45 Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids: Simple & Fun Ideas
Thanksgiving is the perfect time to get creative with your children through fun and festive projects. Thanksgiving crafts for kids offer a wonderful way to celebrate the season while keeping little hands busy.
From colorful turkey decorations to gratitude trees, these activities bring families together and teach children about thankfulness.
Best of all, most projects use simple materials you already have at home. These crafts work great for preschoolers, elementary students, and even tweens looking for holiday activities.
Get ready to create beautiful decorations and lasting memories with your kids.
Why Crafts Are More Than Just Fun for Kids?
Crafts offer kids far more than just entertainment during the holidays. When children work on Thanksgiving projects, they develop fine motor skills by cutting, gluing, and coloring.
These activities also boost creativity as kids make choices about colors, designs, and materials. Crafting teaches patience and focus, since completing a project takes time and attention to detail.
It’s a wonderful way for children to express gratitude and learn about Thanksgiving traditions.
Making decorations or gifts by hand gives kids a sense of pride and accomplishment. The finished crafts become meaningful keepsakes that families can cherish for years, making memories that last beyond the holiday season.
What You’ll Need for Most of These Easy Kids Crafts?
Most Thanksgiving crafts use simple materials you probably already have at home. Having these basics ready means kids can start creating right away without multiple trips to the store.
| CATEGORY | MATERIALS NEEDED |
|---|---|
| Basic Craft Supplies | Safety scissors, glue sticks, liquid glue, tape, stapler, child-safe scissors |
| Paper & Cardstock | Construction paper (fall colors like orange, brown, red, yellow), cardstock, tissue paper |
| Drawing & Coloring | Washable markers, crayons, colored pencils, watercolor paints, paintbrushes |
| Recycled Materials | Toilet paper rolls, egg cartons, cereal boxes, paper bags |
| Natural Materials | Pinecones, leaves, acorns, twigs, dried corn husks |
| Decorative Items | Feathers, pom-poms, googly eyes, buttons, sequins |
| Adhesive & Fasteners | Glue dots, double-sided tape, clothespins, yarn, twine |
| Craft Tools | Hole punch, ruler, paint palette, small bowls for paint |
| Fabric & Soft Items | Felt sheets, yarn, ribbon, fabric scraps |
| Special Add-ons | Mason jars, beads, candles (LED), clay, foam sheets |
You don’t need every item on this list to get started. Pick a few crafts that interest your kids, then gather just the materials needed for those projects. Many items can be found around your home or collected from nature walks.
Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers (Ages 2-4)
Thanksgiving crafts for toddlers should be simple, colorful, and fun to make together. These activities are great for developing fine motor skills, exploring textures, and celebrating the holiday with hands-on creativity.
1. Handprint Turkeys
Start by tracing your toddler’s hand on brown construction paper and cutting it out. The thumb becomes the turkey’s head, and the fingers form feathers. Help your child glue googly eyes and an orange paper beak onto the thumb area.
Add colorful paper feathers or draw them in with markers. Finally, glue the handprint onto another sheet of paper for display. Write your child’s name and the year to turn it into a Thanksgiving keepsake.
2. Paper Plate Pumpkins
Give your toddler a paper plate and let them paint it orange. Once it dries, cut a small rectangle of green construction paper for the stem and a curly strip for the vine.
Help your child glue these onto the top of the plate. They can also add a smiley face or patterns with crayons or stickers. It’s a perfect activity to build creativity while keeping little hands busy with easy painting and gluing.
3. Leaf Collage Art
Take a short walk with your toddler to collect real leaves in different colors and shapes. Once you’re back home, give them a sheet of paper and some glue.
Encourage them to arrange the leaves creatively – overlapping, making patterns, or forming shapes like a heart or turkey. Press gently to stick, let dry, and display their fall masterpiece!
4. Corn Kernel Sensory Bottle
Fill a clean, empty plastic bottle halfway with dried corn kernels. Add a few colorful beads, buttons, or sequins to make it interesting. Secure the lid tightly with hot glue or duct tape to ensure it won’t open.
Let your toddler shake and roll the bottle to watch the items move around. It’s a soothing and safe sensory craft that encourages curiosity while keeping little hands occupied.
5. Feather Crown Headbands
Cut a strip of construction paper long enough to wrap around your toddler’s head. Let them decorate it with crayons, stickers, or stamps first. Then, help them glue on colorful craft feathers along one edge of the strip.
