27 Easy Thanksgiving Crafts Kids Will Love Making

Are you dreading the thought of keeping little hands busy during Thanksgiving dinner prep while you’re juggling a dozen kitchen tasks?

Nothing’s worse than hearing "I’m bored!" when you’re trying to baste the turkey and mash potatoes at the same time.

Get ready to discover 27 amazing Thanksgiving crafts that will turn your kids into happy little creators, from adorable handprint turkeys to magical fall snow globes that’ll keep them engaged for hours.

Your kitchen (and your sanity) will thank you when these festive DIY projects transform potential chaos into the most memorable Thanksgiving yet!

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1 Paper Quill Turkey

Colorful paper strips transform into an adorable turkey that kids absolutely love making. This classic craft technique creates stunning results with just a few simple tools.

Grab a quilling kit with paper strips, a rolling tool, and some craft glue. Your little ones will have everything they need to get started right away.

Roll different colored strips into tight circles and teardrop shapes. Stack and glue these pieces together to form your turkey’s body, feathers, and head.

This project teaches kids a timeless skill while creating beautiful Thanksgiving decorations they’ll proudly display.

2 Felt Turkey

Colorful felt pieces transform into an adorable turkey that kids love to cuddle. This hands-on project teaches basic sewing skills while creating a memorable keepsake.

Cut out all the felt components first using the pattern pieces. Lay everything out so you and your child can see how the turkey comes together before starting.

Use a needle and thread to hand-stitch the pieces together. The small size makes this perfect for teaching kids their first sewing stitches while working on something special.

3 Turkey Rock Painting

Smooth, round rocks transform into adorable Thanksgiving turkeys with just a few brushstrokes. Your kids will love hunting for the perfect rock first!

Look for rocks that fit comfortably in small hands. Medium-sized stones work best – not too big to handle, not too small to paint details.

Set up your painting station with brown, orange, red, and yellow paints. Let kids paint the body brown, then add colorful feather details around the edges.

Finish with googly eyes and an orange beak. These painted turkey rocks make perfect Thanksgiving decorations!

4 Turkey Headband Template

Your kids can transform into turkeys in minutes with this simple printable template that brings instant Thanksgiving fun to your home.

Print the template on cardstock paper for extra durability since little hands can be rough on crafts. Regular paper works too, but won’t last as long during play time.

Let your children personalize their headbands with paint, crayons, glitter, or real feathers. This keeps them busy for hours while creating something they’ll actually want to wear.

The free template downloads quickly and cuts easily, making this perfect for last-minute entertainment or classroom activities.

5 Feather Turkey Craft

Your toddler will love sticking colorful feathers all over an empty toilet paper roll to create this adorable turkey. This craft turns learning into playtime while building those important motor skills.

Grab feathers in different colors and sizes, plus markers and scissors. Let your little one sort feathers by color first – it’s a sneaky way to teach them about colors while having fun.

Stick the long feathers at the bottom of the roll and shorter ones on top. Your child gets to practice gripping, placing, and creating their own unique turkey masterpiece.

6 Turkey Headbands

Watch your kids transform into feathery gobblers with these fun turkey headbands! They’ll love wearing these colorful creations while playing pretend in the yard.

Create headbands with bright feathers and wiggly eyes for extra personality. Make the orange beak extra long so it dangles perfectly over their forehead.

Add googly eyes with a slight squint to give your turkey character. The more colorful and textured you make it, the better!

These headbands turn ordinary playtime into Thanksgiving adventures your kids will remember.

7 Handprint Turkey Craft

Your child’s hand becomes the star of this classic Thanksgiving craft that never gets old. Simply trace their palm and fingers on colorful cardstock to create an instant turkey shape.

Cut out the handprint and add a triangle beak, wobbly eyes, and a red wattle. Each finger transforms into beautiful tail feathers in different colors.

This craft works perfectly for mixed age groups since bigger hands make bigger turkeys and smaller hands create adorable mini versions. The whole family can make a turkey parade together!

8 Coffee Filter Turkey

Coffee filters transform into adorable turkey decorations with just a few simple supplies you already have at home.

Grab some coffee filters, markers, and googly eyes to get started. Your kids will love coloring the filters with bright fall colors to create beautiful feathered tails.

The best part? This craft works perfectly for younger children since there’s no complicated cutting or gluing involved. Just pure creative fun that keeps little hands busy while you prep dinner.

9 Turkey Glitter Jar

Golden glitter swirls like autumn leaves when you shake this adorable turkey-themed sensory jar. Your kids get the sparkly magic they crave while staying mess-free.

