Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate family, to reflect on the meaning and history of the holiday, and to cook a lot of delicious food.
Of course, many parents and caregivers know that while all that cooking is happening, kids still need to be entertained. What better way to keep kids of all ages happy and occupied than a few Thanksgiving crafts?
Here are 10 DIY Thanksgiving crafts that don't require a lot of parental oversight or even supplies bought in advance, and kids of all ages will still enjoy them.
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1. Paper Bag Turkeys
Paper bag turkeys are a classic! You really need only a few things:
- Paper bags
- Construction paper or feathers
- Googly eyes or markers
And that's it! Obviously your kids can embellish their turkeys however they like, and if you have extra craft supplies, there's no reason why those turkeys can't be glittery and bright.
2. Apple Stamps
If you have a few apples lying around, they can easily be turned into stamps! Just cut the apples in half, dip them in craft paint or ink, and let your kids have fun stamping to their heart's content.
3. Painted Rocks
Painted rocks are an especially easy craft because you can usually find rocks near where you live. If you have craft paint on hand, let your kids decorate the rocks however they see fit (though getting a jump on making their own Christmas decorations isn't a bad idea!).
4. Leaf Turkeys
Leaf turkeys are another craft that is both easy and delightful. Your kids can gather up suitable leaves outside, and then they need only glue, construction paper, and markers to decorate their birds.
5. Pumpkin Pie Coasters
These pumpkin pie coasters from A Kailo Chic Life are pretty precious, and they can be easily assembled with felt, a hot-glue gun, and scissors. You can also use them on your Thanksgiving table, which makes the craft functional as well.
6. Turkey Pudding Cups
This is a great craft because it's also one your kids can eat! Here's what you need:
- Chocolate pudding cups
- Red, green, and yellow pipe cleaners
- Orange card stock
- Googly eyes
- Hot-glue gun/glue
You can get the directions over at Craft, Create, Cook.
7. Leaf Collage
This is another colorful Thanksgiving craft that doesn't require much. Have your kids go outside and collect as many colorful leaves as they can find, and then let them come back in and glue or tape the leaves to construction paper. They can come up with so many designs and patterns!
8. Construction Paper Turkeys
If you've ever been in a kindergarten classroom, you have probably made this craft! It's super straightforward: Your kids need only scissors and construction paper! While green, red, yellow, and brown are pretty standard turkey craft colors, there's no reason why they can't use any color they want to.
9. Leaf Bookmarks
There are actually a lot of ways your kids can make their own leaf bookmarks! This one might be one of the easiest, since they'll need only paper, markers or paint, and a little bit of string. Other variations could be made with felt or even yarn if you have a knitter or two on your hands.
10. Leaf Suncatchers
These leaf suncatchers are beautiful and can be used to bring a little fall cheer to every room of your home! You'll just need a bunch of leaves from your yard or neighborhood walk and contact paper, which will make it easy to attach the suncatcher to the window or door of your choosing.
