If you are looking for fun ways to entertain the kids or keep them occupied while you’re cooking, we got you covered! These arts and crafts are super easy to do and won’t make too much of a mess. Plus these will be amazing keepsakes, memories, or even yearly traditions to do. We love that some center on gratitude and others are cute and creative. Here are 4 Thanksgiving themed craft projects:
Thankful Tree
Make your own thankful tree with a bunch of different colored papers, scissors and markers!
Estimated time: 20 mins at the least
Trace all your kids’ hands on different colored papers, cut them out and have all your kids write with the markers what they’re thankful for and hang it as leaves on the ‘branches’ that can be made with brown paper cut into a tree. This will be super cute decor for thanksgiving dinner and adults can even do it too!
The Gratitude Game
A game that’s good for the whole family can be done with colored sticks! Each color represent something you have to name that you’re thankful for. (Red- name a person you’re thankful for, Orange- name a place you are thankful for, Green- name a food you are thankful for, Blue- name a thing you are thankful for, and Purple- name anything of your choice!)
Estimated time to prepare: less than 10 minutes
To play, you hold all of the sticks in your hand and drop them. They will fall randomly. Then each player takes a turn pulling a stick from the pile. You cannot make any other sticks move or you lose your turn and do not get to collect the stick. The player with the most sticks at the end of the game wins. Each time you pick up a stick you have to name something you are grateful for. Each color represents a different type of thing. It’s a great way to get the kids really thinking in different ways about all that they are grateful for!
Silly Personalized Footprint Turkey Craft
A funny craft can be made with a whole lot of action- foot painting, drawing, cutting and putting pictures on! You’ll need brown, orange, and yellow washable paint, a photo of your child’s face, brown and green construction paper, markers, and scissors/glue.
Estimated time to make: at least 30 minutes
First, paint your little ones feet and stamp it on a white piece of paper in a fanned out shape, alternating colors. Do this step outside to avoid any mess. Once they are dry, cut the white/green paper to outline it. Add an oval piece of brown paper for the turkeys body and add detail feathers with a marker. Find a picture of your kiddo with a funny face and glue it on top of the turkey’s head. Perhaps do this outside or set a paper table cloth.
Pinecone Turkeys
To make these cute little guys, go on a nature walk with the kiddos and find some pinecones. Before the walk, grab some felt, feathers, wiggly eyes and you’re all ready to create!
Estimated time to make: 20 minutes at the least!
Cut your feathers in half, use a small amount of hot glue to add the feathers and then glue on the eyes and beak. Set these on the dinner table to add extra cuteness to your feast.
We hope you enjoy these craft ideas and feel free to share any Thanksgiving crafts or traditions you do below to inspire our Mini Dreamers community!!
