41 Easy Thanksgiving Art Activities for Toddlers That Kids Will Love
Does your toddler get cranky during long Thanksgiving prep while you’re stuck wondering how to keep those tiny hands busy?
You need simple, engaging activities that actually hold their attention without creating a huge mess in your kitchen.
Get ready to discover 41 amazing Thanksgiving art activities perfectly designed for toddlers – from adorable handprint turkeys to sensory bins that’ll keep them happily creating while you cook.
Your little one is about to have their most creative Thanksgiving ever, and you’ll finally get those precious moments of peace you’ve been craving!
Top Picks Today
1 Turkey Clay Pots
Your little ones create adorable turkey decorations using simple clay pots from your garden shed or local store. These charming birds become instant holiday centerpieces that guests will love.
Flip terracotta pots upside down to form the turkey body. Kids paint them in warm autumn colors like orange, red, and brown using washable paints.
Add colorful paper feathers, googly eyes, and orange beaks with glue sticks. Your toddler practices fine motor skills while creating their masterpiece.
Make a whole turkey family using different pot sizes – perfect for displaying on your mantle or dining table throughout November.
2 Turkey Footprint Craft
Tiny feet create the cutest turkey bodies in this adorable twist on the classic handprint craft! Your toddler’s footprint becomes the turkey’s plump body while their handprints form colorful tail feathers.
Set up a washable workspace with paper, paint, and wet wipes nearby. Have your little one step in brown paint, then press their foot onto paper to create the turkey body.
Add handprints in fall colors around the footprint for beautiful feather details. Finish with a simple drawn head and legs for an unforgettable keepsake!
3 Pilgrim Hats
Wearable crafts make toddlers feel extra special, and pilgrim hats top the list for Thanksgiving fun. Your little one transforms into a Thanksgiving character while creating something they can actually wear.
These classic black paper hats require just construction paper, glue, and scissors. Most toddlers can handle the simple folding and decorating steps with minimal help.
The best part? Your toddler gets to wear their creation during Thanksgiving dinner, making them feel like an important part of the celebration.
4 Toilet Paper Turkey
Transform ordinary toilet paper rolls into adorable turkey decorations that toddlers absolutely love making. This craft turns everyday household items into festive Thanksgiving art.
Simply wrap the roll in brown paper or paint it. Your little one can glue colorful paper feathers around the back and add googly eyes to the front.
The best part? Toddlers can easily hold and decorate the rolls without frustration. These 3D turkeys make perfect table decorations or gifts for family members.
5 Decorated Juice Boxes
Transform ordinary juice boxes into festive Thanksgiving decorations that make your little ones feel extra special at dinner time.
Grab some construction paper, stickers, or washi tape to cover those bright commercial labels. Your toddlers can help stick on fall leaves, turkeys, or pumpkins to match your holiday table.
This simple craft turns a regular drink into something magical. Plus, it keeps tiny hands busy while you finish preparing the meal.
No mess, no fuss – just wrap, stick, and watch your toddler’s face light up when they see their personalized juice box at their place setting.
6 Paper Tree Craft
Brown paper bags transform into beautiful gratitude trees that toddlers love decorating. This simple craft teaches thankfulness while building fine motor skills.
Cut a paper bag into a tree trunk shape and let your toddler crumple and twist the top into branches. The messier, the better for little hands!
Add colorful paper leaves where your child draws or dictates things they’re grateful for. Family, pets, and favorite toys usually make the list.
Display the finished tree where everyone can see it. Your toddler will proudly point out their creation to visitors all season long.
7 Dot Marker Thanksgiving
Colorful dots transform simple Thanksgiving pictures into vibrant masterpieces that toddlers love creating. Your little one simply presses the dot marker onto paper and watches beautiful colors appear instantly.
Print out turkey outlines, pumpkins, or corn cobs for easy templates. Toddlers can fill in the shapes or create their own patterns around the edges.
