How to Make Handmade Thanksgiving Crafts With Kids

Thanksgiving crafts can be fun for kids of all ages.

Encourage children to become involved in the holidays is a great way to get them involved in learning about them as well. Kids love to do arts and crafts projects. These projects can be used as decorations around the home or classroom, and can be kept as momentos for years to come. The crafts can be kept very simple for very young children or more elaborate for older children.

Things You'll Need

• Paints of all colors
• Googly eyes
• Feathers
• Paper towels
• 4 by 18 black paper
• 12 by 12 black paper
• Yellow paper
• Glove

Instructions

1. Clean off a table for use while crafting. Line the table with a disposable or vinyl tablecloth that can be washed off tossed out if ruined. Keep paper towels handy for emergency cleanups. Make sure all supplies are laid out that you will need. Once your station is ready, you are ready to begin.

2. Cover children with an old shirt to keep them from getting paint on their clothes. You may want to consider covering their laps as well.

3. Make a handprint turkey. This is great for young children and can serve as a souvenir for parents. Paint the inside of the child's hand, including the fingers. Have him put his hand down flat on a piece of paper and press down. When he lifts his hand, he should have a handprint. Now, with the googly eyes, turn the thumb into the turkey's head, and the fingers are the feathers. Craft store feathers work great on this project also.

4. Create a fun and authentic pilgrim hat that can be worn during Thanksgiving. Take a 4 by 18 peice of black paper and curl it together to form a tube. Tape it to hold it in place. Cut a 3-inch ring out of the 12 by 12 piece of black paper. This will serve as the brim of the hat. Place the tube on top of the ring so they line up. Tape them together. Cut a buckle shape out of the yellow piece of paper and tape it to the front of the hat.

5. Make a turkey puppet out of a glove. Color the palm of the glove brown and color each finger a different color. The thumb will serve as the turkey's head, so add a googly eye to your thumb. Remember to add the gizzard of the turkey with red paper or cloth. This will be a small piece of paper that hangs off the thumb or the turkey's head.