Let Your Kids Decorate Your Thanksgiving Table

Let your child be in charge of decorating the Thanksgiving table with these simple crafts that have spectacular results.

Turkey Centerpiece

This turkey makes an adorable centerpiece for a Thanksgiving table. Plan on prepping the project at least a half an hour before your preschooler or toddler completes it since the glue requires drying time. Older children can complete the entire project on their own.

Materials: One large russet potato, toothpicks, construction paper, googly eyes, yellow raffia, craft glue

Directions

Wash and let the potato dry completely. Meanwhile, cut out feather shapes from various colored construction paper and a turkey head from brown construction paper. Attach the feathers and head to toothpicks and let dry. Let your child add the eyes and draw the details on the feathers. Push the feather and head toothpicks into the potato and set the completed turkey into a nest of yellow raffia.

Turkey and Fall Leaves Placemats

Your kids will love getting their hands messy to make these adorable and colorful placemats.

Materials: washable tempera paint or finger paint, paintbrushes, oversized construction paper, permanent markers, contact paper, kitchen sponges, wet wipes

Directions

Paint the palm and thumb of your child's hand brown and each of his fingers a different color. Let him make a handprint on the construction paper. Repeat if desired. Clean off hands with wet wipes. Cut the sponges into leaf shapes and use as a stamp to add yellow, orange, and green leaves around the border of the turkey. When the paint is dry, use the permanent markers to add details to the turkey. Cover the placemats with contact paper.

Thankfulness Place Cards

Teach your kids and guests about the spirit of Thanksgiving with these simple and thoughtful place cards.

Materials: Cardstock, markers, white school glue, Thanksgiving spices

Directions

Cut cardstock into rectangles so that when they are folded in half, they are an appropriate sized place card. Using a marker, write each guests name on the outside of the card. On the inside of the card, have your child write a thank you to each guest and sign his or her name. For example: "Thank you for teaching me how to fish" or "Thank you for being a wonderful aunt." On the outside, use the glue to make a border around each person's name and sprinkle with a fragrant spice that is associated with Thanksgiving. You may want to use sage, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, or poultry seasoning.