My preschooler and toddler suddenly find themselves with a lot of free time on their hands.  Breastfeeding a newborn leaves them to play independently multiple times a day.  I could park them in front of screens each time, or I can prepare amusing busy box entertainment they can access and play with at their leisure.  I opt for a combination of both.  Our latest busy box, Pin the Tail on the Turkey, has been quite the hit, celebrating Thanksgiving, while challenging pincher grasp and fine motor skills.

Thanksgiving Busy Box

We have used this Busy Box before – last year, Big M played with the Snowman version for weeks! Busy boxes are great, quiet time entertainment.  They are self-contained and allow kids to access and play with them independently.  If you change them up every few weeks, they also never get old and hold your child’s attention.

Pin the Tail on the Turkey

For our Thanksgiving Busy Box, I created two turkeys, one for each of Big M (4) and Lil’ M (2).

Supplies

Styrofoam ball
Brown acrylic paint
Foam sheets – orange, brown
Red construction paper
Googly eyes
Tacky glue
Assorted feathers, pipe cleaners

Cost: Less than $10
Prep Time: Less than 30 minutes
Clean-Up Time: Less than 5 minutes

To create the busy box, I made the turkey bodies first.

Next, I cut a handful of pipe cleaners in half and put them, along with some assorted feathers into the busy box.

It’s set up on their craft table to play with at their leisure.  They can pin a tail on their turkey, take it off and make a new one, again and again!

#KBIGRoundUp

Pin the Tail on the Turkey is our contribution to this week’s Kid Bloggers of Instagram Monday Activity Round-Up.  The theme for the week is Thanksgiving!  Each Monday, 12 of our favorite Kids Activity Bloggers post activities on Instagram at 10AM ET.  Follow me @PGPBMeghan and #KBIGRoundUp to catch them all!  Have an idea of your own for this week’s theme?  Feel free to share it with us using #KBIGRoundUp.

For full details on several of the Round Up Activities this week, visit the posts below:

Thanksgiving Memory Game by Adventures of Adam for Preschool Spot

Tissue Paper Thanksgiving Turkey from Play & Learn Everyday

Turkey Straw Cup by Sunny Day Family

Nature-made Festive Fall Turkey from Crafty Mama in Maine

If you enjoyed this Busy Box for Quiet Time activity, you might also enjoy Spider Web Jumble and Do You Wanna Build a Snowman?  You can find all of these, as well as other great quiet time ideas from around the net on our Quiet Time board on Pinterest.