No mess, no stress – dot markers contain the paint inside, so cleanup stays simple. Your toddler builds hand strength and color recognition while making art they feel proud to display.
8 Turkey Watercolor Painting
Watercolor paints create stunning turkey feathers that blend and flow naturally together. Your toddler will love watching the colors mix and spread across the paper.
Start with simple turkey shapes and let little hands explore different painting tools. Try brushes, sponges, or even fingers to create unique feather textures.
The beauty of this activity lies in its endless possibilities. Each turkey becomes a one-of-a-kind masterpiece as colors blend in unexpected ways, making every creation special and uniquely theirs.
9 Fall Leaf Suncatchers
Colorful fall shapes dance in your windows when little hands create these magical suncatchers. Your toddler picks their favorite autumn shape—leaves, pumpkins, or acorns work perfectly.
Cut out the center of each shape and let your child fill the opening with tissue paper scraps or cellophane. The see-through materials create beautiful colors when sunlight streams through.
Hang these sparkly creations on windows or glass doors. Your toddler will love watching their artwork glow and change colors throughout the day.
10 Paper Placemats
Transform old artwork into festive table decorations that make your toddler the dinner hero.
Gather those forgotten coloring pages and craft scraps from your art bin. Your little one already created the masterpieces—now they become special placemats for the big meal.
Simply laminate the artwork or slip it into clear page protectors. This protects the table and showcases your toddler’s creativity for everyone to admire.
Your child feels proud seeing their art displayed, and you get unique decorations that spark dinner conversation.
11 Turkey Coloring Pages
Print and color – it’s that simple! Turkey coloring pages give you an instant activity that keeps little hands busy right away.
Stack up different turkey designs so toddlers can choose their favorites. Simple outlines work best for small fingers learning to grip crayons.
Having multiple options means kids stay engaged longer. They can color realistic turkeys, cartoon birds, or even turkeys wearing pilgrim hats – whatever sparks their creativity!
12 Fall Sensory Play
Colorful corn kernels and mini pumpkins create the perfect sensory bins for busy little hands during holiday chaos.
Your toddler needs calming sensory breaks between all the Thanksgiving excitement and family gatherings. The holiday rush affects everyone, especially energetic toddlers who feel overwhelmed.
Fill shallow containers with dried beans, acorns, or cinnamon-scented rice. Add small scoops, turkey-shaped toys, and orange measuring cups for extra fun.
This hands-on play helps release energy while keeping little ones engaged and calm before the big feast.
13 Sponge Brush Painting
Sponge brushes create magical textures that regular paintbrushes just can’t match. Your toddler will love how the soft, bouncy surface makes interesting patterns and shapes on paper.
Set out fall colors like orange, red, yellow, and brown alongside several sponge brushes. The chunky handles are perfect for little hands to grip easily.
Let your child dab, press, and swirl the sponges across the paper. They can layer colors or create abstract autumn scenes without any pressure to make something specific.
This mess-free activity builds fine motor skills while encouraging creative expression through texture exploration.
14 Chalk Turkey Craft
Colorful chalk creates stunning turkey feathers that toddlers love making. This mess-free craft keeps little hands busy indoors.
Give your child bright chalk sticks and paper. They simply rub the chalk around their hand outline to make beautiful feather patterns.
The soft texture feels amazing on their fingers. Plus, chalk washes off easily when craft time ends!
15 Turkey Line Art
Colorful squiggly lines transform a simple turkey outline into a masterpiece that toddlers absolutely love creating.
Hand your little artist a turkey template and let them go wild with crayons or markers. They can draw wavy lines, zigzags, or loops all over the turkey’s body and feathers.
You can draw the basic turkey shape together, then step back and watch their creativity shine. The wonky, uneven lines make each turkey totally unique and full of personality.
This activity builds fine motor skills while giving toddlers complete creative freedom to make their turkey as silly or colorful as they want.
16 Turkey Number Activities
Numbers come alive when you add feathers, gobbles, and turkey fun to learning time!
Your toddler will love counting while celebrating the season. Turkey-themed activities make number practice exciting instead of feeling like work.
Try counting colorful feathers on paper turkeys or sorting mini pumpkins by groups. You can also create number turkey tails where each feather shows a different digit.
These festive activities help little ones recognize numbers while building excitement for Thanksgiving day ahead.
17 Handprint Turkey Art
Your toddler’s tiny handprint becomes a turkey with just a few simple steps! This classic craft gets better every year as you watch those little hands grow.
Press their hand in brown paint and stamp it on paper. The thumb becomes the turkey’s head, and the fingers transform into colorful tail feathers.
Let your little artist color the feathers with crayons or markers. Add googly eyes and an orange beak to bring their turkey friend to life.
This timeless craft creates the perfect keepsake you’ll treasure for years to come.
18 Turkey Stick Puppets
Transform simple popsicle sticks into adorable turkey characters that bring Thanksgiving stories to life. These easy-to-make puppets capture little hands’ attention while sparking creativity.
Cut out basic turkey shapes from construction paper and let toddlers decorate with crayons, feathers, or stickers. Tape each finished turkey to a popsicle stick handle.
Pre-cut materials work best for large groups, while smaller groups enjoy decorating step-by-step. Once complete, encourage puppet shows and turkey "conversations" for extra entertainment.
19 Turkey Napkin Rings
Transform plain napkin rings into adorable turkey decorations that make your Thanksgiving table extra special. Your toddler will love helping create these festive touches.
Set up an assembly line system for easy crafting. Gather scrapbook paper, glue, and plain napkin rings, then cut out all your turkey shapes first.
Work through each step together—gluing feathers, attaching turkey bodies, and securing everything to the rings. Let pieces dry completely before using them at your holiday table.
20 Clay Pumpkin Pot
Orange clay transforms into adorable mini pumpkins that toddlers love squishing and shaping. This hands-on project gives little fingers amazing sensory practice while creating something special.
Start with small clay balls and let your toddler pinch and poke to make shallow bowls. The squeezing motion builds hand strength naturally.
Use a pencil to press vertical lines around the pot for that classic pumpkin look. Your little artist creates both a fun activity and cute fall decoration for your home!
21 Turkey Coloring Sheets
Colorful turkey pictures turn into instant party decorations when your toddler grabs their crayons. These simple coloring sheets keep little hands busy while creating beautiful artwork for your walls.
Print out turkey outlines and watch your child bring them to life with bright feathers and bold colors. Each finished masterpiece becomes a proud display piece that shows off their creativity.
Add pumpkins, cornucopias, or fall leaves to the coloring collection for extra variety. Your toddler gets quiet creative time while you prep dinner, and everyone wins with gorgeous homemade decorations.
22 Paper Plate Turkeys
Your toddler gets to create their own colorful turkey using just a simple paper plate as the base. This craft gives them more independence than hand-print turkeys.
Give your child brown and orange paint to color the plate for the turkey’s body. They can glue feathers around the edge or draw them with crayons for the tail.
Add a small orange triangle for the beak and googly eyes to bring their turkey to life. Your little artist will beam with pride at their wobbly, wonderful creation.
23 Pine Cone Turkeys
Colorful feathers transform ordinary pinecones into adorable turkey decorations that toddlers love making. These charming crafts double as perfect table centerpieces for your Thanksgiving dinner.
Head outside with your little ones to collect pinecones from your yard or local park. The treasure hunt adds extra excitement to craft time.
Simply glue craft feathers, googly eyes, and orange paper beaks onto each pinecone. Your toddler can even write family names on small cards to create personalized place settings for guests.
24 Turkey Name Letters
Your toddler’s name becomes the star of this adorable turkey craft! Each letter in their name transforms into a colorful feather on their turkey’s tail.
Cut out feather shapes and write one letter per feather. Help your little one arrange the letters in the correct order to spell their name.
This activity builds letter recognition while creating a personalized Thanksgiving decoration. Double-check the letter order together before gluing everything down.
Your child gets excited seeing their own name displayed on their handmade turkey masterpiece!
25 Paper Hand Turkey
Your little one’s handprints become colorful feathers on this adorable turkey craft that doubles as a keepsake gift.
Trace your toddler’s hands on different colored construction paper to create the turkey’s tail feathers. Let them practice their cutting skills by snipping along the traced lines with safety scissors.
Glue the paper hands in a fan shape behind a brown turkey body. Add your child’s photo as the turkey’s face for an extra special touch that grandparents will treasure forever.
26 Turkey Letter Bin
Letter recognition becomes a delightful adventure when you fill a sensory bin with turkey-themed treasures. Your toddler discovers alphabet letters hidden among colorful feathers, mini turkey toys, and fall leaves.
This hands-on activity combines learning with play perfectly. Little fingers search through the bin, finding letters and naming them out loud.
The sensory experience keeps toddlers engaged while they practice important pre-reading skills. They’ll giggle as they hunt for letters alongside silly turkey friends in their special discovery bin.
27 Coffee Filter Turkey
Coffee filters transform into adorable turkeys with just a few simple supplies. The round shape makes a perfect turkey body that toddlers can easily handle.
Tie-dye effects work beautifully on coffee filters. Your little one can dab different colored markers or paints around the filter, then spray with water to watch the colors blend magically.
This craft works great for individual play or group activities. Each child creates their own unique turkey while developing fine motor skills and color recognition.
28 Turkey Cookie Assembly
Candy corn feathers make these turkey cookies absolutely adorable! Your toddler gets to practice following directions while building something they can actually eat.
Grab Oreos, candy corn, mini pretzels, and candy eyes for this tasty craft. Each cookie becomes a little turkey face that’s almost too cute to munch.
This activity works those tiny finger muscles as kids carefully place each piece. The multi-step process teaches patience and planning skills too.
The sweetest reward? Gobbling up their edible masterpiece when assembly time ends!
29 String Art Pumpkins
Your little ones create colorful masterpieces while building hand strength with this twist on traditional crafts.
Cut pumpkin shapes from orange paper plates. Punch holes around the edges and let your toddler thread yarn or string through each opening.
This activity strengthens those tiny finger muscles that help with writing later. The threading motion also improves hand-eye coordination naturally.
Watch as your child creates their own unique patterns. Some will make zigzags, others prefer swirls – every pumpkin becomes a special work of art!
30 Paper Plate Turkey
Colorful feathers make this paper plate turkey craft a toddler favorite! Your little one creates a stunning turkey by matching different colored materials to each feather section.
Give your toddler ripped construction paper, confetti, or small fabric pieces. They match colors and stick them onto the paper plate turkey’s feathers.
This craft keeps tiny hands busy while teaching color recognition. It’s perfect for rainy afternoons when you need an engaging indoor activity that combines creativity with learning.
31 3D Paper Turkey
3D turkeys come to life in your toddler’s hands with this exciting craft project. The dimensional aspect makes this activity extra special for little ones who love to touch and explore.
You can easily find free printables online that include fold lines and assembly instructions. Simply print, color, and help your toddler fold along the dotted lines.
Want to make it from scratch? Cut turkey body shapes from construction paper and create pop-up feathers by folding colorful paper strips accordion-style. Your toddler will beam with pride displaying their standing turkey creation.
32 Yarn Pumpkin Garland
Orange yarn transforms ordinary foam pumpkins into cozy fall decorations that tiny hands love creating. Your toddler wraps colorful yarn around small pumpkins, building important fine motor skills while making something beautiful.
Give each child a foam pumpkin and let them wind the yarn around it. The wrapping motion strengthens little fingers and improves hand coordination naturally.
Once they finish wrapping, string the yarn-covered pumpkins together to create a festive garland. Hang it on mantels, doorways, or around the dining room for instant autumn charm.
33 Creamer Bottle Pilgrims
Empty creamer bottles transform into adorable pilgrim figures in just minutes. This quick craft saves the day when you need something fast for busy toddlers.
Simply clean out your used coffee creamer containers and let kids decorate them with construction paper, markers, and glue. Add pilgrim hats, faces, and clothing details.
Keep a few bottles stored away for emergency craft time. When unexpected situations arise during Thanksgiving prep, you’ll have an instant activity ready to go.
34 Paper Turkey Bags
Transform simple paper bags into adorable turkey treats that kids can make and take home. These festive goodies double as both a fun craft activity and party favors.
Your toddlers cut, glue, and decorate brown paper bags to look like turkeys with colorful feathers. The process keeps little hands busy during party time.
Fill them with treasures like stickers, small candies, or tiny toys. Kids love having something special to carry their goodies home in after the celebration.
35 Paper Bag Turkeys
Brown paper bags transform into adorable turkey puppets that toddlers love to play with after crafting.
Grab a standard lunch bag and help your little one glue colorful construction paper feathers to the bottom flap. The puppet’s head goes on the flap that opens and closes.
Use patterned scissors to create textured feather edges that add visual interest. Your toddler can make the turkey "talk" by moving their hand inside the bag.
This craft doubles as both an art project and an interactive toy for Thanksgiving fun.
36 Turkey Headbands
Kids love wearing their colorful creations, and these turkey headbands deliver instant festive fun. Simply measure each toddler’s head to cut the perfect headband size from construction paper.
Set out multiple feather colors like red, orange, yellow, and brown so little ones can design their unique turkey tail. They’ll glue or tape feathers to the back of their headband.
Add a simple turkey face to the front, and watch your toddlers proudly strut around showing off their handmade Thanksgiving headwear!
37 Number Coloring Pages
Grab-and-go coloring saves your sanity during busy Thanksgiving prep. These numbered pages keep little hands busy while you focus on cooking or cleaning.
Your toddler picks their favorite crayons and follows the simple number system. Each number matches a specific color, making it easy for them to create beautiful Thanksgiving pictures.
Zero prep time means you can hand these out whenever you need a quiet activity. Kids feel proud completing their colorful turkeys, pumpkins, or pilgrim hats independently.
38 Turkey Brownie Treats
Transform regular brownies into adorable Thanksgiving turkeys that toddlers will love making and eating.
Give each child a frosted brownie as their canvas. They can press candy corn around the top edge to create colorful tail feathers.
Add googly eyes or white chocolate chips for the turkey’s face. Let little hands squeeze dots of orange frosting to make the beak and wattle.
These edible crafts keep tiny fingers busy while creating a festive dessert everyone can enjoy together.
39 Pinecone Sensory Bin
Natural textures meet festive fun in this simple sensory exploration that doubles as beautiful decoration.
Fill a shallow bin with pinecones, acorns, and colorful fall leaves you’ve collected together. Add small scoops, tongs, or measuring cups for extra play value.
Your toddler explores different textures while practicing fine motor skills. The earthy scents and bumpy surfaces engage their senses naturally.
Best part? When playtime ends, this bin becomes instant autumn decor for your Thanksgiving table.
40 Turkey Paper Craft
Colorful feathers and silly faces make this turkey craft a toddler favorite! Print a simple turkey outline and let your little artist go wild with crayons, markers, or paint.
Your toddler can scribble freely or create detailed patterns—there’s no wrong way to decorate. Add the finished turkey to construction paper for a sturdy display piece.
This craft works perfectly for different skill levels. Encourage creativity by asking what colors their turkey wants to wear today!
41 Feather Turkey Art
Colorful feathers transform a simple turkey drawing into an amazing textured masterpiece. Your toddler gets to explore different colors while creating something truly special.
This craft lets little hands practice fine motor skills as they glue each feather in place. The soft texture feels wonderful to touch too.
Use bright autumn colors like orange, red, yellow, and brown for the most beautiful turkey. Your child can arrange the feathers however they want – there’s no wrong way to be creative!
