Thanksgiving is almost here! It’s the holiday that marks the beginning of the holiday season and fills everyone with cheer. While a lavish spread of delicious food is one of the most important things that comes to mind when you hear “Thanksgiving”, there are other ways to make this holiday a fun one! You know what it also means – it’s time to bring the whole family together and celebrate everything there is to be thankful for! In the rush of preparing an unforgettable feast for your near and dear ones, we often end up neglecting our little ones. Food is definitely exciting for the adults, but when it comes to the kids, they are more attracted to fun games and activities. This is where involving your kids in do-it-yourself craft activities is a great way to keep them engaged. These activities would also keep them busy and entertained while you’re working on the cooking job. So, here are nine easy craft ideas that your kids can try this Thanksgiving:
1. Paper Snack Cones
Super easy and useful, paper snack cones are simple to make. Give your kids a pair of scissors and some wrapping paper that is Thanksgiving-themed. Now all they have to do is cut long cone shapes and tie them with a string. If you have some decorative strings and tape, now is the time to use them! That’s it! You have a beautiful paper snack cone that you can fill with some cheese crackers while your kids wait for the mouth-watering Thanksgiving spread!
2. Decorative Menu
Everyone knows that there’s going to be an elaborate spread for Thanksgiving. Why not ask your kids to list the dishes on craft paper and decorate them to make a Thanksgiving menu? It keeps the kids busy while you’re cooking the dishes, and it teaches them the names of all the items they will be enjoying later in the day. They can also get creative by adding some mystery to the menu by naming it “surprise dish”.
3. Thanksgiving-Themed Cross-Stitch
A cross-stitch project seems like the perfect fit for all the ones in your family with gifted hands! The best part about it is that even the older family members like grandparents, uncles, and aunts can partake in this activity. Collect a few items that showcase the theme of Thanksgiving and get busy stitching! To make it even more fun, you can add a prize in the end for the best cross-stitch of the day.
4. Pinecone Turkeys
Thanksgiving falls during autumn, and you know what the best thing about autumn is? The pinecones! You find loads of them just lying around in your backyard or on the sidewalk. Get your kids to collect them and make cute little turkeys out of them. All you need are some store-bought googly eyes, a piece of red craft paper to form the beak, and some feathers. You can use cardboard pieces as feet for the little bird, and your pinecone turkeys are ready!
5. Washi Tape Decor
Washi tapes are pretty fantastic! They work as excellent sticking tape for your decor and add a bit of festivity and pizzazz. Wrap your DIY decor with washi tape as needed and make it ooze Thanksgiving. You can find several holiday-related themes of washi tape in stores that will fit the occasion. So, go gaga!
6. Turkey Tiara
Your kids can feel like the princesses and princes of your home, just like they are looked after by wearing these DIY turkey tiaras. All they’ll need are a pair of scissors, some glue, and chart paper. Cut thin strips, about 1-1.5 centimeters thick of the chart paper that are long enough to wrap around your head like headgear. Make a paper cutout of a turkey using chart paper and stick it at one end of the paper strip. Now, apply some glue to the end and stick it behind the turkey to form a circular band. Voila — your turkey tiara is ready!
7. Pinecone Pumpkins
Simple to make for kids of all ages, these pinecone pumpkins require only three items to make! You’ll need a linen cloth, some freshly picked pinecones, and a few twigs. Your kids can take a walk around the block and pick up some of these items. To make these pinecone pumpkins, you can use leftover kitchen linen or find old crummy cloth that isn’t torn. It’s okay if it’s faded. Lay the cloth on a flat surface and stuff it with some pinecones. You may use any number of pinecones depending on the size of the fabric. Once it’s almost full, wrap the cloth up into a ball with the pinecones in them. Finally, add a twig/stick to secure it in place.
8. Thanksgiving Wreath
With the holiday of Thanksgiving in autumn, it’s almost mandatory to use the colors yellow and orange, right? Your kids can make some pretty wreaths using only these colors. Stick paper cutouts of orange and yellow leaves on a brown circular piece of cardboard. You can wrap the cardboard in brown jute ropes to give it a rustic look. Now, place them on your mantle or at the entrance of your home.
9. Paper Taco Turkey
Your kids will love making a paper turkey. All they need are some colored papers, scraps of paper for the feathers, a pair of scissors, and glue. Make a taco out of brown paper, which will be the body of the turkey. Then, add some feathers to it by sticking colored papers neatly. Draw out the eyes using paint or sketch pens and stick a beak, a pair of feet, and wings to complete it! Besides, if you don’t create a turkey out of paper, is it even Thanksgiving? Why not engage your kids in some creative activities while you work your magic in the kitchen. With these DIY crafts, your kids will now have something to keep them busy until dinner is served. Plus, their art can help spruce up your homes! How many of these craft ideas are you going to try with your kids? Let us know in the comments which one was your favorite!