Once the glue is dry, fit the strip around their head and tape or staple the ends together. Your child now has a fun feather crown to wear during Thanksgiving celebrations or pretend play.
6. Thanksgiving Finger Painting
Cover the table with a newspaper or a plastic sheet and tape down white paper. Pour small amounts of red, orange, yellow, and brown paint onto a plate.
Show your toddler how to finger paint leaves, turkeys, or pumpkins – or outline a turkey for them to fill with colorful dots. This simple craft encourages creativity and sensory play with minimal setup.
7. Apple Stamp Turkey
Slice an apple in half and pat it dry. Dip the flat side into brown or orange paint, then stamp it onto paper to create the turkey’s body. Once dry, have your toddler add colorful feathers with their fingertips or by gluing paper feathers around the stamp.
Draw or glue on eyes, a beak, and legs to finish. It’s a fun way to turn fruit into a holiday-themed art project that’s perfect for small hands.
8. Pom-Pom Acorn Art
Draw or print an outline of an acorn on a piece of cardstock. Give your toddler small brown, tan, and orange pom-poms along with glue. Show them how to stick the pom-poms inside the outline to fill the acorn’s shape.
They can use a mix of sizes and shades for texture. This simple project strengthens hand control and makes a cute decoration that can be hung or gifted during Thanksgiving week.
9. Crayon Leaf Rubbing
Place a real leaf under a sheet of thin white paper, making sure the veins face upward. Give your toddler a crayon with the paper wrapping removed. Show them how to gently rub the side of the crayon over the paper to reveal the leaf’s pattern.
Repeat with different leaves and colors to create a collage. This craft helps kids learn about nature and texture while creating beautiful fall artwork to display at home.
10. Tissue Paper Corn Craft
Cut out a corn shape from yellow construction paper. Tear small pieces of yellow, orange, and brown tissue paper, then crumple them into tiny balls. Help your toddler glue the tissue balls onto the corn shape until it’s filled.
Add a green paper husk around the edges and glue it down. Once complete, you’ll have a bright, textured corn craft that celebrates Thanksgiving and keeps your little one entertained with easy steps.
11. Pinecone Painting
Gather a few pinecones from outside or use store-bought ones. Place them on a tray or inside a cardboard box to contain the mess. Pour some washable paint in fall colors – orange, yellow, red, and brown – onto a paper plate.
Give your toddler a paintbrush or let them roll the pinecones in the paint using their hands. Once the pinecones dry, display them in a bowl or basket as a festive Thanksgiving centerpiece made by your little artist.
12. Thanksgiving Sticker Scene
Provide your toddler with a sheet of construction paper and a variety of Thanksgiving-themed stickers – turkeys, pumpkins, leaves, and pies. Encourage them to create their own Thanksgiving scene by placing stickers wherever they like.
They can also draw trees, clouds, or the sun with crayons to complete their artwork. This craft is mess-free, easy to clean up, and encourages storytelling while strengthening fine motor skills and creativity.
13. Mini Paper Bag Puppets
Give your toddler small paper lunch bags and have them draw faces on the bottom flap using crayons or markers. Cut out paper shapes for turkey feathers, pilgrim hats, or pumpkin stems.
Help your child glue the pieces onto the bag to match their chosen character. Once dry, slip a hand inside and bring the puppet to life. These mini puppets make storytelling and pretend play even more fun during Thanksgiving.
14. Thankful Tree Leaves (Large Motor Craft)
Tape a large sheet of paper or cardboard to the wall and draw a simple tree trunk with branches. Cut out large paper leaves in fall colors. Ask your toddler what they’re thankful for, and help them draw or scribble it on each leaf.
They can then glue or tape the leaves onto the branches. This big-movement craft lets kids stretch, reach, and express gratitude in a playful and active way.
15. Cupcake Liner Turkeys
Flatten a brown cupcake liner to form the turkey’s body and glue it to a piece of paper. Add colorful cupcake liners or construction paper feathers behind it to make the tail.
Use googly eyes and small paper cutouts for the beak and feet. Kids can even color or decorate the background with crayons. This simple, colorful project brings a cheerful Thanksgiving touch to your toddler’s craft time.
Thanksgiving Crafts for Preschoolers (Ages 4-6)
Preschoolers love crafts that let them cut, glue, paint, and imagine. These Thanksgiving projects are perfect for building fine motor skills and creativity while keeping the theme festive and fun.
16. Paper Roll Turkeys
Collect empty toilet paper rolls and cover them with brown construction paper or paint. Cut out colorful feathers from paper and glue them to the back of the roll in a fan shape. Add googly eyes, a small orange beak, and a red paper wattle to the front.
Preschoolers will love decorating their turkeys with patterns or stickers. Once dry, these cute turkeys can stand on their own as Thanksgiving table decorations.
17. Pasta Necklace with Fall Colors
Gather dry pasta pieces, such as penne or rigatoni, and place them in small plastic bags with a few drops of paint in fall shades, such as red, orange, and yellow. Shake until coated, then let them dry.
Give your preschooler some string or yarn to thread the painted pasta into a necklace. This craft helps strengthen hand-eye coordination and gives them a fun Thanksgiving dinner accessory.
18. Corn Husk Dolls
Soak a few dried corn husks in warm water until they become soft and flexible. Stack several husks together and tie one end with a string to form a head. Fold and tie smaller sections to make arms and a dress or pants.
Preschoolers can decorate their dolls with markers, yarn hair, or fabric scraps. These dolls are a gentle introduction to traditional fall crafts and make a lovely keepsake.
19. Handprint Family Tree
Draw a large tree trunk on a sheet of paper or cardboard. Trace each family member’s hand on colored paper and cut out the shapes. Each handprint becomes a “leaf” for the tree. Help your preschooler glue the handprints onto the branches.
They can write each person’s name or something they’re thankful for on the leaves. It’s a meaningful craft that celebrates family and gratitude during the Thanksgiving season.
20. Paper Bag Scarecrow
Start with a brown paper lunch bag and stuff it lightly with crumpled newspaper. Fold the top over and tie it with a string to form the scarecrow’s head.
Have your preschooler draw a happy face with markers, then glue on yarn hair, a paper hat, and colorful patches. Add stick or straw arms if you like. This cheerful scarecrow makes a fun fall decoration and lets kids get creative.
21. Coffee Filter Leaves
Flatten a few coffee filters and let your preschooler color them with washable markers using fall shades like red, orange, and yellow. Once they’re done, lightly spray the filters with water to let the colors blend and spread.
After drying, trace and cut out leaf shapes. You can hang the finished leaves on windows or string them together for a pretty fall garland. This craft teaches color mixing and creates a soft, watercolor-like effect.
22. Tissue Paper Mosaic Pumpkins
Cut out a pumpkin shape from orange construction paper. Tear small pieces of orange, yellow, and red tissue paper and place them in a small bowl.
Show your preschooler how to glue overlapping tissue pieces on the pumpkin shape, then add a brown stem and green leaf. The result is a bright, mosaic-style pumpkin craft.
23. Gratitude Jar
Give your preschooler a clean, empty jar and let them decorate it with stickers, paper leaves, or ribbon. Cut small slips of paper and help them write or draw things they’re thankful for each day.
Fold the papers and place them in the jar. By Thanksgiving Day, the jar will be full of happy thoughts. This craft encourages gratitude while creating a keepsake that families can open and read together.
24. Egg Carton Turkey Craft
Cut apart an egg carton and give your preschooler one section as the turkey’s body. Paint it brown and let it dry. Add googly eyes and a small paper beak.
Cut out colorful paper feathers or use craft ones, gluing them to the back of the carton. Attach the turkey to cardstock so it stands upright. This easy recycled craft builds fine motor skills and creativity.
25. Thanksgiving Hat Craft
Measure a strip of construction paper to fit around your child’s head. Let them choose a theme – like a turkey, a pilgrim, or a Native-inspired pattern – and decorate the strip with markers, feathers, or cutout shapes.
Once finished, tape or staple the ends together to form a circle. Preschoolers can wear their festive hats during Thanksgiving celebrations or while helping set the table, adding a playful touch to the holiday fun.
26. Popsicle Stick Pilgrims
Give your preschooler five Popsicle sticks – two for the body, two for the arms, and one for the hat brim. Glue them together in shape, then paint the body black and white to look like a pilgrim outfit.
Cut a small black rectangle for the hat and add a yellow paper buckle. Glue on googly eyes and draw a smile. Once dry, these little pilgrims can be used as table décor or puppets for storytelling.
