Find 40 easy Thanksgiving crafts for kids, including cute turkey crafts, handprint keepsakes, gratitude projects, table decorations, classroom crafts, and simple activities for toddlers, preschoolers, and older children.
Hi beauties! Thanksgiving crafts for kids are such a sweet way to celebrate the season together. Whether you are planning a cozy afternoon at home, a classroom activity, or a simple project for the kids' table, these ideas give children a chance to create something festive with their own hands.
The best Thanksgiving crafts are usually the ones that use supplies you already have, such as construction paper, paper plates, cardboard tubes, washable paint, glue, and markers. This collection includes turkey crafts, handprint keepsakes, gratitude projects, homemade decorations, and activities for toddlers through older children.
Below, you will find 40 ideas organized by age and difficulty, along with practical instructions, safety reminders, and ways to use the finished crafts. For more seasonal inspiration, you can also browse my 35 Easy Fall Crafts for Kids and return to this post whenever you need an easy Thanksgiving activity.
Easy Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids
These first 20 projects work well for family craft afternoons, classroom centres, playdates, and Thanksgiving gatherings. Most use inexpensive materials and can be adjusted for different ages.
1. Paper Plate Turkey Craft
A paper plate turkey is a classic Thanksgiving craft for kids and an easy project for home or school. Paint a paper plate brown, or cover it with brown construction paper. Cut large feather shapes from red, orange, yellow, and brown paper, then glue them around the back of the plate. Add a paper beak, red wattle, eyes, wings, and feet. Display the finished turkey on the refrigerator, classroom wall, or kids' Thanksgiving table.
2. Handprint Turkey Keepsake
Turn a child's handprint into a sweet Thanksgiving keepsake. Paint the palm brown and use washable red, orange, yellow, and green paint for the fingers. Press the hand onto white cardstock, then let it dry completely before adding paper or marker details. Write the child's name and the year underneath. This is one of the most meaningful Thanksgiving handprint crafts because it captures how small their hands were that year.
3. Coffee Filter Turkey
Coffee filters make soft, colourful turkey feathers with very little preparation. Let children colour a coffee filter with washable markers, then lightly mist it with water so the colours blend together. Set it aside to dry while you cut out a brown paper turkey body. Once the filter is dry, glue the body to the centre and add paper eyes, a beak, feet, and a red wattle.
4. Cardboard Tube Turkey
Recycle an empty cardboard tube into a standing turkey. Paint the tube brown and let it dry. Cut a fan of large feathers from cardstock and glue them to the back of the tube. Add paper wings, a beak, feet, and a red wattle to the front. These little turkeys stand independently, making them useful for a Thanksgiving table centrepiece or classroom display.
5. Pinecone Turkey
A clean, dry pinecone can become a charming little turkey with a few paper additions. Cut several feather shapes from cardstock and tuck or glue them into the wider end of the pinecone. Add a paper head, beak, wattle, and feet to the front. Paper eyes are a good choice for younger children, while older kids can use googly eyes with supervision. Place the finished pinecone turkey beside a place setting or on a fall mantel.
6. Thankful Tree
Create a thankful tree that grows throughout the Thanksgiving season. Cut a tree trunk and branches from brown paper and attach them to a wall, poster board, or large piece of cardboard. Cut leaf shapes from fall-coloured paper. Each day, invite family members to write something they are thankful for on a leaf and add it to the tree. This craft becomes both a decoration and a simple gratitude activity.
7. Popsicle Stick Turkey
Use craft sticks to build a small turkey decoration. Glue three or four wide craft sticks side by side to create the body, then add a brown paper oval or painted cardstock shape to the front. Glue colourful paper feathers behind the body and finish with wings, feet, a beak, and eyes. White craft glue works well, but allow extra drying time before moving the turkey.
8. Standing Construction Paper Turkey
Make a three-dimensional turkey using a rectangle of brown construction paper. Roll the paper into a short cylinder and secure the edge with glue or tape. Add a fan of paper feathers to the back and a turkey face to the front. Fold two small tabs at the bottom to create feet that help the turkey stand. This project gives children practice with rolling, folding, arranging, and assembling.
