Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to bring family together and celebrate gratitude. It’s also a fantastic opportunity for kids to unleash their creativity with holiday-themed art projects. Imagine how excited they’ll be to display their masterpieces as table decor or give them as heartfelt gifts. If you’re looking for fun, easy, and memorable Thanksgiving art ideas, you’re in the right place. From cute turkeys to autumn-inspired crafts, these projects will keep your little ones entertained and engaged. And the best part? These crafts are enjoyable for all ages, easy to set up, and packed with creativity!
Let’s dive into these 21 Thanksgiving art projects for kids that will add a festive touch to your home. We’ve got something for everyone, from toddlers to older kids, so you can enjoy a relaxing craft time together. Plus, these projects use materials you likely already have, making them budget-friendly and easy to prepare.
1. Turkey Handprint Art
Turkey handprint art is a Thanksgiving classic that never gets old! Kids love making these little turkeys with their hands, and you’ll end up with a delightful keepsake. Tracing their hands, they can color each “feather” in vibrant autumn shades, creating a festive turkey with personality.
This project is easy to set up and requires only a few materials, like paper, markers, and glue. It’s a fun way for children to work on their fine motor skills while adding their own touch to each turkey. Plus, these handprints make wonderful memories, marking how much they’ve grown each year!
2. Leaf Stamping with Fall Colors
Leaf stamping is an engaging art project that incorporates nature into creativity. During a family nature walk, gather a few different leaves, then dip them in paint to press onto paper, creating stunning leaf impressions. This project allows kids to explore colors and shapes while celebrating the beauty of autumn.
The results are visually appealing and can even be framed as seasonal decor. Kids love experimenting with different leaf shapes and watching how colors blend together, giving each stamp its own unique look. It’s a hands-on way to appreciate the change of seasons while creating lasting art.
3. Pumpkin Painting
Pumpkin painting is a versatile Thanksgiving activity that lets kids create beautiful decorations. Instead of carving, kids can paint mini pumpkins with Thanksgiving-inspired designs like turkeys, leaves, or gratitude messages, adding a pop of color to your holiday decor.
Kids get to work with various colors, patterns, and designs, allowing them to express themselves creatively. Pumpkin painting is also less messy than carving, making it a perfect indoor activity. These painted pumpkins can be placed on the Thanksgiving table or around the house, giving a unique and personal touch to your decorations.
4. Thankful Tree Art
Creating a Thankful Tree encourages kids to reflect on gratitude while making a beautiful decoration. Draw a tree trunk on a large sheet of paper and let kids cut out leaves from colored paper, each leaf containing something they’re thankful for.
As they add leaves to the branches, it becomes a colorful reminder of all they appreciate. This craft encourages gratitude while letting kids use their cutting and gluing skills. It’s a wonderful display for Thanksgiving and a meaningful conversation starter for family gatherings.
5. Pinecone Turkey Craft
The pinecone turkey is a festive craft that brings nature indoors. Kids can use a pinecone as the turkey’s body and add feathers made from colored paper, creating a little character to decorate the Thanksgiving table.
This craft is simple yet engaging, and kids love giving each turkey a unique look with googly eyes, beaks, and feathers. Using natural elements like pinecones adds a rustic charm to the project. It’s also an excellent way for children to explore textures and shapes while crafting something adorable.
6. DIY Cornucopia with Paper
Making a paper cornucopia is a Thanksgiving activity that introduces kids to the holiday’s traditions. By rolling brown paper into a cone and filling it with paper fruits and veggies, kids can create a symbol of abundance.
This project provides a mix of coloring, cutting, and assembling, keeping little hands busy and engaged. It’s also a great way to discuss Thanksgiving history and the significance of the cornucopia. Kids will enjoy seeing their colorful creations come together in a charming arrangement.
7. Popsicle Stick Scarecrow
A popsicle stick scarecrow is a fun and easy project that’s perfect for fall. Kids can glue popsicle sticks together to create the scarecrow’s face, add a felt hat, and decorate it with googly eyes and paint.
This craft allows kids to play with textures, colors, and facial expressions, making each scarecrow unique. They can make it as cute or silly as they like, adding their own personal flair. These little scarecrows make adorable decorations and can be used as placeholders at the Thanksgiving table.
8. Feather Headbands
Feather headbands are a fun, wearable craft inspired by Native American culture. Kids can cut a strip of construction paper for the band, glue on feathers, and decorate it with markers to create a unique headpiece.
This activity is great for Thanksgiving as it encourages kids to learn about different cultures in a respectful way. Plus, they get to wear their creations during the festivities. Feather headbands bring a festive touch to family gatherings and let kids feel more connected to the holiday spirit.
9. Beaded Corn on the Cob
Beaded corn on the cob is a tactile and visually appealing craft that’s perfect for little hands. Using pipe cleaners and beads, kids can create colorful corn cobs that showcase the fall harvest.
Threading beads onto the pipe cleaners helps children with fine motor skills, while the final product adds a charming autumn touch. These beaded cobs can be used as decorations around the house or as unique table settings for Thanksgiving dinner.
