Turkey Day is all about spending time with family, and what better way to do that than by getting crafty together? Fall-themed crafts are a great way to keep kids entertained while you're busy preparing the big meal. Plus, they'll have something cute and festive to display come Thanksgiving day.
Our guide to the best Thanksgiving crafts for kids features a variety of fun and easy projects that your little ones will love. From turkey balloons to turkey glove puppets, there's something for everyone. And best of all, most of these crafts can be made with supplies you probably already have around the house.
So before you start cooking up a storm this Thanksgiving, set aside some time for some fun family crafting. Your kids will thank you for it!
1. Turkey BalloonsÂ
Turkey balloons are a fun and easy way to decorate for Thanksgiving! They are also a great activity for kids. All you need is some colored cardstock, scissors, double stick tape, and large googly eyes. First, cut out all your paper parts. Cut one feather shape and use that as a template to cut more in different colors. Cut a triangle for nose, and teardrop shape for the wattle. Next, blow up your balloons and assemble your turkey. Use double stick tape to attach the feathers, eyes, nose, and wattle on to each balloon. That's it! Your cute and friendly turkey balloon is ready to play! These balloons are sure to be a hit with kids and adults alike. So get creative and have fun!
2. Hand Turkey Drawing
Tracing your hand is the first step to making a turkey. With a sharp pencil, trace the outline of your hand on a fresh sheet of white paper. Once you have traced your hand, use a marker to draw a line that will separate the "feathers" from the body of your turkey. Now you can start to color in your turkey. You can use any colors you want! We used markers to draw the wings and feet. Then we glued on a googly eye. Finally, we used markers to draw the waddle and snood. Now you have a turkey that you can be proud of!
3. Water color Coffee Filter Turkey
This easy project requires only a few supplies that you probably already have around the house. All you need is some white coffee filters, watercolor paint, a paintbrush, construction paper in brown, orange and red, some googly eyes, a cup of water, and some paper towels (or newspaper).
To get started, simply lay down some paper towels or newspaper to protect your work surface from the watercolors. Then, using the watercolors, paint any sort of design on the coffee filter. Let it dry. Next, trace a large circle and slightly smaller circle onto brown construction paper. I used a mason jar to trace my bigger circle and a smaller glass to trace the second circle. Once you have your circles cut out, glue the larger one onto the coffee filter first for the turkey's body. Add the smaller circle to the top of it to create the head. Then add a beak, gobbler and some eyes. And that's it! Your very own turkey craft to enjoy all season long.
4. Leaf People
Making leaf people is a fun and easy project that can be done with materials found around the house. All you need are some leaves, paint, paper, and glue. Collect leaves during a nature walk, then press them between a sheet of newsprint and a heavy book for a day. Once the leaves are flat, use acrylic paint or chalk markers to add faces. Then glue the leaves onto paper or cardstock to make arms and legs. You can use regular glue or a hot glue gun. Let the leaf people dry overnight before displaying them on a windowsill or in a sunny spot. Leaf people are a great way to bring the beauty of nature inside!
5. Craft Stick Scarecroow
This scarecrow craft is perfect for kids of all ages. It's simple and only requires a few supplies that you likely already have around the house. Plus, it's a fun way to get into the Fall spirit! To make your own scarecrow, you'll need small popsicle sticks, acrylic paint, wood glue, googly eyes, and either paper yellow grass or strips of foam. First, line up eight small popsicle sticks in an even row. Then glue one small popsicle stick diagonally about one inch down from the top of your scarecrow. After the glue settles, paint the diagonal stick and the space above it orange. Then glue some googly eyes to his face and cut out a long triangle for his nose. For his mouth, either trace with pencil first or paint directly onto the popsicle sticks. Finally, for his hair, use paper yellow grass or strips of foam. Your scarecrow is now complete! Display him proudly in your home or yard this Fall season.
6. Turkey Glove Puppet
Making a turkey puppet is a fun and easy project that can be enjoyed by kids of all ages. All you need are a few supplies, including feathers, glue gun, winter gloves, craft felt in orange and red, and scissors. To start, simply glue the feathers onto the back of the glove, making sure to evenly space them out. Next, cut two small pieces of felt in the shape of a triangle and glue them onto the top of the glove for the turkey's eyes. Finally, use the remaining felt to create a beak and wattle and attach them to the turkey's face. Your puppet is now complete and ready to be used in any Thanksgiving festivities. Have fun!
Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and fun. These crafts will keep the little ones entertained and help them learn about this special holiday. We hope you enjoy these activities as much as we do. Happy crafting!