9. Turkey Headband
A turkey headband is a fun Thanksgiving craft that children can wear during a classroom celebration or family dinner. Cut a long strip of cardstock to fit around the child's head and secure it with tape. Add a turkey face to the front and glue large paper feathers along the back of the band. Leave enough room for children to decorate the feathers with crayons, markers, paint, or simple paper patterns.
10. Paper Bag Turkey Puppet
Turn a brown paper lunch bag into a turkey puppet for imaginative Thanksgiving play. Use the folded flap as the turkey's face and glue on paper eyes, a beak, and a red wattle. Attach large paper feathers to the back of the bag and add wings to the sides. Once the puppet is dry, children can use it to act out a Thanksgiving story or perform a little puppet show.
11. Thanksgiving Paper Garland
Create a Thanksgiving paper garland using leaves, pumpkins, pie slices, acorns, and turkey shapes. Cut the shapes from cardstock and decorate them with crayons, paint, or markers. Attach the shapes to a long piece of yarn with tape, clothespins, or punched holes. Children can choose a repeating pattern or arrange the pieces randomly. Hang the finished garland across a mantel, doorway, classroom bulletin board, or kids' craft table.
12. Fingerprint Turkey Artwork
Fingerprint turkeys are simple, colourful, and easy to personalize. Draw or cut out a turkey body on white cardstock, then let children use their fingertips to create the feathers around it. Offer a few washable paint colours and allow the prints to overlap slightly. Once the paint dries, add legs, eyes, beaks, and wattles with a marker. The finished artwork can become a Thanksgiving card or homemade gift.
13. DIY Thanksgiving Placemats
Give children a large sheet of cardstock or kraft paper and let them design their own Thanksgiving placemats. They can draw turkeys, pumpkins, leaves, pies, family members, or things they are thankful for. Add a border using fingerprints, leaf stamps, or paper shapes. Once the artwork is dry, cover it with clear contact paper or place it inside a reusable plastic sleeve.
14. Turkey Feather Counting Craft
Combine a turkey craft with a simple counting activity. Create a large turkey body and cut out ten broad paper feathers. Number each feather from one to ten, then invite children to draw the matching number of dots or lines on each feather. Glue the feathers to the turkey in order. Younger children can practise counting aloud, while older children can work on number recognition.
15. Gratitude Jar
A gratitude jar gives children a place to collect thankful thoughts throughout November. Use a plastic container or a sturdy jar handled by an adult. Decorate the outside with paper leaves, a turkey face, or a simple "Thankful" label. Cut paper into strips and invite children to write or dictate one thankful thought at a time. Read the notes together before Thanksgiving dinner or save them as a family keepsake.
16. Paper Cornucopia
Make a paper cornucopia filled with homemade fruits and vegetables. Roll brown cardstock into a cone shape and secure the edge with glue or tape. Cut large paper shapes for apples, pumpkins, corn, pears, and leaves, then glue them inside the opening. Older children can add shading and patterns, while younger children can help choose and arrange the paper harvest pieces.
17. Paper Plate Pumpkin Pie
Turn a paper plate into a pretend slice of pumpkin pie. Cut the plate into wedges, or have an adult prepare the pieces before craft time. Paint the rounded edge brown for the crust and the centre orange for the filling. Add a white paper whipped-cream shape or a small amount of white paint on top. Children can make a whole paper pie for pretend Thanksgiving bakery play.
18. Pilgrim Hat Place Cards
Create simple Thanksgiving place cards shaped like black hats. Cut the hat shapes from black cardstock, then add a white band and yellow paper buckle. Write each guest's name across the band. To make the cards stand, fold a small tab at the bottom or attach each hat to a folded cardstock base. These place cards add a handmade touch to the kids' table.
19. Gratitude Wreath
Make a gratitude wreath from a paper plate ring and colourful paper leaves. Cut the centre from the plate, then cover the outer ring with leaves in shades of red, orange, yellow, and brown. Children can write one thankful thought on each leaf before gluing it down. Add a paper bow or a simple "Give Thanks" banner across the bottom before hanging it on a door or wall.