Grab any clear jar and fill it with warm water, glycerin, and orange and brown glitter. Add tiny turkey decorations or cut paper feathers for extra charm.

The calming effect works wonders during busy holiday prep. Kids shake, watch, and relax while you handle dinner details.

Perfect for little hands that need something special to hold during long family gatherings.

10 Popcorn Corn Cob

Popped kernels turn into the perfect craft supplies for this fun Thanksgiving project! Your kids will love gluing real popcorn onto paper corn cob shapes.

Make a fresh batch of popcorn and save some unpopped kernels too. Draw a simple corn cob outline on paper or print a free template online.

Let your little ones glue the popcorn onto their corn cob drawing. Use the unpopped kernels to fill in any gaps. This craft doubles as snack time—just make sure more popcorn makes it onto the paper than into their mouths!

11 Painted Canvas Place Cards

Colorful mini canvases transform your Thanksgiving table into a personalized masterpiece. Your kids paint each guest’s name on tiny canvases while creating beautiful keepsakes everyone takes home.

Set up a paint station with mini canvases, brushes, and washable paints. Spread newspaper everywhere because this craft gets wonderfully messy.

Let kids choose fall colors like orange, red, and gold for backgrounds. They write guest names in contrasting colors once the base dries completely.

12 Wooden Spoon Puppets

Transform ordinary wooden spoons into adorable turkey puppets that kids will love creating and playing with this Thanksgiving.

Grab wooden spoons, googly eyes, and fall-colored ribbons from your craft stash. Paint each spoon with brown chalk paint and let kids draw on cute beaks.

Glue on googly eyes and attach colorful feathers around the spoon’s head. Tie ribbons around the handle for extra festive flair.

These puppet turkeys become instant entertainment after crafting. Kids can put on their own Thanksgiving puppet shows!

13 Bandanna Turkey Wreath

Colorful bandannas transform into gorgeous turkey feathers for this eye-catching wreath. Your kids will love the mix of patterns and textures that make each feather unique.

The adorable turkey head peeks out from the bottom, giving this craft serious personality. Hang it on bedroom doors or anywhere kids want to show off their handiwork.

This project lets children practice folding and arranging while creating something they’ll feel proud to display all season long.

14 Paper Pumpkin Craft

Orange paper strips transform into adorable wobble-eyed pumpkins that kids absolutely love making. This simple craft needs just construction paper, glue, and googly eyes.

Cut orange paper into strips and glue them in a circular pattern to form your pumpkin shape. Add a green paper stem on top.

Stick on big googly eyes and draw a silly smile. The wonkier the eyes, the cuter your pumpkin looks!

Display your finished pumpkin on white paper or stick it straight onto the refrigerator for everyone to admire.

15 Paper Bag Turkey

Transform ordinary brown paper bags into adorable turkey decorations that kids absolutely love making. This craft uses supplies you probably already have at home.

Start by flattening your paper bag completely. Cut colorful construction paper into feather shapes for the tail and small pieces for the beak and wattle.

Glue the feathers to the back of the bag and add googly eyes to bring your turkey to life. Kids can make each turkey unique with different color combinations and patterns.

This budget-friendly project keeps little hands busy while creating festive Thanksgiving decorations for your home.

16 Popsicle Stick Turkey

Colorful feathers and popsicle sticks come together to create an adorable turkey that kids will love making. This simple craft uses basic supplies you probably already have at home.

Grab some craft sticks, construction paper, glue dots, and scissors to get started. The downloadable turkey template makes cutting shapes super easy for little hands.

Kids can choose their favorite fall colors for the feathers and body. This project works perfectly for preschoolers and elementary kids who want to create their own Thanksgiving decorations.

17 Yarn Pumpkin Crafts

Orange yarn transforms into the cutest mini pumpkins your kids will ever make! These soft, squishy decorations look amazing on mantels or scattered around your Thanksgiving table.

Start by stuffing a small orange sock or fabric pouch with cotton batting or old fabric scraps. Your kids can help pack it nice and tight.

Next, wrap brown yarn around the top to create a realistic pumpkin stem. Tie it securely so nothing comes loose during play.

Add personality with buttons, beads, or felt leaves. Kids love choosing their own decorations to make each pumpkin unique!

18 Hoop Turkey Craft

Transform old embroidery hoops into adorable turkey decorations that kids will love making. This craft turns simple materials into beautiful fall displays.

Start by painting your embroidery hoop black and letting it dry completely. Cut a 14-inch square of white burlap and gather colorful felt scraps for the turkey’s feathers and body.

