Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Crafting for special occasions and holidays is often a staple of daycare and preschool, and we’re here for it! These Thanksgiving crafts for toddlers and preschoolers are both adorable as well as engaging. We’ve incorporated some learning activities like sensory bins, into the mix, because who doesn’t love having extra ideas to keep little hands busy? From a sweet classic turkey handprint craft to more unique kids Thanksgiving crafts , we’ve got enough to keep your kiddos busy until the big feast arrives! Don’t forget to follow us on Pinterest, for more activities, free templates, educator and operator resources, and more! Without further ado, let’s explore all the fun Thanksgiving craft ideas, shall we?

Pumpkin Pie Gratitude Craft
How sweet this is this pumpkin pie gratitude craft? Perfect for both toddlers and preschoolers, it also encourages little ones to be grateful for the people and things in their life. Encourage the kids to explain what they are grateful for. This great little activity can also be done collaboratively if preferred, with each child contributing a “piece of the pie.” Combining art, storytelling, and gratitude, this one is definitely a wonderful preschool Thanksgiving activity!

Beaded Corn
This colourful beaded corn Thanksgiving craft is an amazing way to incorporate fine motor skills. Preschoolers will especially love threading the beads onto the pipe cleaners. Minimal materials are required but the end result is a stunning centerpiece. Use this at your special Thanksgiving celebration if you plan to enjoy a little meal together.

---

Thankfulness Tree
We love any and all gratitude activities and opportunities to express thankfulness. That’s why this thankfulness tree Thanksgiving activity is a great opportunity to come together as a group, and share what each person is thankful for. It doubles as a beautiful backdrop for the season. Think about involving the daycare community by leaving out blank leaves and asking family members to write down what they are each grateful for. The more leaves, the better!

Fall Suncatcher
Add a seasonal Autumn or Fall sun catcher into your weekly craft schedule. The best part about these types of open-ended crafts are that kids can use their imagination and personal creativity to decorate with their own personal flair. Simply cut up pieces of tissue paper and let those little hands get creating. Afterwards, put them up in your center’s window for seasonal decoration, and then let the kids take them home to decorate for Thanksgiving.

Handprint Turkey Craft
Ah, the classic handprint turkey craft. Is there any better Thanksgiving craft for toddlers and preschoolers? It’s simple, easy to create, requires very minimal materials, and kids love it! It also adds a sensory experience with the handprint. Let kids use their creativity to continue with some finger painting once they have completed the first step of their turkey handprint. You can also use this opportunity to talk about colours and what happens when you mix colours together. Let kids exert their own individual creativity for what colours their own little “turkeys” will be.

---

Mason Jar Leaf Lanterns
This beautiful little craft will make the perfect centrepiece for Thanksgiving tables. Kids will be so happy to see their own creation on the table. This one is especially good for preschoolers and older children. If you are hosting a little daycare Thanksgiving feast, these lanterns can also be placed on the table to admire. Think about adding a battery-operated tea light inside instead of a real candle, to keep things extra kid-safe!

Gratitude Pumpkins
Another adorable gratitude craft! You can incorporate this preschooler Thanksgiving craft into learning all about pumpkins, while letting kids get creative adding everything they are thankful for. These pumpkins also make a beautiful fall decoration or table centrepiece!

Thanksgiving Handprint Art
Talk about cute Thanksgiving crafts for daycare! This one from Hello, Wonderful is right up there and sure to be a favourite with the parents. Another great sensory one for little hands too. Turn those sweet hands into turkeys.

---

Simple Turkey Paper Bags
Another fun toddler and preschooler Thanksgiving craft are these cute turkey bags. Kids can learn their colours while they decorate the bags. For an added sensory experience, think about using coloured feathers instead of paper. This is a simple yet engaging craft for daycare.

Thanksgiving Sensory Bin
Don’t forget incorporating lots of sensory fun into your Thanksgiving craft planning. We absolutely love this setup from Toddler at Play. Some basic ingredients and a few inexpensive add-ons from your local dollar store are all you need to add to your tuff tray or sensory bin. The amount of engagement and fun this sensory bin will bring is priceless!

Pinecone Turkeys
Last but not least, bring nature inside with these pinecone turkeys. Add some felt, googly eyes and feathers, and you’ve got a cute little sidekick. Kids can first go on a nature walk to find the perfect pinecone for their turkey. After they clean it up, the fun creating can begin. Tip: Have an adult on hand to help glue the eyes.

---

---

We just love a good seasonal craft. And any excuse for crafting, really! Changing seasons and holidays are an excellent way to incorporate unique crafts and activities into your regular daycare schedule, and inspire children to use their creativity. Happy Thanksgiving crafting!