Five Easy Thanksgiving Crafts to Do with Your 2-4 Year Old

As a preschool teacher, I am constantly in search of new and genuine crafts that I can do with my two to four year olds. When I find something that works though, I hang onto it! There is such a thing as a "kid's craft classic," and here are a few that I'd like to share with you. The items you will need are all inexpensive and most are probably things you already have at home and can recycle. The ideas are simple, but do require a little bit of adult help for younger crafters.

FIVE EASY THANKSGIVING CRAFTS:

CRAFT IDEA NUMBER ONE
Thanksgiving Place Mat

Items Needed:
poem (follows)
large piece of construction paper
glue
washable tempera paint in autumn colors
markers
laminate

Instructions:

Step 1: Prepare the poem for a younger child, school age children can print it themselves. Glue to construction paper.

Step 2: Using paint, paint the palm and thumb of child's hand brown. Paint his or her fingers in other colors. Press the hand firmly onto the construction paper.

Step 3: Once the paint has dried, help the child to add legs, feet, eyes, a beak and a wattle to his/her handprint.

Step 4: Document the date and child's age on the paper. Laminate for durability.

Poem:
This isn't just a turkey,
As anyone can see.
This very special turkey
Was made by hand by me!
Happy Thanksgiving!

CRAFT IDEA NUMBER TWO:
Paper Bag Turkeys

Items Needed:
brown paper bag
newspaper
twist ties or yarn
washable paint in autumn colors
safety scissors
precut turkey head shape
glue

Instructions:

Step 1: Have child to stuff the bag with crumpled newspapers until the bag is half full.

Step 2: Tie bag off with yarn or tie, leaving a tail.

Step 3: Help the child to cut strips from the edges to create a tail.

Step 4: Allow children to paint the tail in bright colors.
Step 5: Allow children to decorate the head shapes. Attach the head shapes to the front of bags to complete the turkeys.

CRAFT IDEA NUMBER THREE
Leaf Turkeys

Items Needed:
Precut turkey shapes from brown construction paper
yellow construction paper
wiggly eyes
dry, clean leaves

Instructions:

Step 1: Have children glue the turkey shapes to yellow construction paper.

Step 2: Help children to glue on eyes and add facial features with a black felt tip marker.

Step 3: Using the gathered leaves, help children arrange and glue the leaves to create tails for their turkeys.

CRAFT IDEA NUMBER FOUR
Turkey Puppets

Items Needed:
brown paper circle
wooded ice cream spoon
multiple colors of construction paper
wiggle eyes
safety scissors
glue

Instructions:

Step 1: Cut out several (8 or more) feathers from the construction paper.

Step 2: Glue the wooden ice cream spoon to the center of the brown paper circle.

Step 3: Clue the "feathers" to the back edges of the circle.

Step 4: Finish the turkey by gluing the wiggle eyes, a paper beak and wattle to the spoon.

Step 5: Let the glue dry and have fun with your turkeys!!

CRAFT IDEA NUMBER FIVE
Chef Hats

Items Needed:
white poster board
white paper bag
stapler with staples
masking tape
safety scissors

Instructions:

Step 1: Cut a long strip of the white poster board. Measure enough to fit around the child's head and staple into a ring shape.

Step 2: Put paper bag inside of the ring and staple in place. Cover staples inside of the ring with masking tape so that they do not scratch the child's head.

Step 3: Put on your hats and let the little chefs help you out with supper!

~You may choose to make some simple aprons out of old sheets. Let children decorate the aprons and their hats with markers.~