27. DIY Turkey Headbands
Cut a strip of brown construction paper long enough to wrap around your child’s head. Let your preschooler decorate it with colorful paper feathers or craft feathers glued along one side.
Add an oval face, googly eyes, and a paper beak. Once dry, fit the strip around their head and secure it. This fun, wearable craft is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers on Thanksgiving Day.
28. Fall Leaf Suncatchers
Fold a piece of clear contact paper in half and cut out a large leaf shape. Remove the backing and place small pieces of colored tissue paper onto the sticky side. Once the leaf is filled, fold the contact paper back over to seal it.
Trim around the edges and hang it in a sunny window. The light shines through the tissue paper, creating a beautiful fall-colored suncatcher that brightens any room.
29. Thankful Banner
Cut several rectangles or leaf shapes from construction paper. Help your preschooler write one thing they’re thankful for on each piece – such as family, food, or friends. Let them decorate the edges with crayons, stickers, or glitter.
Once complete, punch holes at the top of each piece and thread them onto a string or ribbon. Hang the banner across a doorway or a wall to showcase your child’s gratitude and creativity.
30. Fingerprint Corn on the Cob
Draw or print a corn shape on white paper. Give your preschooler yellow, orange, and brown paint. Show them how to dip one finger into the paint and press it inside the corn shape to create kernels.
Add green paper husks on the sides once the paint dries. This easy craft makes a cute, textured picture while helping kids practice color recognition and fine motor control through finger painting fun.
Thanksgiving Crafts for Older Kids (Ages 7-10+)
Older kids enjoy crafts that involve a bit more detail and creativity. These Thanksgiving projects encourage focus, patience, and artistic expression while keeping the theme festive.
31. DIY Thanksgiving Place Cards
Cut folded cardstock into small rectangles to make place cards. Have your child write each guest’s name in neat handwriting or fun lettering. They can decorate the cards with drawings of leaves, pumpkins, or small stickers.
Add a piece of twine or tape a mini leaf to each one for a cozy touch. These handmade place cards make the dinner table more personal and let kids feel involved in preparing for the holiday meal.
32. Clay Pumpkin Ornaments
Give your child some air-dry clay or homemade salt dough and have them shape small pumpkins using their hands or simple tools. Press a toothpick or skewer through the top for hanging.
Once dry, paint the pumpkins in orange, white, or gold tones, and tie a string through the hole. These ornaments can be used for decorating the table, hanging on a branch centerpiece, or even gifting to family members.
33. Hand-Stitched Felt Turkeys
Cut two identical turkey shapes from brown felt and smaller feather shapes in different colors. Have your child sew around the edges of the turkey shapes using a simple running stitch, leaving a small opening to stuff it lightly with cotton.
Then finish stitching it closed. Glue on the felt feathers, googly eyes, and a beak. This project helps kids practice beginner sewing skills while creating a soft and festive Thanksgiving decoration.
34. Gratitude Tree Centerpiece
Find a few small branches and place them in a vase or jar filled with stones or beans to hold them upright. Cut leaf shapes from colorful paper and punch a hole at the top of each.
Ask your child to write something they’re thankful for on each leaf, then tie them to the branches with a string. This gratitude tree makes a heartfelt centerpiece and serves as a lovely reminder of thankfulness during the holiday.
35. Painted Rock Pumpkins
Collect smooth, flat rocks and wash them clean. Once dry, paint them orange to look like small pumpkins. Add details like green stems, faces, or leaf designs using acrylic paint or markers.
When the paint is dry, seal the rocks with clear varnish to extend their lifespan. These hand-painted pumpkins can decorate tabletops, shelves, or garden areas, adding a cheerful fall touch made entirely by your child.
36. Autumn Leaf Candle Holders
Give your child a clean glass jar and some dried fall leaves. Have them brush a thin layer of Mod Podge or glue onto the outside of the jar, then gently press the leaves onto the surface.
Once the leaves stick, brush a light coat of glue over them to seal and let them dry completely. Place a battery-operated tealight inside for a warm, cozy glow through the leaves – a perfect Thanksgiving decoration.
37. Recycled Cereal Box Turkey
Flatten an empty cereal box and cut out a large oval for the turkey’s body. Use smaller scraps to cut feathers, a beak, and feet. Have your child paint or color each piece before gluing them together.
Add googly eyes or draw expressions for fun. This recycled craft teaches kids about reusing materials while creating a cheerful turkey they can display on the fridge or use as a wall decoration.
