30+ Best Duck Activities for Kids that Are Amazing!

It was only after I became a parent that I realized that ducks 🦆 and other farm animals are very popular motifs in children’s literature, lesson plans, and activities. 

And all of this is not just a coincidence. Kids are fascinated by ducks because of their unique sound, colors, and movement. 

The undermentioned activities aim to entertain and mentally stimulate your children with fun and engaging lessons. 

Interesting Duck Activities

 The following activities and exercises are aimed towards toddlers 🧒 and preschoolers with the express purpose of engaging them in crafts and lessons that can refine their counting skills, language skills, and crafting skills. 

I have also included several ideas for duck-inspired snacks that can motivate your children to finish their meals. Hopefully, your kids will have a lot of fun taking part in these crafts. 

Toy Duck Alphabet Memory Game 

Work on your child’s alphabet 🔤 and memory skills with this really fun game.

I recommend playing this game with a preschooler who is currently learning both uppercase and lowercase alphabets. 

What you need- 26 small toy ducks, flashcards, and a marker. 

Steps- 

• On the small toy 🦆 ducks, write the uppercase alphabet. 
• On the flashcards, write the lowercase alphabet. 
• Ask your child to match the uppercase and lowercase alphabet and then arrange the alphabet in the alphabetic order. 

Duck Cake Pops 

These duck 🦆 cake pops are perfect for a duck-themed birthday party. 

What you need- Store-bought cake mix, store-bought vanilla frosting, foam box, black and orange icing tube, wooden skewers, and yellow chocolate melts. 

Steps- 

• Bake the cake 🥮 according to the instructions on the cake box. Let it cool down completely, and crumble it in a large mixing bowl. 
• Add an entire jar of frosting into the bowl and mix the cake and frosting well until it reaches a nice consistency. 
• Scoop some of the cake 🥮 mix in your hand and roll it into a ball. Ask your children to do the same. Place the cake balls on a baking sheet lined with a silicone mat and pop it in the fridge when done. 
• In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the yellow chocolate chips. 
• Take the baking sheet out of the fridge and insert a wooden skewer through each cake ball. 
• Dip the cake pops in the melted chocolate 🍫 and let the chocolate cool down on a foam box. 
• Draw the duck’s eyes with the black icing and its nose, feet, and wings with orange icing. Pop the cake ops back in the fridge and take them out 15 minutes before serving. 

Pro Tip- You can choose any cake and frosting flavor for this cake pop. 

Duck Sensory Bin 

Sensory bins are a great way to introduce your children to new sounds, smells, shapes, and textures. 

What you need- A shallow plastic container, water, rubber ducks 🦆, and blue food coloring. 

Steps- 

Fill the shallow plastic container with water and mix some blue food coloring in it. Place some rubber ducks 🦆 into the container and let your child play with it. 

Read Poems About Ducks 

Reading poems, out loud especially, is incredibly beneficial for children. Poetry introduces children to different figures of speech, provides a unique perspective into the lives of different people, animals, and objects, and improves their inflection. 

There are several wonderful children’s poetry that feature ducks 🦆 which you can read with your children and even act out. 

Duck Finger Puppets 

These adorable duck 🦆 finger puppets are the perfect addition to your toddler’s storytime. 

What you need- Orange, green, and brown cardstock paper, green and yellow mini cupcake liners, glue, scissors, and googly eyes. 

Steps- 

• Draw a 3-and-a-half-inch circle on the brown construction paper and cut it with scissors. 
• Draw another 2-and-a-half-inch circle on the green construction and cut it with the scissors. 
• Make the duck’s beak on the orange construction paper and cut it with scissors. 
• For the duck’s eyes, paste two googly eyes 👀on the green construction paper, along with the duck’s beak. 
• Paste the green circle on top of the brown construction paper. 
• Cut two triangles from the cupcake liners and paste them under the green circle. These triangles are the duck’s wings. 
• To make the finger puppet holes, draw two finger-side holes on the back of brown construction paper and under the wings. Cut these holes with a box cutter. 

Pro tip- You can make the duck 🦆 completely yellow as well. 

