4 Easy Thanksgiving crafts for kids

Simple and fun fall family crafts

Your child will love making these fun and festive Thanksgiving crafts -- and you will love the quick and easy steps! While making these Thanksgiving crafts, take the opportunity to talk to your child about Thanksgiving and what it means to be thankful and generous to others.

 

The pumpkin is a classic symbol of fall and Thanksgiving. Your child can enjoy making a simple Thanksgiving decoration while practicing coordination and fine motor skills.

Materials:

• Sturdy paper plates
• Craft glue watered down to a paint consistency
• Paintbrush
• Orange tissue paper cut in small squares
• Green construction paper cut into a small rectangle

Directions:

1. Paint the wrong side of the paper plate with the watered down glue
2. Place pieces of the orange tissue paper on the plate
3. Glue the green construction paper to the top

Create a memory and a keepsake with your child by painting a giving tree on a shirt. Use this project to prompt a discussion about the importance of giving, kindness and why the leaves on the trees change color in the fall.

Materials:

• Solid white T-shirt
• Brown, green, red, orange and yellow fabric paint
• Paintbrush

Directions:

1. With the paintbrush, apply the brown paint to your child's hand
2. Place your child's painted hand near the top front of the shirt
3. Paint a tree trunk from the handprint to the bottom of the shirt
4. Dip your fingers in the green, brown, yellow and orange paint
5. Touch your painted fingers in random spots around the handprint to create colorful leaves on the tree

Make more T-shirts at home >>

Use this craft to talk about our hands and how they can be helpful and kind to others.

Materials:

• Orange, red, yellow and brown construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue stick
• Ribbon

Directions:

1. Trace your child's hand four to six times on each color of paper
2. Cut out each hand print
3. Alternate colors while gluing the palm of each hand print together, keeping the fingers pointed towards the outside of the wreath
4. Cut a piece of ribbon, tie it in a bow and attach it to the top of the wreath

This is a perfect way to document the amazing, funny and honest things that your child says. You'll be sure to keep this project for years to come.

Materials:

• Light blue cardstock paper
• Brown, orange and yellow construction paper
• Glue stick
• Black marker
• Scissors

Directions:

1. Draw a tree trunk complete with bare branches on the brown construction paper
2. Write "I am thankful for..." on the tree trunk
3. Cut out the tree and glue it to the blue cardstock
4. Cut leaves out of the brown, orange and yellow construction paper
5. Ask your child what he or she is thankful for and write one answer on each leaf
6. Glue the leaves around the branches of the tree

Find out how to preserve real autumn leaves >> 

More Thanksgiving and fall crafts

3 Fall crafts for kids
Make a fall welcome sign
Autumn leaf crafts