Kids Games To Play and Activities-Pin The Tail On The???

Variations to Pin-The-Tail-On-The –Donkey!

Kids Games To Play- Kids Activities-Preschool Learning


We all love the classic game of pin the tail on the donkey as much as our children do. The question I like to ask is, why does it have to stop at just donkeys?

Have you ever tried to change things up a bit for different subjects you are doing in the classroom, in your home child care, or at the day care center you work at?

It’s easy to find the donkey game already made for us, I know. But with the help of the class and some drawing paper and markers, you can create some wonderful games that will give you hours of fun.

Also remember that these games don’t have to be made overnight. Don’t stress yourself out. Turn it into a class project or just a project for yourself and take as long as you need. You will have as much fun making it as you will playing with it.

Be sure to check the bottom of this article for tips on making the games, durability, etc.

Game Idea #1- Pin the fin on the fish.

Game Idea #2- Pin the nose on the clown.

Game Idea #3- Pin the bell on the cow.

Game Idea #4- Pin the horse-shoe on the horse.

Game Idea #5- Pin the leaf on the flower.

Game Idea #6- Pin the apple on the tree.

Game Idea #7- Pin the wing/leg on the bird, bee, or insect.

Game Idea #8- Pin the worm on the hole in the fruit.

Game Idea #9- Pin the trunk on the elephant.

Game Idea #10- Pin the chocolate chip on the cookie. (Younger children) see note below.

Game Idea #11- Pin the cotton fluff on the cloud. (Same as game above only using cotton and a cloud shape).

Game Idea # 12- Pin the face parts on the face (eyes, nose, mouth, ears, hair, eyebrows, Etc) Make each piece and use as game pieces. Have each child take turns trying to put the game pieces in the correct spots on the face. See what silly faces they come up with.


*Pin the chocolate chip on the cookie: This game is great for toddler aged children. There is no right or wrong spot to pin the chocolate chip and when all the children have had their turn, they can look at the beautiful cookie they made. To make it fun, you can make the chocolate chips from different colors of construction paper and have a rainbow chip cookie. The children will love it!

Ideas for Making the Games: These games are best made from Bristol board material or even a large piece of cardboard. If you are not a great artist (as I am not…ha-ha) I have had to search for ways to draw these up. I have asked a friend who I know can draw to help me. Other times I have taken an overhead projector and taped my Bristol board to the wall and traced it that way. And other times I have found a large enough picture to use and have been able to draw simpler pictures on my own such as flowers, bees, cookies, etc.

Make sure you make enough game pieces for the children. Have everything colored nice and bright and bold, and laminate what you can for a long game life. Using sticky tack instead of tape will be easier for the children to handle the pieces and it won’t ruin or pull at the game.


Have fun and change these games around as you need or like.

M. Robinson
E.C.E (Early Childhood Educator)