# Easy Clothespin Animals
> Toddlers clip plastic clothespins around a yogurt container and onto craft sticks for fine motor practice. Then an adult snaps them into simple animals like a dog, butterfly, giraffe and dragonfly. No gluing, cutting or glitter needed.
- URL: https://www.funlittles.com/easy-clothespin-animals/
- Ages: 2–5 yrs · Difficulty: easy · Mess: low
- Time: prep 5 min, activity 15 min
- Works for: one-on-one, small group, whole class
- Skills: fine-motor, colors, patterns, building

## Materials (one batch)
- 6 piece Plastic clothespins (assorted colors)
- 3 piece Craft sticks
- 1 piece Old (empty, clean) yogurt container (household)

## Safety
- Clothespins pinch. Toddlers often pretend a clothespin is an alligator and snap noses or fingers, so use caution.
- Supervise at all times. Don't leave toddlers alone with clothespins.
- Check clothespins before play. A loose or broken metal spring is a small part that could be a choking hazard.

## Before you start
- Wash and dry an old yogurt container.
- Check that every clothespin snaps shut and the springs are secure.

## Steps
1. Give your child an empty yogurt container and a pile of clothespins.
2. Clip the clothespins around the edge of the container, naming each color as you go.
3. Try a very simple pattern by alternating two colors around the edge.
4. Snap clothespins onto a craft stick. Figure out whether to clip them on straight up or sideways so they hold.
5. Adult: make a simple dog. Clip clothespins onto a craft stick for two legs, a neck and a head.
6. Make a butterfly by clipping four clothespins around the middle of a craft stick as wings.
7. Make a giraffe by clipping two craft sticks together in an L shape. Add clothespins for the legs and the head.
8. Make a dragonfly by clipping four clothespins near the top of a craft stick as wings.
9. Let your child play with the animals and ask for new ones.

## Tips
- Keep it simple for a toddler with a short attention span. No gluing, cutting, pretty paper, glitter or sparkly stuff.
- Clothespins are pretty hard to get right on a craft stick, especially for a toddler. That's what makes it GREAT fine motor practice.
- Expect some silliness. Ours went off to snap clothespins in her hair and had a 'gigglishy' good time. Who said fine motor practice has to be on an old yogurt container?
- Once she practiced with a few, she started her requests. Be ready to build animals on demand.
- Plastic clothespins turn up at the dollar store, and online shops carry them too.

## FAQ
**Where can I get plastic clothespins like these?** The author has seen plastic clothespins at the dollar store, and a quick search showed Amazon and Sears carry them.

## The original post by TurkeyMom (2012)

World Animal Day

Day-7

This is going to be a quick one. Why? I did this activity with my toddler and you how long a toddler activity lasts –however pintastic it is! I kept it simple with my almost two-year old with a very short attention span. No gluing,cutting,pretty paper, glitter, sparkly stuff.

- Craft sticks
- Plastic clothespins
- Old yogurt container

Before I go on, I can guarantee you that many toddlers (especially if they have older siblings) will pretend the clothespins is an alligator and will try to snap you or worse snap themselves. Common place for snapping nose or fingers. Use caution and please supervise. Don’t leave toddlers alone with clothespins. Initially, my plan was to just clip clothespins on an empty yogurt container. Baby A had a fun time clipping the pins around edge while mom was repeating the colors. While baby A partially paid attention I went overboard and tried a very simple pattern (just alternating colors)



We did this for a little while and baby A was off to snapping her hair with clothespins and having a “gigglishy” good time. Hey, who said fine motor practice has to be on old yogurt container?  When the snapping clothespins timer went off, she started snapping clothespins on the craft sticks. They are pretty hard to get them right on a craft stick, especially for a toddler. Baby A has to figure if she has to snap on the clothespins vertically or horizontally to the stick for it to be sturdy. So it WAS A GREAT FINE MOTOR practice.





Once she practiced with a few, she started her requests. Here is a simple dog (looks like one?) I made for her.



A few more







I’m sure we will visit craft sticks and clothespins activity again with my pre schooler. This one seemingly has some learning, building( which is a big plus with big A) and major fun potential. If any of you uber-creative moms/teachers out there feel like commenting, please leave a link where you have created with “just”clothespins.

Thanks for reading

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