Amazing Fun Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers: Easy & Festive

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Thanksgiving is a wonderful time for family, food, and of course, some super fun crafts! If you've got toddlers running around, you know keeping them entertained can be a bit of a challenge, especially while you're trying to get that turkey in the oven. But fear not! I've got you covered with a treasure trove of easy peasy, totally adorable, and engaging "fun thanksgiving crafts for toddlers". We're talking about projects that are not just about cutting and sticking, they're about sparking joy and creating memories. From adorable turkey creations that even the littlest hands can manage, to sensory experiences that will have them giggling, this article is your go-to guide. We'll be exploring crafts that embrace the spirit of Thanksgiving, some with a feathery twist, others that are delightfully messy, and even a few that venture beyond the traditional turkey theme. So, grab your glue sticks, gather your little helpers, and let's make this Thanksgiving a crafting extravaganza!

Easy Peasy Thanksgiving Crafts for Little Hands

Handprint Turkeys: A Classic for a Reason

Let's start with a classic, shall we? Handprint turkeys are like the peanut butter and jelly of toddler crafts – simple, satisfying, and always a hit. You just need some paint, paper, and those adorable little hands. I remember when my niece made her first one, she was so proud of her colorful hand turned turkey. It's a great way to capture their tiny handprints before they grow too big. Plus, it's a great introduction to colors and shapes for the little ones. Don't worry about perfection, the mess is half the fun!

To make it even more engaging, try using different colors for each finger. You can also add googly eyes and a construction paper beak to really bring your turkey to life. And for a personal touch, you can write the child’s name and the date on the back. They'll love seeing their art displayed each year.

Paper Plate Pumpkins: Round and Ready to Decorate

Next up, we have paper plate pumpkins! These are super easy to make and can be customized in a million different ways. Grab some orange paint (or crayons, or markers), and let your toddler go wild decorating. They can add glitter, stickers, or even little pieces of colored paper to create their own unique pumpkin. It's a fantastic way to encourage creativity and fine motor skills. Trust me, they will be so proud showing off their pumpkin.

Once they're done decorating, you can cut out little green stems from construction paper and stick them to the top. You can even punch holes around the edges and use yarn to add a bit of a texture. These pumpkins are perfect for decorating the fridge or even making a cute little banner. They are also a great way to use up some of those extra paper plates you have lying around.

Leaf Rubbings: Bringing the Outdoors In

For a craft that combines nature and art, try leaf rubbings! This is such a simple but effective idea. Go on a little nature walk with your toddler and gather some fallen leaves. Then, place the leaves under a piece of paper and rub over them with crayons. The patterns and textures of the leaves will magically appear on the paper. It’s like magic for toddlers, and it introduces them to the beautiful details of nature.

You can use different colored crayons to create a vibrant display of fall colors. Once you are done with the rubbings, you could cut them out and glue them onto a large piece of paper to make a fall collage. It's a great way to bring the beauty of the outdoors inside and it's a craft that can be easily adapted for different ages and abilities. Plus, it is super easy to clean up, which is always a win!

Turkey Time: Fun Thanksgiving Crafts with a Feathered Twist

Paper Plate Turkey with Real Feathers

Okay, let's get serious about turkeys! But in a fun way, of course. We’re moving past just handprints and getting a little more feathery. A paper plate turkey is a classic, but we're going to kick it up a notch by adding real feathers. Yes, you heard right, real feathers! You can find bags of craft feathers at most stores, and they add an awesome texture to your turkey. It's like giving it a little bit of a stylish makeover. My little one was absolutely fascinated by the different textures and colors of the feathers. It was like a sensory explosion!

To create this masterpiece, simply paint a paper plate brown or whatever color you fancy. Once it's dry, let your toddler glue on the feathers around the edge to make the turkey's tail. Add some googly eyes and a construction paper beak, and there you have it – a super cute and feathery friend! Don't be surprised if your toddler starts talking to it. It happens!

Toilet Paper Roll Turkeys: Recycled and Ready for Fun

Now, let's talk about toilet paper rolls. Yes, those humble cardboard tubes can be transformed into the most adorable little turkeys! This is a great way to reuse materials and teach your toddler a little bit about recycling. I love how simple this craft is, and yet, how charming the final product can be. It just shows that you do not need fancy things to have fun. It's all about the imagination.

To make these turkeys, paint the toilet paper rolls brown or any color you want. Then, cut out some feather shapes from colorful construction paper and glue them around the top of the roll to make the turkey's tail. Stick on some googly eyes and a paper beak, and voila! You've got yourself a whole flock of recycled turkeys. They are perfect for little hands to play with, and they make a great addition to your Thanksgiving decorations. My little one likes to line them up on the windowsill like a little parade.

Sensory Thanksgiving Fun: Messy and Engaging Crafts

Corn Kernel Sensory Bin: A Harvest of Fun

Let's get messy, shall we? Toddlers love to explore with their hands, and a sensory bin is the perfect way to do just that. For a Thanksgiving twist, try filling a bin with dried corn kernels. It's like bringing the farm to your living room! My little one was obsessed with scooping and pouring the kernels. It's amazing how something so simple can provide so much entertainment. Plus, it’s a great way to work on those fine motor skills without them even realizing it.

