Thanksgiving is a time for family, gratitude, and of course, fun crafts! Here are 17 easy and engaging ideas to keep your little ones entertained and creative this holiday season:
For the Littlest Gobblers (Toddlers & Preschoolers):
- Handprint Turkeys: Paint little hands various colors and press them onto paper to create adorable turkey bodies. Add googly eyes, feathers, and a beak for a personalized touch.
- Corn Cob Pilgrim Hats: Wrap colorful construction paper around corn cobs and decorate with feathers, buttons, and buckles for festive pilgrim hats.
- Sensory Leaf Bowls: Fill clear bowls with colorful autumn leaves, acorns, and pinecones for a fun tactile experience. Let them explore textures and create their own mini fall scenes.
- Thankful Pumpkins: Cut out small pumpkins from orange paper and have kids write or draw things they’re thankful for on each one. String them together for a thankful garland.
For the Budding Artists (Ages 5-7):
- Leaf Rubbings: Place leaves under paper and use crayons to create colorful leaf impressions. Talk about the different shapes and colors found in nature.
- Paper Plate Pilgrim Puppets: Decorate paper plates with pilgrim faces and attach popsicle sticks for easy-to-play puppets. Use them to retell Thanksgiving stories or create their own plays.
- Turkey Feather Headbands: Cut out colorful construction paper feathers and glue them onto headbands for festive Thanksgiving attire. Add googly eyes and a beak for extra fun.
- Salt Dough Gratitude Ornaments: Mix flour, salt, and water to create homemade dough. Let kids roll it out, cut out shapes, and write things they’re thankful for. Bake and decorate the ornaments to hang on the tree.
For the Creative Crafters (Ages 8-12):
- Thankful Jar: Decorate a jar and encourage everyone to write things they’re thankful for on small pieces of paper. Add them to the jar throughout the month leading up to Thanksgiving.
- Popsicle Stick Turkey Placemats: Glue popsicle sticks together in the shape of a turkey and decorate with paint, markers, and buttons. This adds a personalized touch to the Thanksgiving table.
- Recycled Can Pilgrim Houses: Transform tin cans into adorable pilgrim houses by painting them and adding details like doors, windows, and roofs. Use them for tabletop decorations or as miniature scenes for storytelling.
- Yarn Wrapped Pumpkins: Wrap yarn around inflatable balloons to create colorful yarn pumpkins. Let the air out and decorate them with buttons, pipe cleaners, and leaves.
For the Whole Family:
- Family Handprint Turkey Table Runner: Cut out a long piece of brown butcher paper and trace everyone’s handprints to create a collaborative turkey body. Decorate with feathers, leaves, and a thankful message.
- Thanksgiving Bingo: Create or download Thanksgiving-themed bingo cards with pictures or words related to the holiday. Play as a family and enjoy some friendly competition.
- Corn Cob Gratitude Mobiles: String popcorn kernels onto yarn and attach them to a hanger or mobile frame. Decorate with fall leaves and write things you’re thankful for on each kernel.
Bonus Ideas:
- Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt: Hide Thanksgiving-themed objects around the house and have kids search for them, promoting teamwork and problem-solving skills.
- Thanksgiving Nature Collage: Collect fallen leaves, acorns, and other natural materials during a family walk. Use them to create a beautiful and unique Thanksgiving collage on cardboard or canvas.
Remember:
- Adapt the difficulty level based on your child’s age and abilities.
- Encourage creativity and experimentation.
- Most importantly, have fun and enjoy the quality time spent crafting together as a family!
These are just a few ideas to get you started. With a little creativity and imagination, you can create countless Thanksgiving crafts that are both fun and meaningful for your kids. Happy crafting!