Play a Game of Duck, Duck, Goose 

Duck, Duck, Goose is a fun way to get a group of young children to interact and play with. If you have never played the game before, all you have to do is ask all the children to sit in a circle. 

Then, one kid will stand up and walk around the circle, tapping each kid on the shoulder and saying ‘duck.’ 

When they touch a kid and say goose🪿, that kid must catch up to the first kid. The first kid must run away from the second kid and take their spot, at which point the second kid will continue the game. All the kids must either walk in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction. 

Adorable Duck Cookies 

For my toddler’s birthday party, my friend and I whipped up these adorable cookies for all the partygoers. 

What you need- Butter, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, all-purpose flour, baking powder, egg, salt, meringue powder, water, yellow and orange food coloring, and powdered sugar. 

Steps- 

• In a medium mixing bowl, sift 2 cups of all-purpose flour, half a teaspoon of baking powder, and a quarter of a teaspoon of salt. 
• In a large bowl, beat three-quarters of a cup of unsalted butter and three-quarters of a cup of granulated sugar until a smooth and cream consistency is achieved with an electric whisk or a stand mixer. 
• Add one egg and two teaspoons of vanilla extract to the large bowl and whisk once again until everything is perfectly combined. 
• Add the dry ingredients to the large mixing bowl and mix everything with a plastic spatula, or even your hands, until a soft dough is achieved. 
• Lightly flour the working surface and scoop the dough out of the bowl. Work the dough for a minute and then divide it into two equal portions. 
• Roll out one of the doughs and keep the other dough in the fridge for later use if your batch seems large. 
• Using a duck-shaped cookie cutter, cut the rolled dough and place it on a baking sheet with a silicone mat. Cover the baking sheet with aluminum foil and let the dough rest for at least an hour. 
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Take the cookies out of the oven, remove the foil on top, and bake the cookies till they appear golden brown. After you take the cookies out, transfer them to a cooling rack. 
• While the cookies cool down, in a stand mixer, whisk four tablespoons of meringue powder with 4 cups of powdered sugar, 5 to 6 tablespoons of water, and one teaspoon of vanilla extract. Beat until the mixture forms stiff peaks. 
• Divide the icing into three bowls- a large, medium, and small bowl. In the large bowl, add a few drops of yellow icing; in the medium, add a few drops of orange icing; and in the small bowl, add a few drops of black icing. Mix well and then pour them into piping bags. 
• With the yellow icing, make the outline of a duck 🦆 on the cookie and then fill it completely. 
• Use the orange icing to make the beak and the black icing to make the eyes. The cookies are ready to be served.  

Solve a Duck Puzzle

Puzzle Play is incredibly beneficial for toddlers and preschoolers because it develops critical thinking, strengthens fine motor skills, improves eye-hand coordination, along with improving their attention span. 

There are several duck 🦆 puzzles available in the market for kids of all ages that you can encourage your kids to do. 

Duck Feet Costume Craft 

If your children want to go out as a duck 🦆 for Halloween, then follow these instructions to make them duck feet. 

What you need- Orange felt fabric, construction paper, scissors ✂️, marker, fabric glue, elastic band, and punch hole. 

Steps- 

• Draw two duck 🦆 feet on the construction paper and cut with scissors. 
• Use the construction paper as a template on the orange fabric and cut with a scissor. Make two or more copies. 
• Make two holes on both feet with a punch hole. 
• Cut a piece of elastic, 4 to 5 inches long, and thread through these holes. Tie the knots at the end, and the duck feet are ready to wear. 

Foam Duck Handprint Craft 

My kids were really impressed with how the foam almost looked lifelike in this art. 

What you need- Green, yellow, and orange craft foam sheets, glue, pencil ✏️, construction paper, and synthetic feathers.  