20. Turkey Tail Weaving Craft
This turkey craft gives children a chance to practise weaving with wide paper strips. Cut a turkey body from brown cardstock and create a large tail fan from a separate piece of paper. Cut several evenly spaced slits in the tail, then weave strips of red, orange, yellow, and brown paper over and under the slits. Glue the finished tail to the turkey body and add a face.
Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers
Toddlers enjoy crafts with large pieces, simple movements, and plenty of room for exploration. Prepare the cutting ahead of time and avoid small loose pieces for children who still mouth objects.
21. Sponge-Stamped Turkey Feathers
Prepare a large turkey body from brown cardstock and cut several oversized feather shapes. Let your toddler use a chunky sponge or sponge brush to dab washable red, orange, yellow, and brown paint onto the feathers. Once the pieces dry, help your child glue them behind the turkey body. Add large paper eyes, a beak, and feet.
22. Contact-Paper Leaf Collage
Tape a sheet of clear contact paper to the table with the sticky side facing up. Offer large paper leaves or clean, oversized leaves collected from outside. Toddlers can place the leaves onto the sticky surface and help press them down. Cover the collage with a second sheet of contact paper, trim the edges, and hang it in a window.
23. Apple-Stamped Pumpkin Patch
An adult can cut an apple in half to create a simple pumpkin-shaped stamp. Dip the flat side into washable orange paint and press it onto white paper several times. Once the paint dries, add green stems and curly vines with a marker. Children can help press the stamp and choose where each pumpkin goes. Do not eat the apple after it has been used with paint.
24. Jumbo Paper Feather Painting
Cut several large feather shapes from heavy paper or cardstock. Let toddlers decorate them with washable paint, wide brushes, sponge daubers, or their fingertips. Once dry, arrange the feathers into a large fan for a wall display or glue them behind a prepared turkey body. The oversized shapes are easy for little hands to hold.
25. Paper Plate Corn Craft
Paint a paper plate yellow to make a large ear of corn. Once it dries, add two broad brown or green paper husks to the sides. Toddlers can decorate the corn with fingerprints, sponge dots, or chunky crayon marks. Keep the pieces large and skip small beads, buttons, or loose corn kernels.
26. Big-Shape Thanksgiving Card
Fold a piece of cardstock in half and prepare large paper shapes such as a turkey, leaf, pumpkin, or pie. Let your toddler choose the shapes and glue them to the front of the card. Add a simple message inside, such as "Thank you" or "Happy Thanksgiving." An adult can write the child's dictated message while the child presses each piece into place.
27. Large-Piece Thanksgiving Sticker Scene
Give your toddler a sheet of cardstock and a collection of large, age-appropriate Thanksgiving stickers or pre-cut paper shapes. Help them create a scene with a turkey, leaves, pumpkins, a table, and a house. If your child still mouths objects, use large paper shapes instead of stickers and supervise the activity closely.
Thanksgiving Crafts for Preschoolers
Preschoolers are ready for projects with a few more steps. These Thanksgiving crafts for preschoolers also work well as Thanksgiving crafts for kindergarten and classroom activities.
28. Accordion-Fold Turkey
Fold a long strip of brown paper back and forth like an accordion to create a fan-shaped turkey body or tail. Glue the folded section to a cardstock turkey head and add paper feet, wings, and a beak. Children can decorate the accordion folds with dots, stripes, or crayons before assembling the turkey.
29. Corn Cob Painting
Use a clean, dry corn cob as a textured paint stamp. Roll it lightly through washable yellow paint, then press it onto paper to create rows of corn kernels. Add a green paper husk around the edge once the paint dries. An adult should prepare the corn and supervise closely. Do not eat it after it has been used with paint.
30. Turkey Lacing Card
Cut a large turkey shape from sturdy cardstock and punch evenly spaced holes around the outer edge. Tie one end of a piece of yarn to the card or secure it with tape. Preschoolers can lace the yarn through the holes to outline the turkey, then decorate the inside with paper feathers and crayons. Use yarn rather than a sharp needle.
