This is the best list of Thanksgiving crafts for toddlers! If you are looking to have fun with your littles, try these awesome and easy craft ideas!
Scroll down to the bottom of the post to get a video of one of our favorite Thanksgiving crafts for kids – I’ll let it be a surprise. I know you’ll love it!
Anyone have a young child or toddler in their life? I’ve got a two-year-old niece that likes to keep very busy. It’s fun to figure out various activities for her to do, especially during the holidays.
That’s one reason I wanted to assemble this list of Thanksgiving crafts for toddlers – my little niece needed some ideas! It also really helps that she loves animals, so turkey craft ideas are welcomed.
Have you ever heard a two-year-old try to make a gobble sound like a turkey? It’s pretty cute!
Thanksgiving Activities for Preschoolers
If you do these projects with your kids, my guess is that you’re going to have just as much fun as they do. I can guarantee it, but just a guess! Keep reading to get my tips for crafting with toddlers and then the Thanksgiving crafts.
Tips for Crafting with Preschoolers
1. Dress the part. Smocks work for older children, but with toddlers it can be more difficult to keep the art supplies isolated to the smock. Use an old dress shirt or oversized t-shirt to completely cover all clothing – or make sure all the clothes the child is wearing can get dirty.
2. Use kid friendly supplies. Look for craft supplies that say “washable” or “wash-out” when you are choosing, if that’s a concern for you. Just because something is non-toxic doesn’t mean its washable. Acrylic paint IS safe for kids, and I like Apple Barrel paint. But then refer back to rule #1 if the paint isn’t washable ?
3. Protect your table. You can expect that a child is going to go “off the grid” if you turn your head for a second. I recommend using a roll of paper (white butcher paper works well) or a dollar store tablecloth. Protect your kid, but also protect your furniture!
4. Limit what’s on the table. With older children, you can put out more supplies at once because they know what order to apply things. A toddler can’t necessarily make that same determination, so you should let them access the supplies in order.
Tip: you can speed up the drying of paint or craft glue with a hair dryer. I keep a hair dryer in my craft room because I’m impatient. I think it’s a great tool to use on crafts for preschoolers . . . because they are impatient too 😮
5. Let children have fun. It’s tempting to try to control children during the process, to get the outcomes that you want to achieve. As adults we want to do things “right.” I encourage you to let your children explore and make mistakes if necessary.
You can always craft close by, and show them what your idea of a perfect glitter pumpkin looks like (for example). I always like to let littles have their opportunity to express their idea of creativity instead of expressing mine.
Are you ready to get some cute Thanksgiving crafts for preschoolers? Check out the below projects and let me know what you think in the comments!
Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers
If you're looking to entertain your littles for the holidays, this list of Thanksgiving crafts for preschoolers is for you. All of them are completely attainable by young children, and definitely fun.
Thanksgiving Turkey Puppet
Your preschooler will love the imagination involved in creating their own Thanksgiving turkey puppet! You'll just need a few simple supplies including a bottle cap, googly eyes, and feathers.
Thanksgiving Napkin Rings
Keep the little hands busy with Thanksgiving napkin ring holders that are a perfect Thanksgiving craft. This is a great project to keep them busy while dinner is cooking!
Coffee Filter Turkeys
Learn how to make a cute little turkey craft for Thanksgiving using a coffee filter and a clothespin! Kids will love this idea.
Pinecone Turkey
Gather the pine cones from the yard and spend some time crafting up pine cone turkeys that your kids will totally love!
Turkey Handprint Card
How precious is this handprint turkey card with a poem to enjoy right along with it!? This makes a sweet preschool craft for kids to bring home to their parents.
Paper Plate Turkey
Learn how to make a colorful paper plate turkey craft with kids for Thanksgiving! It’s a great craft for preschoolers, kindergarten, and elementary age children. There’s also a free template available for the feathers and parts.
Pumpkin Pie Craft
This pumpkin pie project for kids might not be as delicious as a regular piece of pie, but it’s pretty cute! The cotton ball whipped cream is such a fun addition to this Thanksgiving craft.
Pony Bead Indian Corn
Just add beads to pipe cleaners for fun pony bead Indian corn - such a great way to work on fine motor skills and celebrate the holiday.
Thankful Turkey Hat
Your preschooler will love showing off what they are thankful for by wearing a printable turkey hat! The feathers on this craft have the writing prompt “I am thankful for…” which is a great way to work on reflection and gratitude.
Newspaper Leaf Garland
This newspaper leaf garland is simple, easy and costs nothing to make! This Thanksgiving craft looks pretty on a mantle piece, strung around a mirror, running up a staircase, or even decorating a room for the holiday.
Beaded Napkin Rings
Your child will love seeing their completed napkin rings on the Thanksgiving table! This craft provides a great way for children to be involved in all the holiday preparations.