10. Fall Leaf Garland
Creating a fall leaf garland is a simple way to decorate for Thanksgiving. Kids can cut out leaf shapes, color them in fall tones, and string them together for a vibrant display.
This craft encourages creativity as kids choose colors and patterns for each leaf, giving them ownership over the final product. The garland can be hung across the mantel or along a window, adding a warm and welcoming touch to your home decor.
11. Pilgrim Hat Crayon Holders
Pilgrim hat crayon holders are both functional and festive, making them perfect for the Thanksgiving kids’ table. Kids can construct small hats using black paper and fill them with crayons.
This craft serves as a coloring station to keep kids entertained during the meal, while also adding a fun Thanksgiving touch to the decor. Kids can help make these crayon holders and then enjoy using them, making the meal more interactive and enjoyable for everyone.
12. Coffee Filter Turkeys
Coffee filter turkeys add a fun twist to the traditional turkey craft. Kids can color the filter, spray it with water to create a tie-dye effect, and attach it as feathers to a paper turkey.
This project is exciting as kids watch the colors blend, creating unique patterns. The finished turkeys can be used to decorate the Thanksgiving table or hung on the wall as part of your seasonal decor. It’s a colorful, mess-free way to let kids explore their creativity.
13. Egg Carton Acorns
Turn empty egg cartons into adorable little acorns for a creative, eco-friendly Thanksgiving project. Kids can paint sections of the egg carton brown and add a small stick for the acorn’s stem.
This activity combines art with recycling, encouraging kids to think about repurposing materials. The final result is a charming decoration that can be placed around the house. Egg carton acorns are simple, yet they add a delightful touch to any Thanksgiving setting.
14. Button Tree Art
Button trees are a creative and colorful project that lets kids make their own fall foliage. By gluing colorful buttons onto a tree drawing, they create a vibrant autumn scene.
This craft is an excellent way to develop fine motor skills and practice patience. Each button adds texture, color, and character to the tree, making it a unique and beautiful piece. It’s also a fun way to recycle old buttons into something new and artistic.
15. Paper Plate Turkeys
Paper plate turkeys are a simple yet delightful project, allowing younger kids to create their own Thanksgiving decor. Kids can color the plate, add paper feathers, and create a cute turkey face.
This activity encourages kids to explore color and shape, helping them work on their creativity. Paper plate turkeys are perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, and they make wonderful decorations for the Thanksgiving table.
16. Yarn-Wrapped Pumpkins
Yarn-wrapped pumpkins bring a cozy touch to Thanksgiving decor. Kids can wrap orange yarn around a balloon, let it dry, and pop the balloon to reveal a pumpkin.
This project combines creativity with a touch of surprise, as kids love seeing the balloon transform. It’s also a great sensory activity, letting kids experiment with texture and color. These yarn pumpkins are perfect for adding a handmade, rustic vibe to your holiday decor.
17. Acorn Cap Necklaces
Acorn cap necklaces are a simple nature-inspired project that kids can wear or gift. Fill acorn caps with small beads and string them together to create a unique necklace.
Kids get to explore their creative side while making wearable art. Each necklace is one-of-a-kind, making it a personal accessory. These necklaces are also a fun way to incorporate natural elements into Thanksgiving crafts.
18. Paper Bag Puppets
Paper bag puppets bring storytelling to Thanksgiving. Kids can draw or paint turkeys, pilgrims, or other characters on paper bags, creating puppets for a Thanksgiving-themed puppet show.
This craft lets kids use their imagination, creating characters and even their own stories. Paper bag puppets are easy to make and provide hours of entertainment as kids perform their Thanksgiving tales.
19. Leaf People Art
Leaf people are a creative twist on nature art. Kids can glue leaves onto paper as bodies and add drawn faces to make fun leaf characters.
This project is simple yet imaginative, allowing kids to create their own little forest friends. Leaf people make charming wall art and are a fun way to incorporate nature into holiday crafting.
20. Pilgrim and Native American Figures
This craft allows kids to create Pilgrim and Native American figures using paper, markers, and other simple supplies. It’s a fun, respectful way to introduce children to Thanksgiving’s history.
Kids enjoy the creativity involved in designing these characters, and they get to learn more about the holiday. These figures can be used as Thanksgiving decorations, adding a personal touch to the celebration.
21. Corn Husk Dolls
Making corn husk dolls is a traditional craft that celebrates the harvest season. Kids can use dried corn husks to create simple dolls, adding clothing and accessories.
This craft connects kids to Thanksgiving’s history, teaching them about how early settlers made toys. Corn husk dolls are perfect for children who enjoy hands-on activities, creating toys that can be treasured as part of family traditions.
Thanksgiving is the perfect time to create memories with family, and these art projects make it easy for kids to explore their creativity. Each project adds a bit of holiday charm to your home and encourages kids to engage with the Thanksgiving spirit. So gather your supplies, and let your little ones enjoy the festive magic of Thanksgiving crafts!