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3 Easy Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids

Keep your kids entertained and happy on Thanksgiving with these 3 easy Thanksgiving crafts for kids.

Turkey day will be here in just a few short weeks. Whether you are a teacher looking for Thanksgiving activities for the classroom, or a parent looking for ideas to keep kids busy before Thanksgiving dinner with the family, these Thanksgiving crafts for kids are sure to be a hit!

 

 

 

Kids love crafting.  It promotes creativity, enhances the senses, and can often be done independently.  Don’t let the glue, feathers, and glitter stop you from doing these fun Thanksgiving crafts with the kids. These easy Thanksgiving activities can be prepared for the kids ahead of time, which will allow them to follow simple steps independently.  Yes, I think an adult should be nearby to supervise, but the children will enjoy getting creative on their own.

Let’s take a look at these 3 easy Thanksgiving crafts for kids.

 

1. Thanksgiving Slime – A Sensory Thanksgiving Craft for Kids

Kids absolutely love making this fun science craft for Thanksgiving.

I know; you may be wondering how Slime is related to Thanksgiving.  It’s like magic – make ordinary slime, add a Fall or cinnamon scent and special fillers, and just like that, the kids will have a favorite Thanksgiving slime.  Slime has been on the top learning toys for kids list for years.

It’s inevitable, parents and teachers will try making slime at some point or another.  There are tons of blogs with slime recipes for kids, and a plethora of slime videos on YouTube.  In fact, slime videos are among the most watched videos by young kids and teenagers.  Surely, I included a fun slime kit on my blog post, 5 Trending YouTube Toys for Kids.

 

Why is slime so popular?  There is a psychology behind slime. When kids make, play with, or watch slime videos, they enter a meditative state. This mindfulness activity helps calm them down and forget about the stress of the day.

Speaking of stress, Thanksgiving can be a stressful time of year.  There are turkey dinners to make, tables to decorate, and family or friends to entertain.  Let the kids decompress from the holiday chaos with this easy cinnamon Thanksgiving slime recipe.

 

Simple Thanksgiving Slime Ingredients

•  Airtight container
• 5oz Clear Glue
• 1/2 Cup Elmer’s Magical Liquid Activator 
• Cinnamon essential oil
• Red and gold glitter
• Thanksgiving filler

 

 

 

How to Make Thanksgiving Slime

• In an airtight container, mix the 5oz clear glue with almost 1/2 cup of the Elmer’s magical liquid.  This liquid replaces the contact solution, water, and baking soda.  It’s wonderful, and I’m so glad I found some!  The bottle says to only use 1/4 cup, but we found 1/2 cup to be the right consistency.
• Add 1-2 drops of essential oil to the mix.  Do not use more than that, because the smell will be too overwhelming.
• Add 1/2 tablespoon of red glitter, and the same for gold.  As you mix it up, you can add more if you’d like.
• Mix in the Thanksgiving filler.  I found a Thanksgiving filler on amazon (see above), but if you’re looking for cheaper options, you can get colored beads from the dollar store.  The Dollar Store beads aren’t Fall themed, but the kids have fun either way.
• Mix, knead, and stretch until you get the desired consistency.

 

 

 

2. Turkey Popcorn Treat Bag

These turkey popcorn treat bags are perfect for a classroom party or a Thanksgiving dinner with the family.

What’s better than a Thanksgiving craft for kids that can also be a Thanksgiving treat? Nothing; these gloves filled with popcorn and candy are perfect.

While you are busy making a lovely Thanksgiving meal, keep the kids entertained with this easy DIY craft for Thanksgiving day.  Sort and place the m&m’s into small containers, set out a big bowl of popcorn, give each child a clear glove, and let them create their own turkey popcorn Thanksgiving craft for kids.

 

 

Thanksgiving Popcorn Treat

• Popcorn
• Clear vinyl gloves
• m&m’s
• Scotch tape
• Orange construction paper
• Googly Eyes or a black sharpie
• Glue stick

 

How to Make the Turkey Treat Bags

• Fill each finger with different colored m&m’s. Making sure to put red in the thumb, which will become the turkey’s wattle.  Check out my blog post about TURKEY FACTS FOR KIDS for a printable writing and drawing Thanksgiving activity.  Don’t fill the thumb all the way.

• Fill the center with popcorn.  Keep enough space to fold over and tape the glove shut.  You could also use a twist-tie.
• Tape the glove closed
• Twist the thumb so it can hang down like the Turkey’s wattle.
• Tape or glue an orange triangle (beak) over the wattle’s twist.
• Glue on the wiggly eye.  If you don’t want to purchase wiggly eyes, the kids can use a black sharpie marker and draw the eye onto the turkey.

 

 

 

 

 

3. Paper Plate Thanksgiving Turkey Wreath

Decorate the classroom or the house with this easy Thanksgiving turkey decoration.

The turkey wreath has many variations.  I’ve made this paper plate Thanksgiving wreath with my kindergartners many different ways.  For example, we have made a painted turkey wreath, a Thanksgiving wreath with leaves, made the turkey feathers out of hand prints, and made a tissue paper turkey.  But, today, for the sake of neatness, I am going to share how we made a Thanksgiving turkey wreath with feathers.

 

 

 

Turkey Wreath Craft for Kids

• Paper plate
• Construction paper
• Wiggly eyes
• Feathers
• Clear glue stick

How To Make a Paper Plate Turkey Wreath

• Cut the center out of the paper plate to form a wreath.
• Glue a brown circle onto the bottom part of the wreath.
• Add a beak, eyes, and wattle to the circle to make the turkey face.
• Use a glue stick to fill the wreath with crafting feathers.

 

Getting your kids involved in arts and crafts at a young age will benefit them for years to come.  If you are interested in arts and crafts subscription boxes for your kiddos, check out my blog post, 5 Fantastic Arts and Crafts Boxes for Kids.

 

Enjoy the Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids

Now that I have shared these 3 Thanksgiving activities for kids, it’s time to bring out the decorations and set the table. If you are looking to make a Turkey hand print poem to hang as a keepsake, you can download mine, HERE.

I hope you have an awesome Thanksgiving with your family and friends.  Your kids will be grateful for these fun activities for Thanksgiving, and you’ll be grateful for the peaceful household!

 

Before you go, here are a few blog posts you may enjoy:

8 Thanksgiving Printable Activities for Kids

10 Turkey Facts for Kids

5 Fall Poems for Kids

25 Popular Christmas Gifts for Kids

 

Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids