Looking for an activity to play with your kids? This turkey game for preschool is about to put Spider Dots in its place. From Halloween to Thanksgiving, the fun activities for kids keep on coming. And who doesn’t need some turkey in our lives? Even us vegetarians can make room. (wink, wink).
I’ll tell you the benefits of this game for preschoolers, give you a supply list, and let you know how to play. So let’s spice up this super quick and easy Turkey Trot Breakfast Invitation.
RELATED: You must check out these 25 Thanksgiving activities for kids!
My Boy’s Experience With Turkey Game for Preschool
Both boys jumped right into this Thanksgiving Breakfast Invitation! In fact, we’ve already played three times.
My oldest (almost five years old) LOVES games, and my middle (3.5 years old) needs some counting reinforcement. This game goes great with the book and our activity for Turkey Trouble.
The Benefits of this Fun Counting Activity
The turkey game introduces SO MANY essential math skills. Kindergarten will ask children to understand that the very last number is the total number of objects counted.
I know this sounds like a simple concept. But this is something that must be taught and, most importantly, practiced. WHY? Because number sense difficulty increases rapidly.
Casually expose your preschoolers now so that this sounds familiar to them when they walk into Kindergarten!
Ways to Enhance Kid’s Math Skills Using the Turkey Game:
- Build quick number recognition – work with dice and dominoes, so kids automatically recognize the total amount. This helps children quickly solve math problems.
- Say the number aloud as you point to the object – it enables kids to hear what a number sounds like and enhances their vocabulary.
- Take a group of objects – count them. Now mix them all up. Count them again. Show that the group of five is still a group of five even when the objects are rearranged. It helps with categorization and problem-solving.
- Touch as you count each item – this helps stimulate the senses, so their brain connects the act of counting.
Supplies
- Avery Removable Print or Write Color Coding Labels – different stickers allow children to explore color.
- Giant Wooden Yard Dice – don’t already own dice? No worries. I’ve got you. Get it from the supply list, or make your own as we did for our movement dice here! And once you buy or make your dice, you will have to check out this simple trick for adding Ghost Eyes and this outdoor chalk game.
- Plastic Turkeys – these will be your objects to move around the makeshift board.
- Sharpie Permanent Markers, Fine Point, Black, 12 Count – get a pack so they’ll last a while!
- White Paper – this is a must for so many games!
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How to Set Up this Activity
This turkey game was SUPER simple to make.
In fact, it took approximately three minutes. – NO JOKE.
The longest part of the setup is remembering where you put your Thanksgiving decorations and tchotchkes. – Anyone else uses that word?
Step 1. Roll out your white paper roll
I rolled out my white paper roll and taped it to our kitchen table.
This is how I set up all of our Breakfast Invitations. It is quick and easy and allows me to catch my breath when we first wake up.
Step 2. Make a path on the game board using dot stickers
It shows where the turkey needs to go.
Step 3. Use the sharpies to create arrows
Arrows are great to indicate movement during the game.
Step 4. Add a star to show the starting place
Since my boys are non-readers, a visual starting point helps them out.
RELATED: This turkey craft is ADORABLE for toddlers and preschoolers!
How to Play the Turkey Game
- Roll the dice.
- Move the turkey along the same number of stickers as the number on the die.
- First one to the end wins!
Craving a calmer morning?
Breakfast Invitations are simple learning games that begin the day with play.
This Turkey Game for Preschool is a Great Holiday Activity
Simple to set up, incredible for learning patience, and excellent at developing math skills – you can’t go wrong. Gear up for Thanksgiving with this turkey game for preschoolers!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Think ages and stages. Is your two-year-old beginning to count? Play this game with ten dots. Is your five-year-old beginning to add? Try playing this dice game with two dice. We can modify simple games by meeting our children where they are at. Add on as they mature!
Use a deck of cards! Take out the jacks, queens, kings, etc. (you won’t be needing those!). Then put all the suits together, e.g. diamonds, hearts. The suits have a set of numbers (e.g. 1-10). Shuffle the individual suits to mix up the numbers. When a child pulls out a card – voila! They have a number. Simple!
Just like this DIY board game, this simple turkey math game is a great way to boost number recognition and encourage taking turns and the act of winning and losing. Here is a list of family board games for everyone to spend time together after turkey and mashed potatoes.
