Time for your little turkey to take center stage with this easy Thanksgiving or fall craft! Grab a cute headshot of your kid and get busy making them the center of attention as this little turkey will adorn your walls with your little one’s handprints as feathers for years to come! This is the perfect fall and Thanksgiving toddler, preschooler, kindergartener, even older kid fine motor activity! If you like fall kid’s activities, then you’ll love my Easy DIY Thanksgiving Sensory Bin and Thanksgiving Popcorn Sensory Bin!
This easy kid’s craft is also a fantastic sensory activity as you paint your kid’s hand! This sensory activity allows kids the opportunity to feel the texture of paint all over their hands, as they create the feathers. Getting excited and describing the different colors, textures, and body parts (of the turkey) fosters increased language development. If you like kid’s photo crafts, then you’ll love my Photo Wreath Ornament craft!
To make this easy Turkey Headshot preschool and kid’s craft, you’ll need a headshot of your child, white posterboard, paint, a paint brush, a black marker, a glue stick, and scissors. It’s super easy to make – even the un-craftiest person can figure this easy kid’s craft out!
Benefits of Fine Motor Activities
Fine motor skills are imperative in life and toddlers should be constantly practicing fine motor skills daily to prepare them to do things later in life such as buttoning a button, tying their shoes, and writing their name. Fine motor skills enable children to develop their independence as they learn how to eat, speak, create, and are able to do many more things as these skills improve.
According to Early Impact Learning’s article, hand-eye coordination is another fine motor skill that develops from when we are babies into adulthood. When kids interact with fine motor activities, they are continually improving the link between what their eyes see and what they are trying to hold or touch.
One of the biggest reasons fine motor skills are so important is that they allow us to be independent. When kids have good fine motor skills, their self esteem improves as they are proud after building a tall tower of blocks by using the small muscles in their hands and fingers to make beautiful masterpieces they can take pride in.
Painting, sewing, threading, and weaving are fantastic ways for kids to use their fine motor skills. Many art and craft activities involve fine motor skills which allows toddlers and kids to express their creativity as they practice doing things independently.
Items needed to make a Turkey Headshot
Headshot of your little turkey. Find a photo of your little turkey.
White posterboard. You’lll need a piece of white posterboard to make this craft.
Orange, yellow, and brown paint. We use acrylic paint to make this craft.
Paint brush. Grab your paint brush and get ready to paint.
Black Sharpie marker. A black Sharpie marker or other similar black marker works best.
Glue. Use a glue stick to make this craft.
Scissors. If kids are cutting, make sure to use kid friendly toddler scissors.
How to make the best Turkey Headshot
STEP 1: To create your turkey feathers, get some paint and paint your kid’s hand. We used yellow and orange, alternating. Place it down on white posterboard to create turkey “feathers.”
STEP 2: Allow the paint to dry. While it’s drying, cut and paint your turkey body. We painted ours with brown acrylic paint although water colors or non-toxic Crayola paint will also work.
STEP 3: After the brown paint has dried, use a black marker to draw turkey “feathers” and feet. We also wrote my daughter’s name and the year.
STEP 4: If you make this craft, don’t forget to leave a rating and comment!
Recommended items to make this craft
- Paint. This is our favorite paint that I use for all my crafts along with my five-year-old.
- Black marker. We like this black Sharpie marker best.
- Paint brushes. These are wonderful paint brushes.
More fall kid’s crafts and activities you’ll love!
Easy DIY Thanksgiving Sensory Bin
Two-Ingredient Salt Dough Handprint and Footprint
Thanksgiving Popcorn Sensory Bin
Fall Potato Stamp Leaf Tree – Easy Toddler Craft
Creepy Halloween Spaghetti Sensory Bin
Vampire Paper Plate Craft – Easy Toddler Halloween Craft
Final Thoughts
Finally, if you make this Turkey Headshot Craft, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this craft a rating! I love to hear from everyone who makes this craft and always do my best to respond to all comments.
If you do make this craft, don’t forget to tag #elisemccollister on Instagram! It makes me so happy to see your craft photos!
Turkey Headshot – Easy Toddler Thanksgiving Craft
Materials
- headshot photo of your kid
- white posterboard
- paint orange, yellow, and brown for fall colors; feel free to use any variation of colors
- paint brush
- black marker such as a Sharpie
- glue stick
- scissors use kid friendly if toddlers or young children are cutting
Instructions
- To create your turkey feathers, get some paint and paint your kid’s hand. We used yellow and orange, alternating. Place it down on white posterboard to create turkey “feathers.”
- Allow the paint to dry. While it’s drying, cut and paint your turkey body. We painted ours with brown acrylic paint although water colors or non-toxic Crayola paint will also work.
- After the brown paint has dried, use a black marker to draw turkey “feathers” and feet. We also wrote my daughter’s name and the year.
- If you make this craft, don’t forget to leave a rating and comment!
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