Traditional Handprint Turkey

Each year when my kids were little we would make a hand print turkey. The boys would write their name under their creation and we would add the date. These fine feathered fowl would be transformed into a holiday greeting card and away it would travel over the miles to brighten the face of their Granny. Granny saved these cards for years creating a flock of turkeys of varying sizes on her refrigerator door. We didn't plan it, but it turned out to be a wonderful way to watch and remember the growth of our children.

It's that time of year again to pull out the paper, markers and maybe even paint or ink pads

to continue the tradition onto the next generation of children in our family.

I foresee a flock of turkeys being created to decorate my refrigerator!

Traditions are a wonderful component of building strong families. Spending time together, interacting, laughing and communicating helps cement the bonds of family relationships.

Why not add turkey hand prints to your family traditions?

Below seven people comprising four generations enjoy making handprint turkeys
 as an after dinner family activity.
Each person traces their hand, colors in the feathers then adds what they are thankful for somewhere on the paper. 
They sign and date their creation and it is added to the photo album.

 

 

 

 

Supplies Needed:

Paper - size and color are your choice

Markers if you want to trace your hand print

Finger paint or ink pads if you want to stamp your hand print

Crayons or markers to add a turkey beak, feet, wattle etc.

Directions:

Trace or imprint your hand print onto a piece of paper with your fingers spread out wide. The fingers become the turkey's feathers. Your thumb is the turkey neck and head. Use a thumb print for the turkey wattle. Or, use markers/crayons to add the feet, eye, wattle, feather colors, etc

Hand/Foot Print Turkey

http://www.squidoo.com/Thanksgiving-Kids-Crafts

Note:

Turkeys should be allowed to be any color, depending on your child's preference.

In reality, they DO show a rainbow of colors in the wild when sunlight hits their feathers!

When my oldest son was in kindergarten, the teacher refused to hang up his turkey because he colored it "wrong". He had made a beautiful purple turkey with green legs. His self esteem took a big hit that day, when he was not included with the rest of his class. So, no matter what color your child interprets their turkey to be, hang it up with pride and joy. Let their creativity be expressed in any form they wish to take. Let them think "out of the box" and enjoy the fruits of their efforts!

This Blog Post is inspired from the book:

Miraculous, Magical Moments in Minutes:

Over 500 Quick, Easy Activities for Adults and Children to Share

by Becky B. Baxa

If you would like more fun ideas to share with your children

(that do not require batteries or electronics )

you can purchase this 180 page book,

full of color photos,

for $21.95

from Amazon.com

Or

from the gift shop at Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, MO,

Silver Dollar City General Store in Branson, MO.

This book can also be checked out of the following libraries:

Scenic Regional Library - Pacific, MO

First Christian Church - Washington, MO

Hawaii State Library - Honolulu, HI

Story City Public Library - Story City, IA

Ellsworth Public Library - Ellsworth, ME

Ludington Public Library - Ludington, MI
Denver Public Library - Denver, CO
Pikes Peak Library District - Colorado Springs, CO

 

Catch Me If You Can!

Such a simple idea!

 

Next time you empty a milk carton, don't throw it away! 

Any other plastic carton with a handle will also work (vinegar, dish soap, etc.)

 

Cut away the front of the carton, leaving the handle to make a "catcher's mitt". 

Attach string, cording, shoelace, etc.

by tying one end to the milk carton and one to a foam ball, or yarn pom-pom.

 

This will provide fun and laughter, challenging your eye-hand coordination and coordination.

 

Make one for everyone in the family and have a contest.

It looks easy... but is it?

 

 

 

 

What else can you make from empty milk cartons?

 

 

 

 

This Blog Post is inspired from the book:

Miraculous, Magical Moments in Minutes:

Over 500 Quick, Easy Activities for Adults and Children to Share

by Becky B. Baxa

If you would like more fun ideas to share with your children

(that do not require batteries or electronics )

you can purchase this 180 page book,

full of color photos,

for $21.95

from Amazon.com

Or

from the gift shop at Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, MO,

Silver Dollar City General Store in Branson, MO.

This book can also be checked out of the following libraries:

Scenic Regional Library - Pacific, MO

First Christian Church - Washington, MO

Hawaii State Library - Honolulu, HI

Story City Public Library - Story City, IA

Ellsworth Public Library - Ellsworth, ME

Ludington Public Library - Ludington, MI
Denver Public Library - Denver, CO
Pikes Peak Library District - Colorado Springs, CO

Many Styles of Building Blocks

Fall is the perfect time to take down that dead tree or collect firewood.

This gives you the opportunity to create a wonderful children's activity.

 

Children, young and old, love to stack blocks. 

Towers, fort boundaries, balancing acts, tunnels, bridges, etc. 

The possibilities are limited only by the imagination.

 

Cut small manageable pieces of a tree trunk or large limb. 

You can also use scraps of wood and lumber from a building project. 

Make sure the ends are smooth with no sharp edges.

Then let the creativity begin!

 

 

 

Building blocks do not have to be wood! 

Children can build and stack with small cardboard boxes,

empty food boxes/containers, food tin cans, etc.

 

One summer we traveled to a cabin on a lake.  Our youngest was about a year old so we carefully packed a toy bag for the week.  Much to our surprise, he spent the entire week playing with a large box of canned and boxed foods we had packed for the trip.  Not once was the toy bag used! 

 

Older children can be challenged to stack golf balls (yes, it can be done) or other unusual items.

 

So, look around your home for play opportunities.  The perfect toy/activity is often NOT in a package from the store. (In fact the box, bow and ribbons a toy is wrapped in often gets played with

more than the toy.) It is often NOT the toy with a screen or one that requires batteries. 

Often the most amazing toy/activity is an ordinary household item.

 

 

 

This Blog Post is inspired from the book:

Miraculous, Magical Moments in Minutes:

Over 500 Quick, Easy Activities for Adults and Children to Share

by Becky B. Baxa

If you would like more fun ideas to share with your children

(that do not require batteries or electronics )

you can purchase this 180 page book,

full of color photos,

for $21.95

from Amazon.com

Or

from the gift shop at Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, MO,

Silver Dollar City General Store in Branson, MO.

This book can also be checked out of the following libraries:

Scenic Regional Library - Pacific, MO

First Christian Church - Washington, MO

Hawaii State Library - Honolulu, HI

Story City Public Library - Story City, IA

Ellsworth Public Library - Ellsworth, ME

Ludington Public Library - Ludington, MI
Denver Public Library - Denver, CO
Pikes Peak Library District - Colorado Springs, CO

 

 

Priorities...What's most important to you?

 

 

Today have you... 

... taken the time today to look at your child?

...smiled at your spouse and children?

...hugged everyone in your family?

...taken the time to really listen, with your eyes as well as your ears?

...sat down and played with your kids?

...interacted with family members in person, without an electronic device?

 

This Blog Post is inspired from the book:

Miraculous, Magical Moments in Minutes:

Over 500 Quick, Easy Activities for Adults and Children to Share

by Becky B. Baxa

If you would like more fun ideas to share with your children

(that do not require batteries or electronics )

you can purchase this 180 page book,

full of color photos,

for $21.95

from Amazon.com

Or

from the gift shop at Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, MO,

Silver Dollar City General Store in Branson, MO.

This book can also be checked out of the following libraries:

Scenic Regional Library - Pacific, MO

First Christian Church - Washington, MO

Hawaii State Library - Honolulu, HI

Story City Public Library - Story City, IA

Ellsworth Public Library - Ellsworth, ME

Ludington Public Library - Ludington, MI
Denver Public Library - Denver, CO
Pikes Peak Library District - Colorado Springs, CO