Steps- 

• Help your child sketch their hand on the yellow foam sheet and then carefully cut it out with scissors. 
• Draw a duck’s head on the yellow foam sheet as well and cut with scissors. 
• Use the orange foam sheet to draw the duck’s feet and beak. 
• The green foam sheet is then used to draw tall grass. 
• To assemble this craft, start by arranging the grass on a blank construction paper. 
• Turn the yellow hand sideways, apply glue to the back side, and paste on the blank construction paper. The palm will be the front of the duck 🦆 whereas the fingers will be the back of the duck. 
• On the right-hand corner of the hand, paste the yellow duck’s head, and on the bottom of the hand, paste the duck’s feet. 
• Decorate the duck 🦆 with synthetic feathers. Your craft is complete. 

Read Books about Ducks 

Did you know that reading books out loud is extremely beneficial for your children? It is true! 

Research shows that reading aloud in a classroom or at home improves your child’s memory, helps them retain the information they are reading, builds vocabulary, improves reading comprehension, and strengthens diction. 

I recommend the following duck-related books to read to your children- Where’s the Duck? by Ingela P. Arrhenius, No More Pacifier Duck by Michael Dahl, Duck on a Bike by David Shannon, and Duck & Goose, It’s Time for Christmas! By Tad Hills. 

Duck Rhyming Word Activity 

Have you ever wondered why there is such an emphasis on rhyming activities in your child’s curriculum? Rhyming exercises are a wonderful way to teach your children the wonders of your language. It helps them notice how certain letters, when put together, will sound. 

Most importantly, rhyming exercises help your child learn new words. For this activity, I wrote the word duck 🦆 on top of a worksheet and then asked my child to remove the first letter from the word and replace it with a new letter, in alphabetical order. 

Once they are done, ask them to encircle words that actually exist in the dictionary, like ‘Luck,’ ‘Buck,’ and ‘Muck.’ 

Duck Cheese and Crackers 

This duck 🦆 cheese and crackers platter is an adorable addition to any children’s party. 

What you need- Goldfish crackers, a large duck-shaped cookie cutter, cream cheese, light mayo, shredded Swiss cheese, and shredded parmesan cheese. 

Steps- 

• To make the cheese dip, in a medium microwave-safe bowl, mix one packet of cream cheese 🧀, one cup of light mayo, three-quarters of a cup of shredded Swiss cheese, and some parmesan cheese. 
• Microwave for 2 to 3 minutes or more until the required consistency is achieved. Let it cool down slightly. 
• To serve, place a duck-shaped cookie cutter in the middle of the plate and add the cheese 🧀 spread to it. Fill the rest of the plate with the Goldfish and remove the cookie cutter. 

Pro tip- You can also buy a duck-shaped bowl to serve the cheese dip. 

Banana Smoothie With Duck Candies 

Smoothies are a great way to feed your children fruits and yogurt. 

What you need- Frozen and fresh ripe banana, duck-shaped candy, chocolate chips, Greek Yogurt, and a nut or seed butter. 

Steps- 

• In a blender, add one frozen banana and one fresh banana, a cup of Greek Yogurt, and a tablespoon of any nut or seed butter 🧈. 
• Blend on low at first and work yourself to the high setting until the smoothie has achieved a creamy texture. 
• Serve immediately with duck-shaped candy and chocolate chips. 

Pro Tip- You can make the banana smoothie sweeter with maple syrup. 

Duck Headband 

On a large piece of construction paper, draw a cartoon duck face in the middle and two large rectangles on either side of it. Ask your child to fill in the color. 

Cut with scissors and loop the rectangles in such a way that it forms a headband. Secure with glue or safety pins. 

Find the Ducks 

If I am stuck with my kids at home due to bad weather, I like to hide random objects around the house for them to find out. 

To play this game, hide rubber ducks 🦆 and rubber stickers in and around your house for the kids to find. I also hide other random yellow objects to throw my kids off. 

Duck Hat 

Make your child’s hat 👒even more adorable with this simple craft. 

What you need- Yellow children’s hat, orange felt fabric, googly eyes, and fabric glue. 

Steps- 

• Trace the hat’s brim on the orange felt fabric. Cut with scissors. 
• Apply glue to the back of the orange felt fabric and place it on the hat’s brim. 
• Glue the googly eyes above the brim. Let the glue set, and then the hat is ready to wear. 

