboard at the end of each pipe cleaner and slide the end through to secure them. This keeps everything in place and makes the tail stand out.
This craft is perfect for Thanksgiving decorations or just a fun fall activity. Not only does it look super cute, but threading those beads is great for little fingers to practice their fine motor skills. Plus, who doesn’t love a turkey with a sparkling tail? Happy crafting and happy Thanksgiving!
Age Suitability
This craft is good for toddlers aged children 2 years old and up with adult assistance.
Mess Level
The mess level for this craft is low.
Difficulty to Create
Easy.
Toddler and Preschooler Curriculums, Books & TV Show!
Play2Learn Toddler & Preschool Programs for Curious Toddlers
There is no limit to your toddler’s energy and curiosity. That energy and curiosity although a joy can be challenging at times. Their interest in just about everything around them is what makes them great learners. One and two year olds can soak up so much just from their senses!
But as a teacher or parent that thirst for learning can be exhausting. That is why I created this toddler and preschooler program. To help you get the most out of this time with your curious toddler without having to come up with creative ways to play and interact with them.
Play2Learn for Toddlers includes 20 Units for toddlers. Each 2-week toddler unit has 20 super easy to set up and engaging activities for toddlers 18 months to 3 years.
Play2Learn Preschool which includes 20 Units for preschoolers. Each 2-week preschoolers unit has 20 unique and easy to set up and engaging activities for preschoolers 3 years to 5 years. That’s over 800 learning activities for your toddler and preschooler at your fingertips! So many ideas you and your child will never be bored again!
These toddler and preschool lesson plans and activities will definitely keep you and your toddler and preschooler busy playing and learning!
Click here for more information: Play2Learn
Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.
Book: Exciting Sensory Bins for Curious Kids
Did you know I wrote a book of sensory bins? Click here for more information Exciting Sensory Bin for Curious Kids. Or grab your copy at Amazon.
Boring afternoons are made exciting with awesome animal-based bins, like Salty Shark Bay or Yarn Farm. Pretend play bins like Birthday Cake Sensory Play or Bubble Tea Party encourage creativity and imagination. And your kids will have so much fun they won’t even know they’re getting smarter with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities like Sink or Float Soup, Magnetic Letter Hunt or Ice Cream Scoop and Count.
Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.
Book: Super STEAM Activity Book for Kids
Learning all about science, technology, engineering, art, and math sets kids up for scholastic success―and it can be so much fun! Watch kids enjoy building STEAM skills as they color friendly fish, help water find its way to tree roots, solve math problems with mazes, and more.
Find out more and grab your copy here.
Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.
Book: Big Book of Riddles for Kids
Riddle me this: What’s an exciting way to practice critical thinking while having a blast? The Big Riddle Book for Kids, of course! From hilarious puns to tough brain teasers, kids can build problem-solving skills with hundreds of riddles tha. t show them how to think outside the box.
- 350 riddles for kids—Have hours of fun with riddles, puns and jokes, and math and logic puzzles that’ll get their wheels turning!
- Level up their skills—Riddles get trickier as kids progress through the book, challenging them as they get better at solving puzzles!
- Double-check their work—Kids can check their answers in the back of the book with a handy answer key.
Help children expand their minds while having fun with this puzzle book for kids!
Designed for kids ages 6 years old and up.
TV Show: Curious Crafting
I’m so excited to share my crafting TV show Curious Crafting which launched in July 2022 on TVOkids and TVOkids YouTube! Season 2 aired in August 2023! My show was also nominated in 2023 for Best Live Action Preschool Series by the Youth Media Alliance Awards of Excellence.
Curious Crafting Season 1 is also now airing in Australia on ABC! Watch it here!
Set in the ultimate crafting space, Curious Crafting is a short form pre-school age series about the joy of making crafts. I lead a rotating cast of adorable little preschoolers (including my own) making magic out of common household objects.
In each episode we transform recycled items into magical crafts like a milk carton school bus, paper bag puppet or cotton pad turtle. The crafters learn and laugh their way through each activity while demonstrating what their young imaginations can create.
Curious Crafting shares the adventure and joy of making art with takeaway lessons for creating crafts at home.
This show designed for toddlers and preschoolers 2.5 years old and up.
The Best Sensory Play Kits for Kids
Play is at the core of learning during the early years and it can take many forms. One of the most important of these is sensory play because it engages all of a child’s senses (taste, touch, smell, sight and hearing) and has a enoumous positive impact on brain development.
Our Sensory Play Kits are some fun and easy ways to keep your child engaged while at the same time using sensory play to nurture their mind!
Shop our ready made play kits here.
Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.
Materials
- Cardboard
- Brown, red, and orange construction paper
- Googly eyes
- Scissors
- A variety of beads
- Pipe cleaners (in festive colors, if you have them)
- Hot glue gun or tape
Instructions
- First, create your turkey's body using the brown construction paper. Cut out a round shape for the body on top of round body that is slightly larger. Don't forget a little red snood (that funny red bit on a turkey's neck) and an orange bea and googley eyes.
- Grab your piece of cardboard; this will be the base of your craft. It should be big enough to hold your turkey and its magnificent tail.
- Using a hot glue gun (parents, you're up for this part!) or tape, attach one end of each pipe cleaner to the bottom of the cardboard, fanning them out to create a turkey tail. Make sure to leave enough space for the turkey's body in the center.
- Now, glue the turkey body you made earlier on top of the base of the pipe cleaners. It'll look like the turkey's feathers are proudly displayed behind it.
- Here's where the fine motor skills really come into play. Hand your kids the beads and let them thread them onto the pipe cleaners. They can make patterns, sort by color, or just go wild – it's all good fun and great for their dexterity.
- Once the beading is done, poke small holes in the cardboard at the end of each pipe cleaner and slide the end through to secure them. This keeps everything in place and makes the tail stand out.
WILL YOU SET UP THIS PIPE CLEANER TURKEY CRAFT FOR KIDS? PIN IT FOR LATER!
