The best kids Thanksgiving crafts aren’t the perfect-looking ones – they’re the ones that keep little hands busy and spark creativity. These easy Thanksgiving crafts use materials you probably already have and won’t leave you questioning your sanity.
1. Gratitude Placemats
Materials:
- Construction paper or cardstock (fall colors work great)
- Markers, crayons, or colored pencils
- Clear contact paper or laminating sheets
- Scissors
- Ruler
Instructions:
- Cut construction paper into placemat-sized rectangles (about 12″ x 18″)
- Have kids write “I Am Thankful For…” at the top
- Let them draw pictures or write words of things they’re grateful for all over the placemat
- Help them cover both sides with clear contact paper to make it wipeable
- Trim the edges, leaving about a ½ inch border of contact paper
These placemats become keepsakes that capture both their artistic abilities and their little hearts at this moment in time.
2. Mayflower Egg Carton Boats
Materials:
- Empty egg cartons
- Brown construction paper
- White paper
- Toothpicks
- Scissors
- Glue stick
- Crayons or markers
Instructions:
- Cut egg cartons into strips of 2-3 cups to make individual boats
- Cut small triangular sails from white paper
- Let kids decorate the sails with markers or crayons
- Carefully poke a toothpick through each sail
- Press the toothpick into the bottom of an egg cup to create the mast
- Cut small flags from brown paper and attach to the top of the toothpick
These little boats make perfect Thanksgiving Day crafts because they connect to the Thanksgiving story in an engaging way. Plus, egg carton crafts offer a great opportunity to teach children about recycling
3. Leaf Bowl Luminaries
Materials:
- Real leaves (pressed and dried) or artificial fall leaves
- Balloons
- Mod Podge or diluted white glue
- Foam brushes
- String lights (battery operated)
- Scissors
Instructions:
- Blow up small balloons to about the size of a cereal bowl
- Brush Mod Podge over the bottom half of the balloon
- Have kids carefully place leaves on the glued area, overlapping slightly
- Brush another layer of Mod Podge over the leaves
- Let dry completely (24 hours)
- Pop the balloon carefully and remove
- Add battery-operated string lights inside
This is one of those Thanksgiving arts and crafts for kids that looks way more complicated than it actually is – the secret is using leaves that aren’t too thick, like maple or oak.
When you flip on those little lights, the whole bowl glows with autumn colors. It makes kids feel like they’ve created actual magic.
4. Paper Bag Turkey
Materials:
- Brown paper lunch bag
- Construction paper (red, orange, yellow, brown)
- Googly eyes
- Glue stick or white glue
- Scissors
- Crayons or markers (optional)
- Newspaper or shredded paper (for stuffing)
- Tape or stapler
Instructions:
- Fill the bag with crumpled newspaper or shredded paper to give it shape
- Fold or twist the open end of the bag closed and secure it with tape or staples.
- Cut out large feather shapes from construction paper in red, orange, and yellow.
- Glue or tape the feathers to the back of the paper bag so they fan out like a turkey tail.
- Cut out and glue a small orange triangle for the beak and a red squiggly shape for the wattle.
- Add googly eyes above the beak.
Paper bag crafts are budget-friendly and use materials you likely already have at home. Like this paper bag turkey, they’re simple, creative activities that help kids build fine motor skills and imagination.
5. Turkey Pencil Holder Craft
Materials:
- Paper or plastic cup (orange or patterned works well)
- Red, orange, and yellow construction paper
- Scissors (decorative edge scissors optional for feathers)
- Glue stick or tape
- Googly eyes
- Small circle of yellow paper for the turkey face
- Tiny red and orange paper scraps for the wattle and beak
- Crayons, pencils, or markers to place inside
Instructions:
- Choose a fall-colored or patterned paper cup, or decorate a plain one with polka dots or a paper wrap.
- Cut a small yellow circle for the face, add googly eyes, an orange beak, and a red wattle, then glue it to the front of the cup.
- Cut feather shapes from red, orange, and yellow paper—use scalloped scissors for extra flair—and arrange them in a fan.
- Glue or tape the feathers to the back of the cup to form the turkey’s tail.