38. Thankful Chain Countdown
Cut several strips of colored paper and write one thing your child is thankful for on each. Help them loop one strip into a circle and tape or staple the ends together. Keep adding more strips through each circle to form a chain.
You can remove one link each day leading up to Thanksgiving or simply display it as decoration. This activity combines gratitude with a fun, hands-on craft kids will enjoy making.
39. Beaded Corn Décor
Give your child a pipe cleaner and a bowl of yellow, orange, and brown beads. Show them how to thread the beads onto the pipe cleaner, leaving some space at the end to twist it closed.
Make three or four of these “corn kernels,” then tie them together at the top with green ribbon or paper husks. The finished craft looks like miniature corn and makes a festive decoration for the dinner table.
40. Fall-Themed Mason Jar Lanterns
Provide clean mason jars and acrylic paints in warm fall colors. Have your child paint leaves, pumpkins, or thankful messages on the outside of the jars. Once dry, place a battery-operated tealight or fairy lights inside.
Add a ribbon or twine bow around the jar’s top for an extra touch. These lanterns offer a beautiful, safe way for older kids to decorate the home for Thanksgiving evenings.
41. Mini Wreath Door Hangers
Give your child small embroidery hoops or cardboard rings as wreath bases. Let them wrap yarn, ribbon, or strips of fabric around the ring until it’s fully covered. They can glue on paper leaves, mini pinecones, or felt flowers for decoration.
Add a loop of ribbon to the top so the wreath can hang on a doorknob or wall. This craft helps older kids practice creativity while making cheerful Thanksgiving decorations.
42. Leaf-Pressed Clay Dishes
Roll out air-dry clay until it’s about a quarter-inch thick. Press a real leaf onto the surface, vein side down, to leave an imprint. Carefully peel the leaf off, then cut around the shape.
Place the clay inside a shallow bowl to dry into a dish shape. Once it hardens, kids can paint it with fall colors. These leaf dishes are great for holding jewelry, keys, or other small treasures.
43. Button Art Pumpkins
Draw a pumpkin outline on cardstock and give your child orange, yellow, and brown buttons in various sizes. Have them glue the buttons inside the outline, overlapping slightly to fill the space. Add a green button or paper stem at the top.
Once dry, the button pumpkin can be framed or hung as Thanksgiving art. This project is great for improving focus and fine motor coordination while creating a textured craft.
44. Felt Pie Slice Garland
Cut triangles of brown felt for the crust and orange or tan felt for the pie filling. Glue a small white pom-pom on each slice to look like whipped cream.
Once all the slices are made, attach them to a long piece of twine using glue or clothespins. Hang the garland across a wall or mantle for a cozy, handmade Thanksgiving decoration that older kids will enjoy creating together.
45. Turkey Bookmark Corner
Fold a square piece of brown paper diagonally to form a triangle. Fold the top corners down and tuck them into the pocket to create a bookmark shape. Add eyes, a beak, and paper feathers to make it look like a turkey.
These corner bookmarks are fun to use in books or give as gifts to family members. It’s a quick and useful craft that sparks creativity in reading-loving kids.
Tips for a Mess-Free Craft Time
Getting ready for craft time with a few simple steps can save you hours of cleanup later. These practical tips will help keep your space tidy while kids enjoy their creative projects.
- Cover Your Work Surface: Use newspapers, plastic tablecloths, or garbage bags to protect tables and floors.
- Set up a Craft Station: Keep all supplies in one area so materials don’t spread throughout the house.
- Use Washable Materials: Choose washable paints, markers, and glue to make cleanup easier.
- Keep Wet Wipes Nearby: Have paper towels or wipes ready to quickly clean small messes.
- Dress for the Mess: Have kids wear old clothes or aprons to protect their outfits.
With these preparations in place, you can relax and enjoy watching your kids create without worrying about the aftermath. A little planning goes a long way toward stress-free crafting.
Final Thoughts
These Thanksgiving crafts for kids provide hours of creative fun while celebrating everything we’re grateful for this season. Each project helps children develop new skills and express their creativity in meaningful ways.
The handmade decorations will brighten your home and remind your family of the joy you shared making them together. Ready to start crafting?
Pick your favorite project and gather your supplies today. We’d love to hear which craft your kids enjoyed most – share your creations in the comments below and inspire other families to get creative this Thanksgiving!
