40 Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids to Really Show Their Thanks

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We’re all about being hands-on around here! I’m thankful for all of the available options. I have rounded up 40 Thanksgiving crafts for kids of all ages to show thanks. You’re welcome!

Of course, I want my kids to be thankful and grateful all year round. But that doesn’t always happen. The Thanksgiving table is a great reminder for me to be intentional about teaching gratefulness and thankfulness.

And what better way to teach than with fun crafts and activities?

Speaking of the Thanksgiving table… how can I occupy my child for Thanksgiving? These day of thanksgiving activities are the secret sauce.

Let’s get out the ribbons, beads, googly eyes and go on a hunt for some pine cones and have plenty of fun making these DIY Thanksgiving crafts with the kids this Fall.

Download our list of Thankful Conversation Starters

Thanksgiving crafts for kids to show thankfulness

Thanksgiving Turkey Crafts for Kids

I love how there are so many ways to show thanks with the same topic–turkeys! Perfect for Thanksgiving!

Grab some basic household supplies and try one of these thankful turkey crafts (if you want more, check out our post on just turkey crafts here).

The hardest part may be choosing which one you want to do. If you are anything like me, you won’t be able to choose just one of these Thanksgiving crafts! Gobble, gobble, gobble!

This paper cup turkey from First Palette can be made with the cup facing up or down. It can even be turned into a little turkey basket. So many choices!
A turkey stuffed with a sweet treat? Yes, please. Fill this jar turkey found on Toddler Approved with some candy of your choice to add to the table for Thanksgiving. Yum!
Try this scrunched up paper bag turkey found on Primary Theme Park. Who knew that a paper bag could end up being so adorable?
Circle body and rectangle legs and triangle nose, oh my! Practice your shapes with this round turkey found on Director Jewels.
This thankful turkey found on Busy Toddler reminds me of a giant peanut. The large size is perfect for little ones! Hang it on the wall and add a feather each day leading up to Thanksgiving.
Even when there is a shortage of toilet paper, there seems to be a surplus of toilet paper rolls (at least in my house)! Try this toilet paper roll turkey from The Best Ideas for Kids with just a few basic household supplies.
Replace tissues with your list of thanks in this box turkey as seen on Living Well Mom. Add to the box each night leading up to Thanksgiving, and then enjoy reading them all on Thanksgiving. A great family activity!
This turkey book as seen on B-Inspired Mama would make a cute keepsake. Something to hold on to and read on days when you need a reminder of all the things you are grateful for!
This pop-up turkey book found on Arts & Crackers has a little surprise in the middle. A turkey!
Use a free template to create this simple turkey story window found on Buggy and Buddy. Pull on the tab to share your story with others.
Gather the whole family together to make these handprint turkeys as seen on School Time Snippets. What is your family thankful for this year?
Even though the plate, cutlery, and turkey on these turkey placemats from Mama’s Happy Hive are pretend, the list of things to be thankful for are very real. Give thanks!

Thankful Trees and Wreath Crafts

One of my favorite things about fall is the beautiful colors of the leaves. Different shades of red, orange, yellow, and green. It’s just breathtaking! And they make gorgeous Thanksgiving crafts for the kids to make.

These trees and wreaths are a perfect way to show thanks and bring the beautiful fall colors indoors, which makes me feel a little better when we get snow on Thanksgiving!

thankful tree and wreath crafts for kids

This 3D thankful tree found on Twitchetts may require a crafty adult to create. But, once it is assembled, little ones can fill the tree with leaves of thanks. A beautiful decoration for Thanksgiving!
If you are looking for something simple, try this thankful tree seen on Hands On As We Grow. Only basic supplies are needed. Watch the tree grow as you add leaves of thanks to it!
This painted thankful tree found on Frugal Fun 4 Boys is so beautiful, you can frame it. A great reminder of what you are thankful for throughout the entire year!
Little ones don’t stay little forever. Create this handprint thankful tree as seen on Lady of the House as a keepsake. It’s okay if the craft doesn’t turn out Pinworthy. A great reminder to be thankful for the time you have with your little ones now.
If you would prefer to not paint a handprint, try this handprint thankful tree found on Fun Handprint Art Blog. No paint required! Just grab some construction paper, scissors, glue, and a writing utensil.
Use a free template to create the leaves for this thankful wreath found on Hands On As We Grow. There are two leaf options to choose from–simple ones for little hands and more detailed ones for older kids. Great fine motor practice!
Instead of a wreath filled with leaves, try this handprint wreath found on Coffee with Us 3. I love the different layers of this thankful wreath.
Pin the leaves of thanks on this foam wreath as seen on Midwestern Mama. I’m not sure how well it would turn out if done blindfolded!
For additional fine motor practice, try this clothespin thankful wreath found on Chica and Jo. It can be as fancy or simple as you would like!

Get Started with Thankful Conversation Starters

thankful card kid crafts for thanksgiving

Simple Thank You Cards as Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids

Show your gratitude by sending a thank you card to someone. Here are just a few simple crafty ideas to get you started! Who will you send a card to first?

Watch the words appear like magic with these crayon resist cards found on Mummy 2 Twindividuals.
These rainbow thank you cards seen on Meaningful Mama are simple and colorful. If you don’t have a thank you stamp, simply write the words Thank You on the front.
If you have been around here for a while, you know we always have painter’s tape on hand! Perfect for this tape resist card found on Just Measuring Up. One tip is to peel the tape when it has just started to dry, but isn’t completely dry. Kind of like Goldilocks and the Three Bears–too dry, too wet, and just right. You don’t want to tear the paper with the tape!
Stick with the Thanksgiving theme with this handprint turkey card as seen on Mom Trusted. I love the little bow on the front of the turkey. Isn’t it cute?
Try these fingerprint cards found on The Mad House. Instead of creating little monsters, try making the fingerprints into turkeys or other creatures. You could even spell out words using fingerprints. Have fun and be creative!
Of course, you can send cards in the mail to family and friends, but you can also make thank you cards for people in your own house. Create these DIY mailboxes as seen on Hands On As We Grow and fill them with notes of thanks. Like stockings on Christmas, open mailboxes on Thanksgiving!

thankful crafts and activities for kids on thanksgiving

More Ways Kids Can Show Thanks with Thanksgiving Crafts & Activities

Are you looking for even more ideas to show thanks and gratitude this Thanksgiving? Make sure to check out these fun ideas!

Decorate your wall with this colorful garland of thanks as seen on CBC Parents. If finding large leaves in November to use as stamps is not possible where you live, your little ones could paint “leaves” directly on to white paper. Then, continue following the rest of the directions.
This grateful heart found on Love Your Littles is adorable. I love how you can see inside of them! Let little ones draw pictures of what they are thankful for on small paper hearts to stuff inside.
Use some clay to create these gratitude leaf ornaments as seen on Rhythms of Play. The marbled look is gorgeous and reminds me of this marbled sensory art activity.
These gratitude pumpkins found on The Joys of Boys can be made with just a few basic supplies–construction paper, toilet paper roll, tape, and markers. (Pumpkin crafts aren’t only for Halloween!)
Are you looking for something REALLY simple? Create a gratitude wall like the one seen on What Do We Do All Day. I’d recommend hanging the cards on the wall using painter’s tape. You remember how much we love that stuff around here, right?
This thankful chain found on Hands On As We Grow is another simple project to do with little ones. Cut some strips of construction paper, write or draw what you are thankful for, staple or tape the strips together, and hang on the ceiling. That’s it!
Create a thankful pie wheel like the one found on Natural Beach Living. Letter stickers provide great fine motor skills practice for little ones. But, if you don’t have stickers, you could simply write the words on the pie.
Not all pumpkin pie is created equal! Here is another thankful pumpkin pie wheel found on Kaplan that you could try. This one has whipped topping around the edges instead of a dollop in the middle. Which do you prefer?
Instead of labeling leaves, label petals of thanks with this thankful flower sun catcher found on the OT Toolbox. The stems look like they sparkle in the sunlight.
Teach gratitude with these Thanksgiving conversation starters seen on Hands On As We Grow. (Try these DIY tint glass mason jars to hold the conversation starters for a lovely centerpiece to spark conversations around the table!)
Decorate a thankful jar like the one on Buggy and Buddy with tissue paper. This jar could also be used for conversation starters (link in the previous bullet point) if desired.
Entertain the kids with a thankful table banner like the one found on Art Bar Blog. Even adults can join in the fun and color!
These gratitude stones found on Fireflies and Mudpies are a great reminder to be grateful for the little things. If you don’t have tissue paper, try painting your own gratitude rocks. Is there someone you can share a gratitude stone with to brighten their day?

Simple, yet fun and creative Thanksgiving crafts for kids with turkey crafts, thank you cards, fall trees and wreaths to make on Thanksgiving! Plus extra activities for kids to show how grateful they are.

More Thanksgiving type crafts for you to check out:

We have created a download of easy conversation starters around being thankful that you can use anytime or during the month of November to express gratitude with your family. Maybe use these at the dinner table, or in the morning when you wake up!