6. Gratitude Stones
Materials:
- Smooth, flat stones (from outside or craft store)
- Acrylic paint markers or regular acrylic paint with brushes
- Clear acrylic sealer spray
- Newspaper or plastic table covering
Instructions:
- Clean stones and let dry completely
- Have kids paint words, pictures, or symbols representing things they’re grateful for
- Let paint dry thoroughly
- With adult help, spray with clear sealer for durability
- Use as table decorations or give as gifts
This is one of those simple crafts for kids that somehow becomes deeply meaningful—holding a stone makes gratitude feel more real and lasting. Working with small rocks is also a budget-friendly activity. Learn more about pet rocks here.
7. Corn Husk Dolls
Materials:
- Dried corn husks (available at craft stores or saved from fresh corn)
- String or thin yarn
- Scissors
- Small pieces of fabric for clothing (optional)
- Markers for faces
Instructions:
- Soak corn husks in warm water for 10 minutes to make them pliable
- For the head, roll one husk into a tight bundle and tie with string
- Wrap another husk around the head bundle and tie at the neck
- For arms, roll a small husk and tie it horizontally under the head
- Tie at the waist, then separate the bottom husks for legs (or leave as a dress)
- Let kids draw simple faces and add fabric clothing if desired
Thanksgiving crafts for kids don’t get much more traditional than corn husk dolls. This is one of our 17 Pilgrim and Native American-inspired Thanksgiving crafts.
8. Pumpkin Seed Mosaics
Materials:
- Pumpkin seeds (cleaned and dried from carving pumpkins)
- Cardboard or heavy paper
- White glue
- Pencil
- Orange, yellow, and brown paint (optional)
Instructions:
- Clean pumpkin seeds thoroughly and let dry overnight
- Optional: Paint some seeds in different fall colors and let dry
- Have kids draw a simple picture outline on cardboard (turkey, leaf, pumpkin, etc.)
- Spread glue in small sections of the drawing
- Press pumpkin seeds onto the glued areas to fill in the design
- Continue until the entire picture is covered
- Let dry completely
This wonderful children’s craft is perfect for reusing pumpkin seeds after carving jack-o’-lanterns, turning what would be waste into something lovely. It’s satisfying in that languid, concentrated way that doing a puzzle is.
Kids love the feel and the concept that they’re really making artwork out of something they would otherwise just throw away.
9. Gobbling Turkey
Materials:
- 1 toilet paper roll
- Brown paint or brown paper
- Red, orange, and yellow construction paper
- Black marker
- Glue
- Scissors
Instructions:
- Paint the toilet paper roll brown or cover with brown paper
- Cut feather shapes from red, orange, and yellow paper for tail feathers
- Glue the colorful feathers in a fan shape at the back
- Cut a small brown circle for the head and glue to the front
- Add a small red piece for the wattle under the beak
- Draw two black dots for eyes
- Cut two brown rectangles for legs and glue to the bottom
Although turkeys are perfect for Thanksgiving day, kids love making these any time of year. The colorful tail feathers make this one of the most vibrant farm animal crafts in my collection of toilet paper roll crafts for kids.
10. Mini Pilgrim Hat Treats
Materials:
- Chocolate-covered cookies (like Fudge Stripes)
- Marshmallows
- Yellow construction paper
- Scissors
- Small dab of frosting or melted chocolate
Instructions:
- Cut tiny squares from yellow paper for buckles
- Place a marshmallow on top of each cookie
- Use a tiny dab of frosting to attach the paper buckle to the marshmallow
- Let set until frosting hardens
This one’s more snack than traditional craft, but sometimes the best Thanksgiving activities end with something delicious to eat. These little pilgrim hats are simple enough for preschoolers to help with. When crafts double as treats, everyone wins.
Making Memories, Not Perfection
Here’s what I’ve learned about arts and crafts for kids over the years: the mess is part of the magic. The crooked lines, the glue fingerprints, the paint smudges – that’s where the real memories live.
These easy Thanksgiving crafts for kids aren’t meant to look like they came from a craft fair. They’re attempting to illustrate the magic of creating something together, the joy of making something with one’s own hands, and the joyful mess of childhood imagination.
These simple kids crafts may not change the world, but they will make your November a little brighter, a little more thankful, and a whole lot of fun.
If you’re looking for more Thanksgiving crafts, explore these 14 ideas to keep them busy—plus these for elementary-aged, pre-schoolers, Thanksgiving card ideas for kids, and Thanksgiving art projects for kids.
You might also find inspiration in this collection of Thanksgiving painted rocks that are as fun to make as they are to display.
Happy Thanksgiving!
