Get in some quality time with your kids this Thanksgiving with these craft ideas!
What a Turkey Centerpiece
Yarn and paper feathers make this turkey the perfect centerpiece for the kids’ table. Using a a 9-inch polystyrene ball, cut a sliver off the bottom so he’ll sit flat. Wrap this body in dark brown yarn. Make a 4-inch ball from light-brown yarn and attach to the body with a wooden craft stick. Let the kids create simple facial features using felt: white circles (quarter size, with 1/8-inch pom-poms for pupils) for eyes, yellow triangles for the beak, and long red felt teardrops as the wattle. This is a great opportunity to review shapes! Cut feather shapes from colored craft paper and bend in half lengthwise to create the seam. Glue a wooden craft stick to the bottom third of the feather and insert in a fan shape on the turkey body after kids have written one thing to be thankful for on each one.
Thankful Tree with Handprints
Using craft paper, scissors, and other around-the-house items, you can create this simple Thankful Tree. Trace the kids’ (and your) hands for the leaves and write your blessings before arranging your fall tree. Tape to posterboard and mount or simply add it to an empty wall space in your kitchen or dining room. Either way, it’s sure to get the family talking and make your home festive for the holiday.
Turkey Windsocks
Once you dump the green beans in the casserole dish, rinse out those cans and set the kids to work on the cutest windsocks around. The only other ingredients you’ll need are craft glue, construction paper, ribbon, and paper streamers. Go ahead and pick all those up at the dollar store while running your pre-Thanksgiving errands and you’ll be all set for craftiness and cuteness.
Thanksgiving Snack Bags
Curb the kiddos’ appetites while the turkey is roasting–and use up those leftover gloves full of Halloween candy with these clever Thanksgiving snack bags. Fill with healthy, light snack options such as popcorn, nuts, or colored goldfish crackers. A couple googly eyes and a triangle of felt later and you’ve got a sweet little turkey almost too cute to eat.
Turkey Crayon Boxes
Paired with a place setting and a coloring sheet, these easy to assemble (free download!) crayon boxes will keep little ones entertained during those last few minutes as the family is gathering and the dishes are finishing. Find colored fry boxes on Etsy or recycle from the fast food you had to grab the night before so the bird could get in the oven.
Leaf Turkey
Send the kids outside on a nature hunt. The objective is to gather leaves of certain shapes and colors to create craft turkeys using all natural elements. You’ll want to make sure you have some wax paper, heavy books, and craft or hot glue on hand to really make the project simple. See how many unique turkeys you can make and hang them up to enjoy or pass them out as favors to your guests.
Happy crafting this Thanksgiving!