4 Great Thanksgiving Crafts to Make with Your Young Children

Thanksgiving is a time for family, gratitude, and creativity. Engaging your young children in fun and age-appropriate crafts can be a wonderful way to bond and create lasting memories during this special holiday season. In this article, we will explore four delightful Thanksgiving crafts that are perfect for children, designed to encourage creativity, fine motor skills, and an understanding of the importance of giving thanks.

Handprint Turkey Placemats

Creating handprint turkey placemats is a delightful craft that not only keeps your little ones engaged but also adds a personal touch to your Thanksgiving table setting.

Materials Needed

– Construction paper in various fall colors (brown, red, orange, yellow)

– Scissors

– Glue or glue stick

– Markers or crayons

– Laminating sheets (optional)

Steps

1. Begin by tracing your child’s hand on different colored construction paper. These will be the feathers of your turkey.

2. Help your child cut out the handprints. They may need assistance depending on their age and fine motor skills.

3. Cut out a turkey body shape from brown construction paper.

4. Have your child glue the handprints in a fan-like arrangement behind the turkey body to create the feathers.

5. Use markers or crayons to draw eyes, a beak, and wattle on the turkey’s face.

6. If desired, you can laminate the placemats to make them more durable.

These handprint turkey placemats are not only a wonderful craft but also a treasured keepsake for years to come.

Thankful Tree

The Thankful Tree is a meaningful craft that encourages children to reflect on the things they are thankful for. It serves as a beautiful centerpiece for your Thanksgiving celebrations.

Materials Needed

– Large branch (real or artificial)

– Vase or pot

– Construction paper in fall colors (brown, red, orange, yellow, green)

– Scissors

– Glue or tape

– Markers or crayons

Steps

1. Place the branch in the vase or pot and secure it in place.

2. Cut out leaf shapes from the construction paper. These will serve as the “thankful leaves”.

3. Provide your child with markers or crayons to write down things they are thankful for on each leaf.

4. Attach the thankful leaves to the branches using glue or tape. Encourage your child to share what they wrote as they hang the leaves.

The Thankful Tree is a visual representation of gratitude that can be enjoyed throughout the holiday season.

Pinecone Turkeys

Pinecone turkeys are a classic Thanksgiving craft that young children will adore. They’re simple, cute, and make charming decorations for your home.

Materials Needed

– Pinecones

– Googly eyes

– Construction paper in fall colors

– Glue

– Markers or crayons

Steps

1. Provide your child with a pinecone, which will be the turkey’s body.

2. Help them attach googly eyes to the front of the pinecone.

3. Cut out a small triangle for the beak and a wattle from construction paper. Glue them below the eyes.

4. Cut out feather shapes from colored construction paper and attach them to the back of the pinecone.

5. Encourage your child to draw turkey feet on the bottom of the pinecone.

These adorable pinecone turkeys can be displayed on your Thanksgiving table or as part of your seasonal decorations.

Paper Plate Pumpkin Pie Craft

This craft combines creativity and fine motor skills to create a delicious-looking paper plate pumpkin pie.

Materials Needed

– Paper plates

– Orange and brown construction paper

– Scissors

– Glue or glue stick

– Cotton balls

– Markers or crayons

Steps

1. Cut out a small triangle from the paper plate to resemble a slice of pie. This will be the base of your pumpkin pie.

2. Provide your child with orange construction paper to cut out strips. These strips will be the “whipped cream” on top of the pie.

3. Have them glue the strips around the edge of the paper plate, leaving the center open.

4. Fill the center with cotton balls to represent the whipped cream.

5. Cut out a small brown construction paper circle for the pie crust and attach it at the base of the orange strips.

6. Encourage your child to use markers or crayons to add details like a pie crust pattern.

This paper plate pumpkin pie craft is not only fun to make but also a delightful addition to your Thanksgiving decorations.

Have fun with Bubbles and Friends!

Engaging your young children in Thanksgiving crafts is a wonderful way to foster creativity and instill a sense of gratitude. These four crafts – handprint turkey placemats, the Thankful Tree, pinecone turkeys, and paper plate pumpkin pie – offer enjoyable and age-appropriate activities for your little ones. As you create these crafts together, you’re not only making memorable keepsakes but also teaching your children the importance of giving thanks during this special time of year.After you’ve had fun creating with your child, visit the Bubbles and Friends YouTube channel to keep the fun going!