Use a hole punch and stencil to create turkey shapes from felt. Hot glue everything onto the burlap, then secure it in your painted hoop.

Your kids create a charming turkey that doubles as festive home décor!

19 Potato Turkey Stamps

Potato halves create perfect turkey body stamps that kids absolutely love making and using!

Cut a potato in half and you instantly have a natural stamp ready for painting. The round shape works perfectly for turkey bodies.

Pour paint onto a paper plate and dip your potato stamp directly in. You can also brush paint onto the potato surface for better coverage.

Press the painted potato onto paper and add drawn legs, feathers, and a head to complete your adorable turkey artwork!

20 Salt Watercolor Art

Salt crystals create magical spreading effects when they meet wet watercolor paint, making ordinary artwork sparkle and shimmer.

Start by sketching your Thanksgiving design with pencil on construction paper. Trace over lines with glue using a glue pen, then sprinkle salt generously on top.

Let the glue dry completely. Now comes the fun part – drop watercolor paint onto the salt-covered glue lines and watch colors bloom and spread naturally.

The salt absorbs paint at different rates, creating beautiful tie-dye patterns that kids absolutely love watching develop.

21 Fall Leaf Globe

Colorful autumn leaves swirl magically inside this enchanting DIY globe that captures fall’s beauty perfectly. Your kids will love watching the leaves dance and settle just like real ones outside.

Gather faux fall leaves, small twigs, and a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid. Fill the jar with water, add your natural treasures, and screw on the lid tightly.

Give it a gentle shake and watch the miniature fall storm come alive! This simple craft brings the wonder of changing seasons right into your home.

22 Kids Table Activities

Kids get restless at dinner tables, but these fun printables solve that problem instantly. Print out coloring pages, puzzles, or activity sheets before your guests arrive.

Set up each place setting with crayons and colored pencils ready to go. The kids dive right into their activities while adults enjoy peaceful conversation.

Add cute printable napkin rings for extra charm. These simple touches transform any kids’ table into an entertainment zone that lasts through the entire meal.

23 Clothespin Leaf Turkey

Colorful fall leaves transform ordinary wooden clothespins into adorable turkey decorations that kids absolutely love making.

Head to your local park with the kids to collect beautiful autumn leaves in reds, oranges, and yellows. These become the perfect feathers for your turkey’s tail.

Back home, simply clip the leaves onto a wooden clothespin to create the fan-shaped tail. Cut out a small turkey face, orange beak, and red wattle from colored paper or felt.

Glue the face pieces onto the clothespin’s top, and your charming turkey craft is ready to display!

24 Toilet Roll Turkey

Transform empty toilet rolls into adorable turkeys that kids will love creating this Thanksgiving season.

Your little ones trace their handprints on colorful paper to make beautiful turkey feathers. Help them cut out the handprint shapes, then attach these feathers to the back of the toilet roll.

Place the roll on brown paper and add simple turkey legs to complete the design. This craft combines recycling with creativity, making it perfect for eco-conscious families.

The handprint element creates a precious keepsake that captures your child’s size at this moment in time.

25 Chalk Pastel Turkeys

Vibrant colors blend beautifully when kids create these stunning chalk pastel turkeys. The soft, dreamy texture makes each feather look almost magical on black paper.

Gather chalk pastels, black drawing paper, colored cardstock, and Q-tips for blending. Keep paper towels nearby to handle chalk dust as little hands work their artistic magic.

This craft keeps children happily busy for hours while you tackle your own Thanksgiving prep. The mess stays contained, and cleanup is surprisingly simple with just a few wipes.

26 Clay Pot Turkeys

Upside-down clay pots transform into adorable turkey decorations that kids absolutely love making. The rounded pot becomes the perfect turkey body shape.

Gather colorful felt scraps to cut into feathers, beaks, and that signature red wattle. Your little ones can practice their scissor skills while creating all the turkey parts.

Googly eyes add instant personality, or stick with felt circles for a softer look. Both options work great and let kids choose their style.

Finish with a festive ribbon bow around the neck area. These charming turkeys make wonderful table centerpieces or mantel decorations that celebrate your family’s creativity.

27 Thanksgiving Place Cards

Colorful place cards turn your Thanksgiving table into a kid-made masterpiece. Your children create personalized seating arrangements while you tackle other dinner prep tasks.

Download a simple template and let kids decorate with crayons, markers, or fall stickers. They can draw turkeys, write guest names in fun colors, or add glitter for extra sparkle.

This craft keeps little hands busy for 30 minutes while teaching them about hosting and hospitality. Plus, guests love seeing their names written in a child’s careful handwriting.