Add some scoops, small cups, and toy animals to the bin to encourage even more imaginative play. You can also hide small Thanksgiving-themed objects in the kernels for them to find. Think mini pumpkins, toy turkeys, or colorful leaves. It's like a treasure hunt in a bin! And the best part? It's easy to set up and even easier to clean up – just sweep those kernels back into the bin when playtime is over.

Shaving Cream Pie Painting: A Swirly Delight

Okay, this one is messy, but oh-so-fun! Grab some shaving cream (the foamy kind, not the gel) and spread it out on a tray or a large piece of paper. Then, add a few drops of different colored food coloring and let your toddler swirl and mix to their heart's content. It's like creating a mini art masterpiece, but with their hands. It's a fantastic sensory experience, and the different colors merging together is just mesmerizing. Just make sure to put down some newspaper or plastic to protect your surfaces.

You can even use a pie tin to make it feel like they are creating their own little pie art. Once they're done, you can place a piece of paper over the shaving cream to create a print. It’s like magic! The colors will transfer onto the paper, creating a unique piece of art. It's a great way to explore colors and textures, and it’s a fantastic activity for a rainy day or a lazy afternoon. Just be prepared for some giggles and some sticky fingers!

Playdough Turkeys: Squishy and Creative Fun

Finally, let’s talk about playdough! It’s a classic for a reason. It's a fantastic tool for sensory exploration and creativity. You can make your own playdough at home or buy some from the store. Then, roll it out and let your toddler use cookie cutters to create turkey shapes. Add some googly eyes, small feathers, or even bits of pipe cleaners to make the turkeys even more fun. I love watching my little one squish and roll the playdough, it’s so therapeutic!

You can also use the playdough to create other Thanksgiving-themed items, like pumpkins or leaves. You can even add some spices like cinnamon or cloves to the playdough to make it smell like fall. It's a great way to engage their senses and spark their imagination. And the best part? Playdough is reusable, so the fun can last for days. It's also a great way to work on fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination without them even realizing they're learning.

More Fun Thanksgiving Crafts: Beyond the Turkey

Thankful Tree: A Branch of Gratitude

Let's step away from the turkeys for a bit and focus on what Thanksgiving is all about: gratitude! A thankful tree is a beautiful way to get your toddlers involved in expressing what they're thankful for. It's not just about the pretty leaves; it's about teaching them to appreciate the good things in their lives. You can start with a simple branch from your backyard, stick it in a vase, and then cut out some leaf shapes from colored paper. The kids can decorate the leaves and then write or draw what they are thankful for on each one. I did this last year with my little niece, and she loved the idea of having her own special tree full of good things.

Even if they're too young to write, they can draw pictures or you can write what they say for them. It’s a great way to start conversations about thankfulness and it adds a personal touch to your Thanksgiving decorations. It's also a fun activity that can be done all month long, adding more leaves as the days go by. You can even make it a family tradition to bring out the thankful tree every year. It's a simple but powerful way to teach the importance of gratitude.

Beaded Corn: A Colorful Harvest

Okay, let's talk about corn! Not the edible kind (although, that's pretty great too), but the beaded variety. This is a great craft for working on those fine motor skills, and it's also super colorful and fun. You'll need some pipe cleaners and some colorful beads. Simply show your toddler how to thread the beads onto the pipe cleaners and then bend the pipe cleaner into a corn shape. My nephew was so focused when he was making these, it was like he was doing brain surgery! It's amazing how such a simple activity can engage them so much.

You can use different colors to create a vibrant and unique corn cob. Once they're done, you can use them to decorate your Thanksgiving table or even hang them as ornaments. They also make great little gifts for family and friends. And the best part is, it's a craft that's simple enough for toddlers to do but still engaging enough for older kids to enjoy as well.

Crayon Resist Fall Leaves: A Hidden Surprise

Let's add a bit of magic to our crafting with crayon resist fall leaves! This craft is super fun because it involves a bit of a surprise element. Start by drawing leaf shapes on white paper with a white crayon. Yes, white on white! It’s like a secret message. Then, let your toddler paint over the paper with watercolors. The wax from the crayon will resist the paint, and the leaf shapes will magically appear! I remember my daughter's face when she saw the leaves popping up, it was priceless! It's a great way to introduce them to a bit of science while creating something beautiful.

You can use different colors of paint to create a vibrant and colorful display. Once they're dry, you can cut out the leaves and use them to decorate your home. They look especially beautiful when hung up near a window where the light can shine through. It’s a craft that’s both engaging and visually stunning, and it's a great way to use up some of those old crayons. Plus, it's a great way to teach them about the concept of resist art.

Pumpkin Stamps: A Bouncy Way to Create

Finally, let's get a little bouncy with pumpkin stamps! This is a super easy and fun craft that uses a simple household item: apples! Cut an apple in half, and you have yourself a perfect pumpkin stamp. Let your toddler dip the cut side of the apple into some orange paint and then stamp it onto paper. It’s like creating a whole pumpkin patch right in your living room! My son loved stamping the apples onto the paper, he was giggling the whole time. It’s a great way to introduce them to the concept of patterns and repetition.

You can also use different colors of paint to create different colored pumpkins. Once they're done stamping, you can add little details like stems and faces with markers. You can also use the stamps to create a repeating pattern or even to decorate a piece of fabric. It's a simple but effective way to create some adorable Thanksgiving-themed art. And the best part? It’s a great way to use up any apples that are a little past their prime, making it a resourceful and fun activity.