Ask Ollie
Turkey Waddle Relay Race
Here's one to try together!
Squeeze a ball between your knees, gobble loudly and waddle like a turkey to win the relay for your team!
Reviewed by our team.
Safety first
- Balloons and popped balloon pieces are a choking size for under 3s: use a soft ball for little ones
- Waddling backward or sideways can mean a fall: clear the course first
What you need
- Balloons or soft balls, 2
- Painter's tape, 1 roll (or a few pairs of shoes)
How to do it
Grown-up prep: Find a long, clear space and two balloons or soft balls. Pick soft balls if anyone playing is under 3, since balloons and popped pieces are a choking risk.
- Clear a long, open space indoors or head outside.
- Mark a starting line and a turnaround spot with tape or shoes.
- Split into two teams and line up behind the start.
- Squeeze the ball between your knees and practice a few waddles. Ask: What do you think will be the trickiest part of waddling like a turkey?
- Round one: waddle to the turnaround and back, gobbling all the way!
- Hand the ball to the next teammate and cheer them on.
- Round two: waddle backward with the ball between your knees. Ask: Will going backward be faster or slower than going forward? Why?
- Round three: flap your elbow wings and waddle sideways!
- Gobble gobble! Who will you challenge next? Invent a brand new waddle! Ask: Which round was the hardest, and what silly new turkey waddle should we try next time?
Play it again
- Turkey trot freeze: when a grown-up yells 'Farmer!', every turkey freezes until they hear 'Gobble!'
- Silent turkeys: race again without any gobbling, and anyone who makes a sound starts their lap over.
- Hop like a chick: hop with tiny jumps instead of waddling, still holding the ball with your knees.
Kids loved this? There are more where it came from.
Get 3 free ideas a dayTurn "I'm bored" into "let's do something together!" 3 free ideas a day, picked for your kids.