Thanksgiving will soon be here. Children become impatient. There’s no need to rush to the nearest craft shop. Just open your drawer and search for the materials you have at home.
A couple of leaves from your garden, paper, cardboard, crayons and some tape can make wonderful craft items.
Here are some kid friendly activities that can only take around 20 minutes.
1. Handprint Turkey
Trace your kid’s handprint on a piece of paper. Make the thumb the turkey head and the fingers the feathers. Now let the kid color the fingers in different colors. They can finish it off by drawing eyes and a beak using a marker.
You can also use washable paint for this activity. Have your kid write down their name and age on the back. Many years down the road, that little handprint will remind you of Thanksgiving.
2. Cardboard Tube Turkeys
Use toilet paper and paper towel cardboard rolls. Cover one with colored paper or use brown paint. Then cut feather-shaped pieces out of red, orange and yellow paper. Stick them at the back of the roll. You may use or draw eyes. Place several of them on the table.
3. Paper Bag Puppet
A plain lunch bag works well for a turkey puppet. Glue a paper beak. Attach feathers to the back. Once it’s done, put on a show. Kids can use the puppet to say what they’re thankful for. It often becomes easier for kids to show than say it in front of the whole family.
4. Leaf Rubbing Art
Take a walk. Collect fallen leaves with clear veins. Place a leaf under a sheet of paper, veined side up. Rub the side of a peeled crayon over the paper until the leaf’s shape shows through. Cut out the leaves, poke a hole in each one and string them on yarn. The result is a garland for the dining room.
5. Gratitude Tree
Place a branch inside an empty jar or can. At the bottom, put some pebbles or dry rice to ensure that it stands firm. Cut paper leaves from paper. Everyone writes something they are grateful for on the paper leaf. Attach it to the branch using a piece of yarn. Children can draw what they love. On Thanksgiving Day, the branch will be loaded with leaves.
6. Paper Plate Cornucopia
Cut the paper plate into halves. Create a cone using one half by rolling it up. Fasten the edge so it maintains the cone shape. Ask the children to create fruits and vegetables such as orange pumpkins, purple grapes and red apples. You can load the cone with the fruits and vegetables. This can create an everlasting basket of harvest.
7. Napkin Rings
An adult can slice a paper towel tube into rings about an inch wide. Kids can then cover each ring with paper, wrap it in yarn or paint it. Glue on a paper leaf. Write a guest’s name on it. Slide a napkin through and each ring doubles as a place card.
8. Tin Can Vase
Rinse out a can and check the rim for sharp edges. Cover any spots with tape. Wrap the can in paper. Paint it, then fill it with water and add dried grass, a few stems or paper flowers. Kids can gift it to their grandparent or a neighbor.
Adults should handle the scissors. Before painting begins, you can cover the table with newspaper. Make sure to use safe paint and non-toxic glue.