Handprint & Footprint Turkey
You will love the keepsakes these handprint and footprint turkeys create, and they are so adorable too! I recommend making them every Thanksgiving to track kids' growth.
Happy Scarecrow
It's easy to forget scarecrows for Thanksgiving, but this is a really sweet fall paper plate craft that your kids will enjoy making.
Turkey Salt Painting
Your preschooler won't be able to get enough of this turkey salt painting that is crazy colorful Thanksgiving fun!
Pumpkin Apple Stamping
Don't throw away that bruised apple - use it to stamp some Thanksgiving art! Of course you can make apple prints with your apples, or add jack o’ lantern faces to your pumpkins after they are done drying.
Thankful Turkey Book
A thankful turkey book is a great way for your kids to share their gratitude for the things most important to them!
Fall Leaves Art
Have your toddler make some fall leaves art using sponge painting and frame it for a Thanksgiving display.
Indian Corn Craft
This Indian corn craft is a wonderful craft of creating corn kernels in different colors. As you create this project it's the perfect time to discuss the history of Thanksgiving.
Turkey Feather Name Activity
This cute turkey feather name recognition activity & craft can double as a busy bag that will help with letter and name recognition practice and strengthen fine motor skills!
Fall Suncatchers
Make adorable fall suncatchers from tissue paper, construction paper, and contact paper! Make a pumpkin, apple, and acorn to hang. This is one of my favorite toddler Thanksgiving crafts.
Popsicle Sticks Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin pie is one of my favorite things about Thanksgiving, so here is another pumpkin pie craft. For this one, you paint popsicles sticks to form the pie slice.
Construction Paper Turkey
Have your toddler turn themselves into a handprint turkey! Bonus? This is a virtually mess-free craft.
Thankful Hands
Decorate the windows and give your kids the opportunity to display what they are thankful for with these thankful hands.
Thanksgiving Handprint Tree
Or you can turn your thankful hands into a thankful tree for a cute holiday display! Be sure to display your Thanksgiving handprint tree somewhere that everyone can see! It's a cute addition to your entryway or fireplace mantel.
Tissue Paper Turkey
Combine the fun of different textures and color recognition into this super fun tissue paper turkey craft.
Paper Pumpkins
Make a paper pumpkin, step by step! Kids are going to love this fun craft idea for fall and Halloween.
Toilet Paper Roll Turkey
This is a classic Thanksgiving craft that can't be left off the list! Turn some toilet paper rolls into the cutest little turkeys with paper feathers.
Thanksgiving Tree
Have your toddler help you make this Thanksgiving tree by stamping leaves on it with a toilet paper roll. They can also help you come up with things they are thankful for to fill in the leaves.
Puffy Paint Turkey
What fun crafting and creating will be with puffy paint turkeys! All you need is a few simple ingredients you probably already have around the house.
Corn on the Cob Art
Create some fun abstract art using paint and corn on the cob! You only need a few items for this Thanksgiving craft for toddlers including corn, paint, and paper.
Paper Plate Turkey Hats
Make paper plate turkey hats for all the kids to wear on Thanksgiving Day. I think it would be fun to show up to the holiday table with one of these on my head.
Fall Leaf Collage
Have your toddler decorate a window for Thanksgiving with a fall leaf collage. So easy, less mess, and helps toddlers and preschoolers work on their gross motor skills.
Fruit Turkey
Make a fun edible craft - a fruit turkey! There are also some facts about turkeys that you can talk about while you work.
Button Pumpkin
These button pumpkins are absolutely adorable and easily use up any old buttons you may have been hanging on to in your craft stash. It will be fun to see what kind of pumpkins your toddler comes up with.
Turkey Bowling
This is a craft and a game! Make turkey bowling pins together and then play turkey bowling on Thanksgiving.
Fall Wreath Making Station
If you have a number of toddlers that need a fun project, this fall wreath station is one of my favorites.
Turkey Mosaic
This cute turkey paper plate craft is perfect for an afternoon of color recognition and simple creativity. Such a perfect Thanksgiving craft for a toddler!
Pumpkin Pie Play Dough
Your preschooler will love the smell and the idea of texture play with their very own pumpkin pie play dough that smells just like Thanksgiving!
Goldfish Turkey
This takes the 'handprint turkey' to a new level - 3D! Fill plastic gloves with different color Goldfish crackers to make a turkey.
Textured Sensory Turkey
Both parents and kids will love this textured sensory turkey project for preschoolers. The textured turkeys are a great way to encourage fine motor skills while adding the extra sensory layers.
Are you ready to get your bonus video? Learn how to make a cute turkey craft using bubble wrap and paint! It’s so fun. Press “PLAY” in the center of the video in this post!
I’d also love for you to check out these other related ideas: