27 Easy Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers That Kids Will Love
Keeping your toddler happy and entertained during Thanksgiving prep doesn’t have to mean endless screen time or chaotic meltdowns.
You need simple, mess-friendly activities that actually hold their attention while you tackle your holiday to-do list.
These 27 adorable Thanksgiving crafts turn everyday supplies like toilet paper rolls, handprints, and coffee filters into precious keepsakes your little one will love making.
Get ready to discover easy turkey crafts, gratitude activities, and festive projects that will keep those tiny hands busy and create memories you’ll treasure forever!
Must-Have Items
1 Turkey Headband
Your toddler transforms into a colorful turkey with this adorable headband that sparks their curiosity about Thanksgiving animals. The craft comes with a ready-to-print template that makes assembly quick and stress-free.
Once you cut out the pieces, your little one takes charge of the decorating fun. They can add their own creative touches with crayons, markers, or stickers.
The simple assembly requires just basic supplies like glue sticks and scissors. Your toddler will proudly wear their handmade creation while learning about turkeys and Thanksgiving traditions.
2 Handprint Turkey Chart
Your toddler traces their hand on brown cardstock to create adorable turkey bodies for this gratitude display. Each finger becomes a colorful feather where they can write or draw things they’re thankful for.
Set up a poster board in their room and attach the handprint turkeys throughout November. Your little one adds new grateful thoughts each day, filling up those turkey feathers.
This craft combines thankfulness practice with fine motor skills. Plus, you’ll have a sweet keepsake showing what mattered most to your toddler this Thanksgiving season.
3 Paper Pilgrim Hats
Your toddler transforms into a Pilgrim storyteller with this simple paper hat craft. The black hat with its signature buckle brings history to life during story time.
Download and print the template, then let your little one color and decorate it however they want. Some kids love traditional black and white, while others prefer rainbow buckles!
This hands-on prop makes Thanksgiving stories more engaging. Your toddler stays focused longer when they can wear their creation while learning about the Pilgrims.
4 Handprint Gratitude Tree
Your toddler’s handprints become colorful leaves on a beautiful gratitude tree that teaches thankfulness while creating lasting memories.
Grab white canvas or thick cardstock as your base. Paint your child’s hands in warm fall colors like orange, red, and yellow, then press them around a simple brown tree trunk you’ve drawn.
Write what your family feels grateful for on each handprint leaf. Your toddler can dictate while you write their thoughts.
This meaningful craft doubles as gorgeous fall decor that reminds everyone of life’s blessings every time they see it.
5 Photo Thankful Tree
Real photos make gratitude come alive for little ones who think in pictures, not just words.
Print family snapshots, pet photos, and favorite memories that make your toddler smile. Size them small enough to hang easily.
Use colorful clothespins to attach each photo to bare tree branches. Your child can touch and see exactly what they’re thankful for.
This hands-on approach helps toddlers connect feelings with faces and moments they love most.
6 Fall Leaf Globe
Colorful autumn leaves swirl like magic inside this enchanting homemade globe. Your toddler gets to create their own miniature fall wonderland that captures the season’s beauty.
Start by gathering faux fall leaves and small twigs from your yard. Help your little one arrange these treasures inside a clean mason jar with water and a drop of glycerin.
Screw the lid on tight and let your toddler shake away! Watch their eyes light up as golden and red leaves dance around like they’re falling from tiny trees.
7 Paper Roll Turkey
Your little one transforms an ordinary toilet paper roll into a colorful turkey with just a few simple materials. This craft takes less than 15 minutes and creates an adorable Thanksgiving decoration.
Cut feather shapes from orange, red, and yellow cardstock while your toddler watches. Let them help glue the feathers to the back of the roll.
Your toddler can practice their cutting skills by helping with the turkey’s face pieces. Guide their hands as they cut out eyes, a beak, and that wobbly red wattle.
The finished turkey stands perfectly on a table and makes your toddler beam with pride!
8 Paper Strip Pumpkin
Your toddler creates a stunning 3D pumpkin using just paper strips and basic supplies. This elegant-looking craft is surprisingly simple for little hands to master.
Cut orange cardstock into eight long strips about one inch wide. Help your child bend each strip into a circle, then staple or glue the ends together.
Stack and arrange the circular strips to form a pumpkin shape. Your toddler will beam with pride at their beautiful creation that’s ready in just 15 minutes!
9 Pinecone Turkey Craft
Your little one will love transforming pinecones into adorable turkeys! These natural treasures already look like turkey bodies with their brown, layered texture.
Let your toddler go wild with colorful feathers – they can stick as many as they want to the back of the pinecone. Kids absolutely love the soft, tickly feeling of feathers between their fingers.
You can paint the pinecones if you want, but their natural brown color works perfectly. Add googly eyes and an orange beak to complete your festive turkey friend.
10 Turkey Paper Headband
Print and play – this turkey headband delivers instant Thanksgiving fun with zero prep stress.
The downloadable template makes assembly a breeze. You simply print the pieces and help your toddler put them together.
Your little one will giggle with delight wearing their paper turkey companion. The headband sits comfortably while adding festive flair to any Thanksgiving celebration.
This craft wraps up your holiday activities perfectly, giving toddlers a wearable keepsake they’ll proudly show off to family and friends.
11 Paper Turkey Craft
Colorful tissue paper creates the perfect fluffy feathers for this adorable turkey craft. Your toddler gets to tear and crumple tiny paper pieces, which builds their fine motor skills.
Start by cutting tissue paper into small bits together. Your little one can practice their pincer grasp while picking up each piece.
The messy gluing fun comes next! They’ll stick colorful paper onto a turkey template, creating textured feathers. Keep wet wipes handy for sticky fingers.
This craft keeps toddlers busy for 20-30 minutes while they focus on placing each paper piece just right.
12 Turkey Headbands
Your little ones transform into colorful turkeys with these playful headbands that spark hours of imaginative play. Watch them strut around the yard, gobbling and flapping their arms in delight.
Create textured feathers using construction paper, felt, or even real leaves for amazing depth. Make the orange beak extra long so it dangles perfectly over their forehead.
Add googly eyes with a slight squint to give your turkey personality. The bigger and more crooked, the sillier it looks!
These headbands work perfectly for Thanksgiving dinner entertainment or backyard adventures where toddlers become the stars of their own turkey parade.
13 Turkey Glitter Jar
Glittery turkey magic swirls and settles in this mesmerizing sensory jar that keeps little hands busy for hours.
Grab any old jar or mason jar you have around the house. Fill it with orange and brown glitter, small feathers, and clear corn syrup or glue mixed with water.
Add a few turkey-themed stickers to the outside. When toddlers shake it, the sparkly turkey bits dance and float like autumn leaves falling.
This craft doubles as a perfect calm-down tool when little ones need a quiet moment during busy holiday gatherings.
14 Apple Pumpkin Stamps
Cut an apple in half and watch your toddler create perfect pumpkin shapes with every stamp. The natural ridges on the apple make ideal pumpkin lines when dipped in orange paint.
Set up your workspace with newspaper and paper towels nearby. Toddlers love getting messy with paint, so preparation saves cleanup time later.
Let your little one press the apple halves onto paper repeatedly. They’ll giggle as simple fruit transforms into adorable autumn decorations for your Thanksgiving display.
15 Handprint Turkey Craft
Your toddler’s tiny handprints become colorful turkey feathers in this adorable craft that takes just minutes to make.
Grab some construction paper and help your little one trace their hand. Cut out the handprint shape together—this becomes the turkey’s beautiful tail feathers.
Add a simple turkey body to the front of the handprint. Let your toddler decorate the feathers with crayons, stickers, or glitter for extra sparkle.
This craft works perfectly when you need a quick activity that keeps little hands busy while creating a sweet Thanksgiving keepsake.
16 Thanksgiving Coloring Sheets
Coloring pages bring instant calm to busy toddlers during holiday prep time. Your little ones can sit quietly with crayons while you handle kitchen duties.
These Thanksgiving-themed sheets feature turkeys, pumpkins, and pilgrims that toddlers love. Download free templates online and print them at home for an easy activity.
Set up a cozy coloring station with washable crayons and maybe some crackers. This keeps toddlers happily occupied for 30-45 minutes while building their fine motor skills.
17 Coffee Filter Turkey
Colorful coffee filters transform into adorable turkeys that toddlers absolutely love making. This mess-friendly craft keeps little hands busy while creating something they’ll proudly display.
Gather coffee filters, markers, and googly eyes from your craft stash. Spread paper towels on your work surface first—things get wonderfully messy!
Let your toddler color the filters with washable markers, then lightly spray with water. Watch their eyes light up as colors blend and spread like magic into beautiful turkey feathers.
18 Coffee Filter Turkey
Coffee filters transform into gorgeous turkey feathers that shimmer and shine! This simple craft takes just 30 minutes and creates stunning results.
You only need coffee filters, wooden clothespins, and basic coloring supplies. Your toddler colors the filters, you help scrunch them into feather shapes, then clip everything together.
The finished turkey looks amazing displayed on tables or windows. Plus, little hands love watching plain filters become beautiful art!
19 Painted Turkey Rocks
Smooth, medium-sized rocks transform into adorable turkey decorations with just a few paint strokes. Your toddler will love turning ordinary stones into colorful Thanksgiving treasures.
Make rock hunting part of the fun! Search your yard or local park for rocks that feel smooth and fit perfectly in little hands.
Set up paints in fall colors like orange, red, and brown. Let your toddler create simple turkey faces with dots and lines – no artistic skills required, just pure creative joy.
20 Paper Turkey Craft
Bright colored paper transforms into an adorable turkey that toddlers absolutely love making. This simple craft teaches colors while creating something special for your Thanksgiving table.
You probably have everything needed already: construction paper, scissors, glue, and crayons. Cut simple shapes like circles and triangles, then let your little one arrange them into their turkey masterpiece.
Googly eyes make this craft extra fun and give your turkey personality. Your toddler can practice gluing, color recognition, and creativity all in one project.
21 Leaf Twig Wreath
Fresh air and dirty hands make this wreath project irresistible to little ones. Your toddler gets to hunt for the perfect leaves and twigs while exploring outdoors.
After the fun foraging adventure, you both sit down to create something beautiful together. Simply arrange the collected treasures into a circular wreath shape.
This handmade decoration looks amazing hanging on your child’s bedroom door. It’s a wonderful way to bring those special outdoor memories inside your home.
22 Paper Bag Turkey
Your brown paper bags transform into adorable turkey decorations with just a few simple cuts and colorful paper pieces.
Start by flattening one paper bag completely. Cut feather shapes from bright construction paper like red, orange, and yellow.
Glue the colorful feathers along the top edge of the bag. Add googly eyes, a triangle beak, and a red wattle underneath.
Your toddler can stuff the bag with newspaper to make it stand up, creating a perfect Thanksgiving centerpiece they’ll proudly show off.
23 Potato Turkey Stamps
Cut a potato in half and you instantly have the perfect turkey body stamp for your toddler’s Thanksgiving masterpiece.
The flat potato surface holds paint beautifully and creates consistent prints every time. Your little one can dip it in brown paint and stamp away on paper.
Add colorful feather handprints around each potato stamp to complete the turkey. This simple craft keeps toddlers engaged while creating adorable keepsakes you’ll treasure for years.
24 Corn Cob Craft
Your craft supplies already have everything needed for this adorable corn project! This quick activity takes just minutes and creates a cute fall decoration.
Print the free template and let your toddler glue yellow paper pieces onto the corn shape. The simple cutting and pasting keeps little hands busy while building fine motor skills.
Googly eyes make this craft extra special! Swap out the paper eyes from the template for wiggly ones, and watch your toddler giggle at their silly corn creation.
25 Handprint Turkey Art
Your toddler’s tiny handprint transforms into an adorable turkey with just a few simple steps. This classic craft brings back childhood memories while creating new ones.
Paint each finger a different fall color like orange, red, and yellow. Press the painted hand firmly onto white paper to create the turkey’s feathers.
Once dry, add googly eyes, an orange triangle beak, and a red wattle. Your little one will beam with pride at their colorful creation!
26 Toilet Paper Turkey
Colorful handprints transform ordinary toilet paper rolls into adorable turkey friends! Your toddler will giggle with excitement as they create these festive decorations.
Grab empty toilet paper rolls and set up washable paints in fall colors like red, orange, and yellow. Let your little one paint their hand and press it around the roll to make turkey feathers.
Add googly eyes and an orange triangle beak with glue. These chunky turkeys are perfect for tiny hands to hold and display proudly on your Thanksgiving table.
27 Toilet Paper Turkey
Your toddler gets a stylish turkey friend with this adorable toilet paper roll craft! This isn’t your ordinary turkey – it comes with a fancy black hat that makes it extra special.
The sparkly gold band around the hat adds the perfect finishing touch. Your little one can display this turkey proudly or use it as a fun toy.
This craft gives toddlers a chance to practice decorating skills while creating something they’ll actually want to keep and play with long after Thanksgiving ends.