31. Paper Plate Cornucopia
Cut a paper plate in half and roll it into a curved horn shape. Secure the bottom edge with tape or glue, then let preschoolers decorate it with brown crayons or paint. Cut large paper fruits, vegetables, leaves, and pumpkins for children to arrange inside. This craft provides practice with rolling, gluing, and spatial planning.
32. Thanksgiving Story Wheel
Create a rotating story wheel with two cardstock circles. On the bottom circle, draw or write prompts such as "Something I am thankful for," "My favourite Thanksgiving food," "Someone I can help," and "A family tradition." Cut a window into the top circle and attach the circles with a paper fastener. Children can decorate the wheel, spin it, and answer the prompt that appears.
33. Leaf Rubbing Place Cards
Collect a few sturdy leaves and place each one under a piece of folded cardstock. Show children how to rub the side of a crayon over the paper so the leaf's shape and veins appear. Trim the cardstock into a place card and write a guest's name across the front. These cards are simple enough for preschoolers but still look lovely on the Thanksgiving table.
For another nature-based printable activity, see these free printable fall leaves for crafts, décor, and colouring.
34. Folded Gratitude House
Make a small standing house from cardstock by folding tabs and attaching the sides with glue or tape. Cut simple windows and a door, then invite children to decorate the outside with leaves, pumpkins, and family drawings. On the inside, help them write or draw things they are thankful for. Display several gratitude houses together as a little Thanksgiving village.
DIY Thanksgiving Decorations for Kids and Older Children
Older children can manage more detailed cutting, folding, threading, and decorating. These projects are useful as table decorations, thoughtful gifts, or homemade Thanksgiving displays.
35. DIY Thanksgiving Leaf Centrepiece
Decorate a sturdy jar or unbreakable container with a band of cardstock leaves. Children can cut leaves in different shapes, add drawn veins and patterns, and glue them around the container. Fill it with paper leaves, faux stems, or real greenery arranged by an adult. For an evening display, use a battery-operated tea light rather than a real candle.
36. Gratitude Accordion Book
Fold a long strip of cardstock into an accordion book with six to eight panels. Children can decorate the cover with a turkey or leaf design, then use each panel for a thankful thought, drawing, family memory, or short sentence. Add a ribbon around the closed book or store it in a small envelope. This makes a meaningful keepsake or gift for grandparents.
37. String-Art Turkey on Cardboard
Cut a large turkey shape from sturdy cardboard and punch holes around the body and tail. Children can thread yarn through the holes to outline the turkey and create colourful patterns across the feathers. Add a cardstock face and feet once the yarn is finished. This version uses cardboard and yarn instead of nails, making it a safer string-art project for children.
38. Pressed-Leaf Thanksgiving Cards
Press small, flat leaves between sheets of paper under a heavy book for several days. Once the leaves are dry, arrange them on folded cardstock to create a turkey, wreath, or simple leaf design. Glue the leaves carefully and add a handwritten message inside. These cards can be given to grandparents, teachers, neighbours, or anyone your child wants to thank.
39. Paper-Quilled Cornucopia
Create a paper-quilled cornucopia using narrow strips of construction paper or lightweight cardstock. Roll the strips around a pencil to make loose coils, then glue them inside a drawn cornucopia outline. Add paper coils in shades of orange, yellow, green, brown, blush, and cream to represent the harvest. This project is best for older children who enjoy careful work with small paper pieces.
40. Thanksgiving Napkin Rings and Place Cards
Make a matching set of Thanksgiving napkin rings and place cards for the holiday table. Cut cardboard tubes into rings with adult help, then wrap them in paper and decorate them with leaves, feathers, or turkey shapes. Create folded cardstock place cards to match and write each guest's name on the front. Children can make a different design for every family member.
Simple Supplies for Thanksgiving Crafts
You do not need expensive specialty supplies to make fun Thanksgiving crafts. A small collection of basic materials can be used for most of the projects in this roundup.
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- Construction paper and cardstock
- Paper plates and paper cups
- Cardboard tubes and paper bags
- Washable water-based paint
- Crayons and washable markers
- Glue sticks and white craft glue
- Child-safe scissors
- Paintbrushes and sponge brushes
- Coffee filters
- Craft sticks
- Yarn, ribbon, and twine
- Contact paper
- Paper fasteners
- Clean pinecones and leaves
- Large age-appropriate stickers
- Optional googly eyes for children old enough to use them safely
For a lower-prep activity, browse the 20 Free Printable Fall Crafts for Kids.
Crafting Safely With Children
Choose supplies labelled for children, read the manufacturer's instructions, and supervise craft time closely. Health Canada's arts and crafts safety guidance recommends age-appropriate materials, good ventilation, careful label reading, handwashing, and keeping craft supplies away from food and drinks.
For toddlers and children under three, avoid small loose items such as beads, tiny buttons, small pom-poms, and miniature decorative pieces. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's small-parts guidance explains why small components can create choking hazards for young children.
Tips for Making Thanksgiving Crafts With Kids
- Prepare adult-only cutting, hole punching, and difficult assembly before inviting younger children to the table.
- Protect the work surface with a washable tablecloth, tray, parchment paper, or flattened cardboard box.
- Choose crafts based on developmental abilities rather than expecting every child to make the same finished project.
- Let children personalize their crafts with different colours, faces, patterns, and messages.
- Work in small groups when crafting with several children so each child has enough space and support.
- Use child-safe, washable supplies and supervise paint, glue, yarn, stickers, and small decorative pieces.
- Focus on the experience instead of perfect results. Crooked feathers, extra glue, and silly turkey faces are part of the charm.
How to Use These Crafts for Thanksgiving
The finished projects can become part of your Thanksgiving celebration instead of being packed away immediately. Use paper turkeys, gratitude wreaths, placemats, napkin rings, and place cards to decorate the Thanksgiving table.
Hang garlands, thankful trees, and paper crafts on a wall or mantel. Place gratitude jars and accordion books where the family can continue adding thankful notes. For classrooms, create a bulletin board display or let each child take home a completed project.
If you need an activity while dinner is being prepared, set out one pre-planned craft with a tray of supplies instead of opening the entire craft bin.
For spooky-season inspiration, you can also browse my 40 Easy Halloween Crafts for Kids.
Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids Frequently Asked Questions
The easiest Thanksgiving crafts for toddlers include sponge-painted turkeys, large paper feather paintings, contact-paper leaf collages, apple-stamped pumpkin art, and simple shape cards. Choose projects with large pieces, one or two main steps, washable supplies, and close adult supervision.
Paper plate turkeys, fingerprint artwork, thankful trees, paper garlands, leaf-rubbing place cards, and paper bag puppets work well for classrooms. Prepare shared supplies in trays and pre-cut difficult shapes before the activity begins.
Use cardstock instead of thin printer paper for projects that children will handle often. Once paint and glue are completely dry, you can protect flat crafts with clear contact paper, a plastic sleeve, or a simple frame.
Offer choices between dry and wet materials, such as crayons instead of paint or paper shapes instead of finger painting. Keep wipes nearby, avoid forcing children to touch a texture, and let them participate by choosing colours, arranging pieces, or dictating a message.
Placemats, place cards, napkin rings, paper cornucopias, pinecone turkeys, gratitude jars, and paper centrepieces can all be used on the Thanksgiving table. Keep paper crafts away from open flames and use battery-operated lights when a glow is desired.
Many paper, paint, and gratitude crafts can be made several weeks before Thanksgiving. Make sure painted projects are fully dry before storing them, and keep delicate paper pieces flat in a folder or large envelope.
Final Thoughts on Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids
Thanksgiving crafts for kids do not need to be complicated or expensive to be meaningful. A paper turkey, handwritten gratitude note, or handmade place card can give children a special role in the holiday and create a keepsake your family will enjoy for years.
Choose a few projects that fit your children's ages, set out simple supplies, and let the finished crafts look genuinely handmade. Save this post on Pinterest so you can return to these Thanksgiving ideas whenever you need a creative family activity. When the holiday is over, continue the seasonal fun with my 35 Easy Christmas Crafts for Kids and 20 Printable Christmas Crafts for Kids.
Until next time,
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