Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids: 8 Easy Ideas With Simple Supplies

Thanksgiving crafts are a good way to fill the weeks before the holiday. They give children something to do with their hands, they make the table look festive, and many of them can turn into small gifts or gratitude reminders. Here are eight easy Thanksgiving crafts for kids, with supplies, steps and notes on which ages tend to enjoy each one.

If you would like more seasonal ideas beyond Thanksgiving itself, our guide to easy fall crafts for kids has more leaf, pumpkin and nature-based projects.

Before you start: set up for success

• Cover the table with newspaper, a plastic cloth or brown paper.
• Gather everything first. Children lose interest quickly if they have to wait while you search for the glue.
• Use washable, child-safe supplies. Look for non-toxic labels on paint, glue and markers.
• Plan a clean-up step with a damp cloth or wipes and a place for wet projects to dry.
• Let go of perfect. A wobbly turkey made by a four-year-old is better than a neat one made by you.

1. Paper-plate turkey

Good for: ages 3 and up, with help for the youngest.

You need: a paper plate, brown paint or crayons, colored paper, child-safe glue, scissors, and a marker.

1. Paint the plate brown, or color it in, and let it dry.
2. Cut feather shapes from red, orange, yellow and green paper. Younger children can tear strips instead of cutting.
3. Glue the feathers to the back of the plate so they fan out around the top.
4. Add a paper beak, a wattle and two eyes. Draw them on with a marker if you do not want small pieces.

A paper plate gives a sturdy base, which is helpful for children still getting used to gluing.

2. Toilet paper roll turkey

Good for: ages 4 and up.

You need: a cardboard tube, brown paper or paint, colored paper, glue, scissors, marker.

1. Cover the tube with brown paper or paint it brown.
2. Cut several feather shapes in different colors and glue them to the inside back of the tube so they fan out.
3. Cut a small orange triangle for the beak and a red shape for the wattle. Glue them near the top.
4. Draw eyes with a marker.

The finished turkey can stand on a table, and a row of them makes a simple decoration.

3. Painted leaf feathers

Good for: ages 4 and up, with older children enjoying the patterns.

You need: dried leaves (see the safety note above), white or metallic paint and a small brush, newspaper.

1. Collect clean, dry leaves in various sizes. Press them flat between pages of a heavy book for a day if they curl.
2. Lay a leaf on newspaper and paint a band across the tip, or paint stripes in a chevron pattern so it looks like a feather.
3. Let it dry completely before moving it.
4. Arrange several leaves on a table runner, glue them to a strip of paper as a garland, or tape them to a door.

This is a calm, slow craft. The leaves in the photo at the top of this article show how a simple painted pattern can look like a feather.

4. Torn-paper pumpkin

Good for: toddlers and preschoolers.

You need: orange construction paper, a sheet of white paper, glue stick.

1. Draw a large pumpkin outline on white paper.
2. Let your child tear the orange paper into small pieces.
3. Glue the pieces inside the outline, then add a green stem.

Tearing paper helps build hand strength and control. It also avoids scissors for the youngest.

5. Gratitude leaves garland

Good for: ages 5 and up.

You need: colored paper, scissors, pencil, string, hole punch.

1. Cut leaf shapes from red, orange, yellow and brown paper.
2. On each leaf, write or draw one thing your child is thankful for. Younger children can dictate while you write.
3. Punch a hole in each leaf and thread them onto string.
4. Hang the garland on a wall or mantel and add a leaf each day until Thanksgiving.

This turns a craft into a family habit. Reading the leaves aloud on the day can be a nice moment at the table.

6. Thanksgiving place cards

Good for: ages 6 and up.

You need: thick paper or card stock, markers or colored pencils, scissors.

1. Fold a rectangle of card stock in half so it stands like a tent.
2. Let your child draw a small leaf, pumpkin or turkey on the front.
3. Write a guest’s name on each card, or let your child do the lettering as handwriting practice.
4. Place the cards at the table.

Children often take pride in having a real job to do for the meal.

7. Handprint-style paper feathers

Good for: ages 3 and up.

You need: colored paper, pencil, scissors, glue, a paper plate or a circle of brown paper.

1. Trace your child’s hand on colored paper, or trace around a few different colors.
2. Cut out the shapes.
3. Glue them behind a brown circle so the fingers fan out like feathers, and add a face and beak.

Tracing hands is a lovely keepsake: you can write the year on the back and compare it with next year’s.

8. Pinecone or paper table centerpiece

Good for: ages 6 and up.

You need: dry pinecones or paper cones, paint, craft paper, glue, a small tray.

1. Paint pinecones in autumn colors, or roll paper into cones.
2. Let them dry.
3. Arrange them on a tray with a few painted leaves from craft number 3.

This is a good project for children who like to design and arrange things. Keep any items small enough to swallow well away from younger siblings.

Pick a craft by age

Age	Good fit
Toddlers (about 2-3)	Torn-paper pumpkin, sticker or glue-stick work, large painted leaves
Preschool (about 3-5)	Paper-plate turkey, toilet paper roll turkey, handprint feathers
Early school (about 6-8)	Place cards, gratitude garland, painted-leaf patterns
Older kids (about 9 and up)	Centerpieces, detailed lettering, designing the whole table setting

These are rough guides only. Let your child’s own interest and skills lead. For more simple projects and tips on building cutting and gluing skills, see paper crafts for kids and fine motor activities for preschoolers.

Balance messy crafts with quiet activities

Not every child enjoys paint and glue, and everyone needs a break from mess. A printable activity book gives a calm alternative and a way to keep hands busy while you cook. Thanksgiving & Fall Activity Book for Kids is a 25-page printable PDF for ages 4 to 8 with gratitude pages such as “My Gratitude Tree”, coloring pages, mazes, spot the difference, counting pages and a Thanksgiving crossword. It can sit alongside the crafts above, especially for children who like puzzles better than scissors.

Bringing it together

The best Thanksgiving crafts are simple, a little useful and not stressful. Start with one or two from this list, match them to your child’s age and skills, supervise the scissors and small parts, and let the result be as wonky as it turns out. The conversations you have while you craft often matter more than the craft itself.