Paper Plate Duck Craft for Toddlers 

This paper plate duck 🦆 craft is easy to make for toddlers and will also keep them entertained. 

What you need- Paper plate, scissors, feathers, construction paper, googly eyes, and glue. 

Steps- 

• Cut the paper plate in half. 
• Draw two duck 🦆 feet and the duck’s head on the construction paper and cut with scissors. Paste the googly eyes on the duck’s head. 
• Paste two duck feet on the rounded side of the paper plate and the duck 🦆 head on the opposite side of the feet. 
• Decorate the plate with synthetic feathers.  

Watch a Nature Documentary About Ducks 

There are many documentaries, news stories, and non-fiction online dedicated to the topic of ducks. Documentaries and videos, in general, are a great way to educate your children on any topic. 

After watching a documentary, you can quiz your children on what they have learned from it. My kids and I enjoyed a really informative PBS Nature Documentary called ‘An Original Documentary.’ 

A Duck Race 

If you are looking after a group of children, then this exercise is a great way to get their funnies out and make them tired. 

Show your children how to waddle like a duck 🦆. Ask them to stand at one end of the backyard and make them race each other, but instead of running, they must waddle like a duck. 

This duck 🦆 race was a massive hit at my child’s birthday party, and it even made some of the parents chuckle. 

Toy Ducks Addition Game 

Using toys and other props is a great way to improve your kids’ maths skills, especially if they are visual learners. 

What you need- Small rubber ducks 🦆, a dry-erase wipe, a marker, and a dry-erase board. 

Steps- 

• Start this exercise with just ten ducks and write the number 1 through 10 under it. 
• Ask your child to randomly pick two ducks 🦆 and work out the sum of the number written under them. I recommend asking them to work out the problem orally, but you can also ask them to use the board. 
• Once they are done adding two numbers, you can ask them to add three numbers, four numbers, and then five numbers together. 

Pro tip- Using these rubber ducks 🦆 as props, you can also teach your kids how to subtract and multiply numbers (you might need more ducks for that). 

Paper Cup Duck Craft 

This paper cup duck craft is a fun activity for toddlers and is also very engaging. 

What you need- Construction paper, googly eyes, acrylic paint, and paper cups. 

Steps- 

• Help your child paint the paper cup completely yellow. 
• While the paint dries, on orange construction paper, draw the duck’s feet, beak, and wings. Cut with scissors and then paste on the paper cup. 
• Also, paste the googly eyes on the paper cup. 

Ducks in a Pond 

Ducks in a Pond is a deliciously refreshing beverage perfect for a summer children’s party. 

What you need- Lemon and lime seltzer water, coconut syrup, blue raspberry syrup, blue food coloring, crushed ice, and duck-shaped candies. 

Steps- 

• In a punch bowl or a large jug, add two cans of lemon 🍋 and lime seltzer water, two tablespoons of coconut syrup, and half a tablespoon of blue raspberry syrup. 
• Mix a few drops of blue food coloring into the punch bowl and mix it properly. 
• Fill a cup with crushed ice and pour the punch over it. Serve with the duck 🦆 candies sprinkled on top. 

Visit a Poultry Farm 

If you live near a poultry farm, a petting zoo, or an animal sanctuary where there are ducks, then I recommend taking your kids to see them. 

I took my kids to a poultry farm in the city where I grew up that also offers guided tours to the visitors. The farm we went to practices organic and sustenance farming. 

The ducks 🦆 are allowed to roam freely on their large property and even have access to a small pond where they go often. 

My kids were able to learn a lot about the duck’s socialization habits, what they eat, where they sleep, how they sleep, and how their eggs and meat are harvested. 

Rubber Duck Stamping Craft 

Encourage your toddlers and preschoolers to make a unique piece of art by stamping a rubber duck 🦆 in some paint and on paper. My toddler really enjoyed this craft; hopefully, your kids will enjoy it, too. 

Five Little Ducks Egg Carton Craft 

Five Little Ducks is a popular nursery rhyme. This egg carton craft is inspired by this nursery rhyme. 

