30 Easy and Fun Turkey Crafts for Kids of All Ages
Thanksgiving just got a whole lot cuter thanks to these DIY art ideas.
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It's no secret that Turkey Day can be a bit dull for little ones, especially if you plan on spending most of the day in the kitchen preparing dishes. However, just as there are endless ways to cook your turkey, you'll find that there's no shortage of kid-friendly Thanksgiving crafts to keep your little ones amused (and out of the kitchen). One of our favorites and easiest? Traditional turkey crafts! As a bonus, many of the best turkey crafts for kids only require inexpensive supplies that you probably already have around the house, which will be a relief to any parent who already has their hands full putting together Thanksgiving dinner. It's a win-win!
From DIY wreaths and crowns to placecard holders and puppets, your kids can make just about any craft featuring the humble turkey, whether they're still in preschool or old enough to handle some more complicated teen and adult-focused Thanksgiving ideas. And in addition to keeping your brood occupied and entertained, these easy arts and crafts projects will allow your kids to make a festive work of art that you can put on display for years to come. You can never have too many Thanksgiving decorations, after all.
So gather your fam and your art supplies, and gobble up these creative turkey crafts. And for more ways to entertain the little ones, try these fun Thanksgiving games, which are sure to be a hit with kids of all ages.
Cereal Box Turkey
Your little ones can put an empty cereal box to use by turning it into a fun centerpiece, complete with feathers listing all the things for which they are most thankful.
Turkey Windsocks
Made using a recycled tin can, ribbon, glue, and a few decorative touches, these adorable turkey windsocks takes less than 30 minutes to put together.
Squeeze Paint Pumpkin Turkey
Pumpkin crafts aren't just for Halloween. Your kids can also transform a mini pumpkin into a turkey using paint and card stock paper.
Fork Painted Turkey
All you need is a fork, paint, and some card stock to take a simple paper plate and turn it into an adorable turkey.
Toilet Paper Roll Turkey
If you have some scrapbook paper and an old toilet paper roll lying around the house, then you can put together this kid-friendly craft in no time.
Turkey Juice Box
Kids will love putting together these juice box turkeys using scrap paper and googly eyes (and they'll love drinking out of their turkey juice boxes once they're finished even more!).
Clothespin Turkey
For a craft that's simple, easy, and — best of all — relatively mess-free, go with this cute clothespin turkey craft.
Recycled CD Turkey
This fun craft only takes 10 minutes to complete, and it'll let you make sure of those old CDs taking up space in your home.
Cork Turkeys
As long as you have wine corks, cupcake liners, and markers, along with a few decorative accessories, then you have everything to make these cork turkeys (which can double as Thanksgiving table placecard holders).
Tissue Paper Turkey
This tissue paper turkey craft couldn't be cuter, and since it uses a printable template, it couldn't be easier to put together, either.
Paper Bag Turkeys
Use construction paper, feathers, and googly eyes to turn a paper bag into a turkey with personality. When your kids are done crafting these creations, they can stick their hands inside to animate their puppets.
Turkey Balloon
Use a personal tank or visit a party store to inflate helium balloons for this project. Then decorate them with googly eyes, feathers, and construction paper. Float them above your Thanksgiving kids’ table for a whimsical look.
Turkey Place Card Holders
Clothespins combine with colorful fall leaves (real if you have them handy, or fake if not) to make this easy turkey craft that doubles as a charming Thanksgiving place card.
Marbled Paper Turkeys
Use shaving cream and paint to create beautiful and unique marbled paper. Then use it to make feathers for this easy turkey craft.
Pattern Block Turkeys
Use colorful construction paper cut into geometric shapes to make the backdrop for this turkey craft. Bonus: It serves as a lesson in shapes and symmetry, too, so it’s great as a homeschool holiday project.
Coffee Filter Turkey
This turkey craft makes use of supplies you may already have in your kitchen — use white coffee filters to create colorful turkey feathers with watercolor paints.
Confetti Stuffed Turkey
Use white paper bags as the basis of this confetti-stuffed project that resembles a roast turkey on a platter. Cut the confetti from neon construction paper. Use the conversation-starting project as whimsical table decor for Thanksgiving dinner fun.
Printable Turkey Crowns
Just use the free printable as the basis for these cute turkey crowns. Customize the size to your kiddos’ heads and they’ll be thrilled to wear them at the Thanksgiving table.
Roast Turkey Piñata
Make these turkey piñatas using the old familiar method: by using newspaper strips to paper maché balloons. Fill these with toys or treats for kids to enjoy after the feast.
Pinecone Turkey
This cute craft combines pinecones with scrap ribbon as the turkey tail feathers, and is a great way to use up any leftover bits you have on hand from other projects.
Alesandra is a digital travel and lifestyle journalist based in Los Angeles. Her work has appeared in Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, Prevention, Insider, Glamour, Shondaland, AFAR, Parents, TODAY, and countless other online and print outlets. Alesandra has a masters degree in journalism with an emphasis on cultural reporting and criticism from NYU, and a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley. An avid traveler, she trots the globe with her husband and their twins.
Corinne Sullivan is an Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers a variety of beats, including lifestyle, entertainment, relationships, shopping, and more. She can tell you everything you need to know about the love lives of A-listers, the coziest bedsheets, and the sex toys actually worth your $$$. She is also the author of the 2018 novel Indecent. Follow her on Instagram for cute pics of her pup and bébé.
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