Getting little hands busy around Thanksgiving is a wonderful way to build excitement for the holiday and create some cherished keepsakes. Forget complicated, Pinterest-perfect setups; the real magic happens when kids get to explore materials, make their own creative choices, and maybe make a little bit of a glorious mess. It’s about connection, creativity, and maybe even sneaking in a little chat about gratitude along the way. So, gather your supplies, put down some newspaper, and let’s dive into some classic Thanksgiving craft projects that kids genuinely enjoy.
Talking Turkey: Fun Feathered Friends
Ah, the turkey. It’s the undeniable feathered star of Thanksgiving, and thankfully, one of the most fun and versatile subjects for kid’s crafts. There are countless ways to bring a gobbler to life using simple household items and a dash of imagination.
The Classic Handprint Turkey
You simply can’t talk Thanksgiving crafts without mentioning the handprint turkey. It’s a rite of passage! This one is perfect because it captures a moment in time – those little hands won’t stay small forever. Start by tracing your child’s hand on a piece of construction paper (brown is traditional for the body, but let them choose!). The traced thumb becomes the turkey’s head and neck, while the fingers transform into the magnificent tail feathers. Cut out the hand shape. Now comes the fun part: decorating! Use crayons, markers, paint, or even glue on colorful craft feathers to make those finger-feathers pop. Add a googly eye (or draw one on), a small orange or red triangle for the beak, and don’t forget that funny little red wattle hanging down (a squiggle of red paint or a small piece of red paper works great). These make fantastic decorations for the fridge or can even be turned into place cards for the Thanksgiving table.
Pinecone Turkeys
Bring a little nature indoors with pinecone turkeys. If you can, take the kids on a pre-crafting adventure to gather pinecones from the yard or a park – it adds another layer of fun to the activity. Choose pinecones that sit reasonably flat on one end. The pinecone itself forms the turkey’s body. You’ll need some feathers (craft store feathers in autumn colors work well, or kids can cut feather shapes from construction paper). Help your child carefully tuck or glue the feathers into the scales at the wider end of the pinecone, fanning them out to create the tail. For the head, you can use a small pom-pom (brown or tan), a wooden bead, or even a bundled-up piece of brown paper glued to the front (narrower end) of the pinecone. Add googly eyes, a tiny paper beak, and a wattle. These little guys look adorable perched on a windowsill or as part of a Thanksgiving centerpiece.
Paper Plate Turkeys
Paper plates offer a sturdy base for all sorts of turkey creations. For a simple version, cut a standard paper plate in half. This semi-circle will be the turkey’s fanned tail. Have your child paint or color the plate half in bright, feathery patterns. While that dries, cut out a smaller circle or peanut shape from brown construction paper for the body and a smaller circle for the head (or use one piece for the body/head). Glue the body onto the center of the flat edge of the painted plate half. Add googly eyes, beak, and wattle to the head. For legs, cut thin strips of orange or yellow paper and fold them accordion-style before gluing them to the bottom of the body. Another variation involves using a whole paper plate as the body and gluing pre-cut feather shapes (or traced handprints!) all around the edge to form the tail.
Crafting the Cornucopia: Horn of Plenty Fun
The cornucopia, or horn of plenty, is a beautiful symbol of abundance and harvest. Making one, even a simple paper version, can be a great way to talk about the bounty of the season and all the things we have to be thankful for.
Creating a basic cornucopia shape is easier than it looks. One simple method involves rolling a large piece of brown or tan construction paper into a cone shape. Start rolling from one corner, making the opening wide and tapering down to a curved point. Secure the edge with glue or tape. You might need to trim the wide opening to make it sit flat or have a slightly curved edge. Once the basic horn shape is made, kids can decorate it. They could draw wood-grain patterns, glue on pieces of textured paper, or even try weaving strips of brown and yellow paper if you prepare the base with slits beforehand (this is better for slightly older kids).
What goes inside the horn of plenty? Anything that represents harvest! Kids can cut out fruit and vegetable shapes from colored paper – apples, grapes, pumpkins, corn on the cob. They could also draw them. Another fun idea is to use small, real items like mini gourds, colorful dried beans, nuts (check for allergies!), or even fall-themed candies or snack mix (if it’s meant to be eaten later). Crumpled tissue paper in fall colors (red, orange, yellow) can also help fill the space and give it a festive look. Arrange the paper cutouts or other items so they look like they are spilling out of the cornucopia’s opening.
Adult Supervision Recommended: Many craft projects involve scissors, glue, or small parts like googly eyes and beads. Always supervise young children during craft time to ensure safety. Help with cutting or tricky gluing steps as needed based on your child’s age and ability.
Growing Gratitude: Thankful Trees and More
Beyond the turkeys and harvest symbols, Thanksgiving is fundamentally about gratitude. Crafting activities focused on thankfulness can be incredibly meaningful for kids and adults alike, helping everyone pause and reflect on the good things in their lives.
The Gratitude Tree
A Gratitude Tree is a beautiful, visual representation of thankfulness that can grow throughout the Thanksgiving season. There are a couple of ways to approach this. You could gather some bare branches from the yard (ensure they’re clean and dry) and arrange them in a sturdy vase or pot filled with pebbles or sand. Alternatively, cut a large tree trunk and branches shape from brown poster board or construction paper and tape it to a wall or door. The next step is creating the leaves. Cut out leaf shapes from various colors of fall construction paper (red, orange, yellow, brown, green). Throughout the days or weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, encourage family members to write or draw something they are thankful for on a leaf. It could be anything – “my family,” “our dog,” “sunny days,” “pizza night,” “my toys,” “warm hugs.” Younger children who can’t write yet can draw pictures or dictate their thoughts for an adult to write down. Punch a hole in each leaf and use string or ribbon to hang it on the real branches, or simply tape the paper leaves onto the paper tree trunk. Watching the tree fill up with colorful leaves of gratitude is truly heartwarming.
Other Thankful Craft Ideas
If a tree isn’t quite your style, there are other wonderful ways to focus on gratitude:
- Gratitude Jar: Decorate a clean mason jar or any container. Cut strips of paper and have everyone write down things they are thankful for each day (or whenever the mood strikes). Fill the jar with these thankful thoughts and read some aloud during your Thanksgiving gathering.
- Thankful Paper Chain: Just like a regular paper chain, but each link holds something someone is thankful for. Cut strips of construction paper in fall colors. Write or draw something you’re thankful for on a strip before looping it and securing it with glue or tape. Connect the loops to create a chain that visually represents the family’s collective gratitude. You can make it longer each day!
- Thankful Placemats: Use large sheets of construction paper or cardstock as placemats. Before the Thanksgiving meal, have everyone decorate their own placemat by writing or drawing things they are thankful for around the border or in designated spaces. It adds a personal touch to the table setting and sparks conversation.
Tips for Happy Crafting
Remember, the goal is fun and connection, not perfection. Keep things light and positive. Put on some music, maybe sip some cider, and enjoy the process. Don’t worry too much about the mess – cover surfaces and dress kids (and yourself!) in clothes that can handle a little paint or glue. Offer guidance, but let the kids lead with their own creativity. Their unique interpretations are what make these crafts special. Provide age-appropriate tasks; toddlers might focus on painting and sticking, while older kids can handle more cutting and detailed work. Most importantly, talk with your kids while you craft. Ask them about their turkey designs, what they like about fall, and gently steer the conversation towards things they appreciate. These moments together are the real keepsakes.
Making time for these simple Thanksgiving craft projects can add so much warmth and meaning to the holiday season. It’s a chance to slow down, get creative, and focus on the spirit of gratitude together as a family. Happy crafting!
