Low Cost or Free Fall & Thanksgiving Craft Ideas for Kids

Are you looking for some fun ways to spend more time with your kids throughout the Fall and Thanksgiving season?  Here are some fun ideas for the whole family.

Easy Thanksgiving Craft Ideas for Kids

Turkey Wreath

Have your children decorate a straw wreath by gluing on various Thanksgiving decorations.  Display proudly on your front door.

Turkey Cups

Pick up some small, kid-sized plastic cups and craft markers. Give each kid a cup and let them write their name on it, then decorate it.  Have your kids create one for each young guest who will attend Thanksgiving dinner.

Turkey Placemats

Using colored construction paper, your children can make turkeys. When finished, mount each turkey on a separate sheet of construction paper.  Laminate each one — and your kids now have their own special turkey placemat.

Pinecone Turkey

Gather pinecones, then cut out colorful turkey feathers from colored construction paper. Use red felt to cut out the turkey’s comb. Glue your Thanksgiving turkey together, inserting the feathers in between the pine comb leaves.

Gratitude Cards

Make a card for each family member who will be your guest for Thanksgiving this year. On each card, tell that person what you love most about them, and why you are thankful for them.

Thanksgiving Flower Pots

Using small, red clay pots (super cheap at local gardening store) — have your kids plant flower, vegetable or herb seeds in each.  Be sure to have kids label each pot with a marker or label.  Once the seeds sprout, your children can gift them to residents in a nearby long-term care or nursing home.  They’ll learn generosity, a fun way to interact with the elderly, and they’ll have a blast in the process!  Residents love kids — and they’ll enjoy these cute gifts as well.

Easy Fall Craft Ideas for Kids

Leaf Characters

Draw and copy different types of leaves onto thick construction paper. Let your kids cut out the leaves and apply glitter to add sparkle. Next, have them create leaf characters by gluing leaves together to create a face, body, and limbs. After the glue dries, they can draw faces on the leaves with markers.

Leaf Tracings

Fold 10 sheets of copy paper in half and crease in the center. Bind the booklet by punching two holes in the spine, threading yarn through the holes, and tying the ends. Take your kids to the park. Challenge them to find and trace as many unique leaves as possible.

Leaf Collage

Gather as many types of leaves as you can find. Glue the leaves in any kind of arrangement onto a piece of construction paper or cardboard. Alternatively, spread white school glue across an entire sheet of paper or piece of cardboard. Crumble leaves at random over the glue. When the glue dries, you will have an awesome leaf collage.

Book of Leaves

Make a booklet, as described above. This time, have your child search for odd-looking leaves to collect and place in their book. Then give them an encyclopedia and let them research their leaves. Have them write down the name of each leaf and three interesting facts about the leaf.
These Fall and Thanskgiving craft ideas for kids will keep your little ones busy for weeks.  Enjoy your time with them, and make some very special memories you can treasure forever.

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For classic menu items for your holidays, visit our Recipes for Any Holiday article page.   

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OTHER CREATIVE IDEAS FOR KIDS:  Face Painting is a creative project the whole family can enjoy, too.  Learn more about face painting at Face Painting for Kids.