Gobble! Gobble! Gobble! The pumpkin seeds are roasted and the Halloween costumes stored. As we head into cooler weather, I am constantly on the lookout for easy art and craft projects.
Below are 10 unique ways to celebrate Thanksgiving with your kids this year.
I am already daydreaming about pumpkin pies, mashed potatoes, and turkey. It is all so delicious! And, honestly, so much work. I love having the kids help cook, but there are some points during the day when I simply need them out of the kitchen.
Are you looking for a craft to keep your kids entertained
while you prep this year's Thanksgiving feast?
Don't default to throwing your little one in front of a screen. Let me know which of the ten ideas below is your favorite in the comments!
10 Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids - Gobble!
1. Thanksgiving Nature Centerpiece
Fill this beautiful handmade vase with flowers for an adorable Thanksgiving centerpiece. Your little one will be so proud.
2. Mini-Thanksgiving Flower Bouquets
Celebrating on a budget? Peanut Blossom suggests you buy a single bouquet of flowers, trim the stems down, and have your little one split it between three mason jars (or use the adorable nature vases above). Brilliant!
What I also adore in these photos of her family feast is that despite her fancy table settings, she has festive kid-friendly paper plates. Check out this adorable Gobble, Gobble, Gobble Plate on Amazon.
3. Leaf Hand-print Wreath
Welcome friends and family into your home this holiday season with a one-of-a-kind HANDmade wreath.
I admit I have a soft spot for this Kiwi Crate contributor; Melissa is a friend Here are a few of my favorite Thanksgiving posts from Mama Miss!
4. Simple Paper Pilgrim Bonnet
"This easy craft is a fun way for your little ones feel like they're a part of the Thanksgiving story." It includes a free printable to ensure success!
5. A Thankful Heart
Help your child express gratitude this November. Katie explains, "Throughout Thanksgiving Day, our family will take on the task of giving away as many hearts as possible. To give them away, we need to notice something that a person does for us, without being asked, that shows they care about us. We give them one of our hearts, thanking them for the thing they’ve done for us, recognizing the reason why they’ve done it." She makes the activity kid-friendly with an adorable printable and plush hearts.
View full instructions
*Although, I think the hearts are adorable, you could also do this activity with construction paper hearts!
6. Beaded Napkin Rings
Make the holiday table a bit more festive with simple beaded napkin rings. This activity is so simple your little one could work on it while you are prepping your Thanksgiving feast.
7. Little Kitchen Helpers
Don't shoo your little one away from the kitchen. Some of my favorite memories of Thanksgiving are of getting up early to help my mom make stuffing. Look for odd jobs to keep your child involved and occupied: dicing mushrooms, stirring stuffing, measuring cranberries.
Peanut Blossom is one of my favorite blogs for tried and true recipes for modern families. Below are a few favorite Thanksgiving recipes you can enjoy making with your kids before the big day:
- Best Ever Pumpkin Bread
- Double Batch Apple Crisp (So you can throw one in the freezer)
- Chocolate Pear Bread Pudding
8. Help Your Child Start a Gratitude Journal
Kick-start this gratitude activity by reading the book Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes. Begin an ongoing conversation with your child about things they are thankful for in their lives. Here are a few prompts to help you get started:
I’m grateful for…
Thank you for…
I appreciate…
View full instructions for the project here
9. Spin Art Turkey
I adore projects that upcycle abstract art. Imagine creating a turkey to hang on each chair at your Thanksgiving feast. So sweet.
10. Thanksgiving Turkeys Place Cards
How adorable are these little guys? Six little turkeys, sitting on a table.
This is the great no-hassle project to keep your kids entertained
while you prep this year's Thanksgiving feast.
Why I loved this project?
It required no effort on my part. The Thanksgiving Turkey Kiwi Crate comes with EVERYTHING (everything) needed to complete the project. While I love collecting inspiring ideas on Pinterest, the number of projects I am actually coordinated enough to pull supplies together for is minimal. I love handing the girls the green crate and knowing they've got everything they need within the box.
The simplicity of the directions. My girls (7 & 8) were able to complete the project on their own following the step-by-step instructions. They just grabbed the supplies and dove into the craft.
The project cultivates independence. The girls completed the project without adult intervention. They are very proud of their accomplishment and cannot wait to show-off their place cards on the Thanksgiving table. If your child is younger, they can still follow the directions fairly independently. Each step has an image instruction on top of the text explanation.
The craft leaves room for imperfection. One of my daughters wants all of her crafts to be exactly the way it looks in the directions. The instructions that come with the place cards are descriptive, but leave room for interpretation. For example, there is no rule on the exact number of feathers for each turkey. I loved how each of our turkeys seemed to have their own personality depending on the beak size, eye placement, or wattle.
It fosters concentration. I can't exactly put my finger on it, but there is something about Kiwi Crate projects that fully engross my girls.
Click here to read 3 ways well-meaning parents accidentally break their child’s concentration.
How will you and your family be celebrating Thanksgiving this year? Let's chat in the comments below.
PS: Sometimes it is not a parent interrupting that breaks a child's focus, but ... rather a frisky cat trying to bat around turkey feathers . Ha.
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Let's Lasso the Moon is proud to work with Kiwi Crate as a partner for growing curiosity & creativity. Click here to read my full disclaimer.
Image Credit: DIY Resource Center with permission from KiwiCrate.com. PeanutBlossom.com with permission from Tiffany Dahle.
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, this blog only recommends products or services I would use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
