When it comes to crafts for kids, there are some that have a cuteness factor that seems to stand the test of time. It’s always an added bonus when a craft is something you and your toddler can do together that gives you a physical snapshot of time that you’ll be able to keep forever.  Hand turkeys fall into this category.

Regardless of generation, we all seem to have that memory of being in preschool, covering our hands with paint and stamping it down on a piece of paper to form the shape of a turkey.  And let’s be honest, the smaller the hand, the cuter the turkey.  This craft can now take on a whole new meaning because you’re on the other side of it and get to experience it as the parent.

Here’s what you’ll need:

1) Finger paints in multiple different colors (you know your little one best and will probably be able to predict if their turkey will have more of a psychedelic feel with lots of different colors, or a more realistic kind of approach)

2) Googly Eyes

3) Crayons

4) Paper

5) Glue

6) Paintbrush and paper plate 

The most fun about this for your little one is more than likely when they get to have paint on their hands, and there’s a few ways you can do this.  The cleanest way is to actually coat your child’s hand with paint using a paintbrush to eliminate any kind of splatter or excess paint drippage.  The other, messier, way is to pour some paint onto a paper plate and just let your child dunk their hand onto the paint. 

Once the hand is coated in paint, have your child press their hand against the paper.  While the handprint is drying, this is prime time to get you child cleaned up for the next steps.  Take your googly eye and apply a little bit of glue to the back of it and pop it onto the face of your turkey.

The final steps for this turkey craft are for your child to draw some legs, a beak, write his/her name, date their artwork and complete any other final touches they may have in their minds. 

 This masterpiece can then be put on display in your home, on your refrigerator or even in your workspace.  This craft is especially nice to look back on when your child grows into a teenager and even when they enter adulthood because it’s a reminder of a time when they were much smaller and experiencing things for the first time.

Happy fall, y’all!

(Image: Happiestmommies.workpress.com)