Creative Thanksgiving Crafts and Activities for Kids

Some of the most enjoyable and worthwhile holiday crafts and activities for kids are those that draw upon their imagination and stimulate their individual creativity while also helping them feel included in the group festivities. When it comes to the Thanksgiving holiday, what better way to achieve this delicious blend than by getting them involved with Thanksgiving dinner and allowing them to add their own unique flourishes to the meal? Following are a few fun and rewarding ideas to help get the kids involved.

1. Well in advance of Thanksgiving dinner, consider the option of having your child paint a piece of their very own pottery, preferably an item they can actually make practical use of during the Thanksgiving feast. Whether a dinner plate, a smaller dessert plate, a serving bowl that can be used to offer up one of the meal's yummy side dishes, or a special mug for that hot spiced apple cider (or cold creamy egg nog or insert your favorite Thanksgiving beverage here), your child's hand-painted dish at the table is sure to make Thanksgiving dinner even more special and can add enjoyable flair and good memories to holiday meals for years to come.

Most of us probably don't have the provisions necessary to conduct a paint-your-own poetry activity at home, so locate your nearest friendly paint-your-own pottery shop for a wide selection of paintable items, as well as expert assistance. Remember to plan in advance, as this activity will most likely involve two trips to the pottery shop; during the first trip, you'll paint your dish, then you'll have to arrange a second trip to pick up your finished item, after the shop has fired it in their kiln.

2.I f you don't have the budget for a paint-your-own pottery experience or can't locate a shop near you, another great craft idea that will let kids contribute their own special style to the Thanksgiving dinner table is to allow them the opportunity to design place settings for each guest. This can take the form of something as simple as hand-labeled place cards to designate each diner's seat at the table or can be a more elaborate affair involving illustration, painting, collage, or other artistic mediums. Take advantage of whatever supplies you have on hand, set some basic design guidelines for your child if so inclined, and then encourage your child to use their imagination to create truly personalized place settings, sure to add a significant amount of charm to any Thanksgiving table.

3. If you can't seem to find the right supplies to enable your child to create a Thanksgiving craft, you can still involve them with the Thanksgiving meal in a very meaningful way by letting them create the Thanksgiving blessing. This can take the form of a prayer with personal touches or a story about Thanksgiving. Your child could play the role of toastmaster and lead a holiday toast, in which everyone around the table says a few words about what they're thankful for.