What you need- Egg 🥚 carton, acrylic paint, paintbrush, and toy ducks. 

Steps- 

• Help your child paint the egg carton completely blue. The egg carton is meant to be the pond. 
• Once the paint has dried completely, place the toy ducks 🦆 inside the carton. And the craft is ready. 

Rice Cake Duckling Snack 

This simple rice cake snack is a great way to involve your children in the kitchen and satiate their late afternoon hunger with a light snack. 

What you need- Puffed rice, roasted sesame seeds, honey, tahini paste, dates paste, sugar, butter 🧈, blueberry yogurt, blue food coloring, and duck crackers. 

Steps- 

• In a saucepan, roast a cup of sesame seeds. Add half a cup of honey and tahini paste and a quarter cup of sugar. Cook until everything in the saucepan has melted and become cohesive. 
• Take off the heat, add 5 cups of puffed rice to the saucepan, and mix everything. 
• Grease 4 to 5 3-inch circular pans with butter 🧈 and add the puffed rice mixture to it. 
• Gently press into the baking pans and refrigerate overnight or for at least one hour. 
• Once set, remove from the baking pan. 
• In a small mixing bowl, mix a cup of blueberry yogurt with a few drops of blue food coloring. 
• Help your children cover the rice cake with this blue yogurt. 
• Decorate with the duck-shaped crackers. 

The end product should look like ducks 🦆 swimming in a pond. 

Duck Feet Painting 

This duck 🦆 feet painting activity was a hit amongst my toddlers and preschoolers. 

What you need- A large paper chart, foam sheet, tape, disposable baking pan, and washable kids-safe paint. 

Steps- 

• On a foam sheet, draw two duck feet that are a little longer than your child’s feet and cut them with scissors. 
• Lay down the large paper chart in your backyard. 
• Place the baking pan next to it and squirt orange, yellow, and red paint in it. 
• With the tape, tie the duck feet around your child’s feet. 
• Ask your child to step on the baking sheet and then stamp it on the paper chart. 

Pro tip- Make sure that your child is wearing shorts and not long pants because they can get dirty. 

Make a Duckbill Mask 

After my children and I finished making these masks, they refused to take them off and played a tonne with them. 

What you need- Orange craft foam, black marker, punch hole, scissors ✂️, and elastic string.

Steps- 

• Draw the top and bottom of a duckbill. I like to make the top duckbill a little larger than the bottom duckbill. Cut with scissors. 
• On the top duckbill, make two nostrils with the hole punch. 
• Punch two holes in the top corners of both the duckbills. 
• Thread an elastic string through one corner and into the next, and tie a knot to secure it. Your duck 🦆 bill is ready. 

What Do Ducks Eat? 

Have you ever noticed that most public parks with a duck park advertise not to feed the ducks 🦆 bread? This is because bread is not actually good for ducks. Bread has almost no nutritional value; it attracts rodents to the pond and can stunt the growth of ducks. 

Plus, research indicates that feeding bread to ducks satiates their hunger and stops them from foraging for foods that are actually good for them. 

Next time you visit a park with your children, instead of bread, make a goodie bag of foods that are actually good for ducks 🦆, like sweetcorn, lettuce, frozen peas, oats, seed mix, rice, mealworm, and sliced grapes. 

Pretzel Ducks 

These pretzel sticks are a good mix of sweet and salty. 

What you need- Pretzels, orange and black gel icing tube, yellow food coloring, and vanilla frosting. 

Steps- 

• In a mixing bowl, mix a cup of vanilla frosting with a few drops of yellow food coloring. Pour the frosting into a piping bag and snip a small hole at the end. 
• Pipe the frosting in the middle of the pretzels. 
• Make the beaks with the orange gel icing and the eyes with the black gel icing. 

Conclusion 

Hopefully, your kids enjoyed taking part in these duck-inspired activities and showed interest in eating the duck-inspired 🦆 snacks. 

My aim with these activities is to make my children’s learning experience more fun and less stressful, like it was for me and countless other people around the world. 

These activities foster creativity and encourage kids to take part in creating adorable creations and keepsakes.