Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids

Thanksgiving turkey crafts for kids are fun and easy when you use recycled materials and the handprints of your crafty children. Handprint crafts are not only fun for kids but can become a special keepsake for parents, family and friends. Creating replicas of the same handprint craft each year is an easy way to keep a record of your child's growth.

Children as young as two years old can create the following handprint Thanksgiving turkey crafts with an adult's assistance. These are also crafts older children will enjoy as they allow for many levels of creativity and personal touches.

Tom Turkey Table Topper

Materials needed include one toilet paper roll per child, brown construction paper, white construction paper, child-safety scissors, craft glue, hot glue, googly eyes, crayons or washable markers and multi-colored craft feathers. Optional materials include scraps of red, orange and yellow construction paper.

The first step to create Tom Turkey is to trace both the child's hands onto white construction paper. Construction paper is needed for this, as it is heavier than computer or typing paper. The handprints will eventually be the turkey's feathers. Kids that are able can cut out their own handprints, but some may need adult help. Be prepared for at least one handprint finger to be cut off. It happens, just retrace another handprint and try again. Set the white paper handprints to the side.

Next, wrap the toilet paper roll in brown construction paper. This is the turkey's body. You can staple or glue the paper onto the body. The side without the paper seam should become the front. Have your children glue on a set of googly eyes. While that glue is drying, return to the handprints.

Allow your children to choose a colored feather for each finger, ten in total. Using craft glue, glue one feather about midway on each finger. Set to the side to allow the glue to dry. Return to the turkey's body.

To create the rest of the Tom Turkey's face, use crayons or washable marker to draw on a beak and the red gobbler. You can also use cut pieces from the scraps of yellow and red paper. If using the scraps, glue the beak and gobbler to the turkey's face with craft glue. When the face is complete, draw and then cut out two turkey feet from the scraps of orange paper. To attach to the bottom of the toilet roll, put a dab of glue on the back end of the foot and press it into the inside of the toilet roll so the feet stick out from the bottom.

Finish Tom Turkey by attaching the two handprints with feathers to the back of the turkey's body. Attach with staples or hot glue. This should be done by an adult. Attach at about the midpoint of the roll and secure so the feathers do not flop backward.

Display Tom Turkey on your Thanksgiving table as a centerpiece or make enough to set at each place setting.

Handprint Turkey cards

Materials needed include white card stock or white construction paper, crayons or washable markers, craft glue, small googly eyes, and multi-colored craft feathers.

The first step is to fold the card stock or construction paper in half with a crisp fold. Turn the card so the open end in facing you. Trace the child's handprint in the center of the card. Assist your child or have them work on their own to create a turkey from their handprint. The turkey's body is the handprint's palm, the neck/head are the thumb and the feathers will be the other four fingers.

Kids can color their turkey with crayons or washable markers, drawing the gobbler, beak, legs and feet. Legs and feet can be as simple as a straight line with three smaller lines branching out for the toes/feet. The googly eyes should be glued on after the coloring is complete.

The last step is to glue the feathers to the body. You can have the kids glue just one feather per finger or allow several for a fuller effect. Creativity will blossom as the project progresses.

These cards can be used as gifts with a loving message including inside or as place cards at the Thanksgiving table. To use as a place card, you or your children can print the guest's name below the turkey. Stand the card upright at the place setting.

Thanksgiving handprint crafts with kids are a great way to spend special time together creating memories that will last long after the last dollop of glue dries.