Thanksgiving is just around the corner and with these easy Thanksgiving activities for toddlers will make sure that everyone is included in the fun.
Thanksgiving is a great time of year but with mom and dad busy with preparations for the day or cooking Thanksgiving dinner it would be easy for younger kids to not feel so involved.
Panic not though as we have the best Thanksgiving activities here that will make sure that everyone gets to join in.
There’s loads of easy and achievable inspiration you’ll both love with Thanksgiving art, paper plate crafts, sensory activities and some inspiration for Thanksgiving books to share with your toddler.
Grab the crayons, glue and construction paper and you’re ready to get started!
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How To Find Your Perfect Thanksgiving Activities for Kids
There’s so many fun thanksgiving activities in this post that I had to split it up a little.
You’ll find it put into three categories for you – Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers, Thanksgiving Activities for Toddlers and Thanksgiving Books for Toddlers.
For both the crafts and activities you’ll find the activities listed in the same order that you’ll find them in the corresponding images in this post, there are lots more ideas than you’ll find in just the images though so make sure to take a good look through and find some fun new ideas to try out this year.
This is an old post that I’ve updated a little each year and added new activities to it meaning that each year you’ll find even more ideas.
As with all activities for toddlers you will need to supervise during these activities, especially as some of these activities contain small parts.
As you’ll know, the toddler years are also those of great change and development so look for the ideas which suit your child and their interests and abilities and most of all, the things that they will find fun!
These activities are generally suitable as Thanksgiving activities for preschoolers too with a lot of them that older kids will enjoy as well but obviously take a look through and see what is most suitable for your child.
Want to make sure you don’t forget any of these fantastic Thanksgiving activities for kids? Make sure you bookmark this page or pin an image so you can have them all to hand when you need them.
You’ll also find more simple activities for toddlers at the end of this post.
Need something super quick? Try these printables!
If you need something quick and easy to prepare then why not check out some of our free printables that are perfect for Thanksgiving.
All of these would make great Thanksgiving coloring sheets and with the templates you’ll find ideas for other crafts that you could make using them too.
- Free Thanksgiving Notes
- Free Pumpkin Template
- Free Pumpkin Pie Template
- Free Turkey Template
- Free Corn Template
- Football Template
Thanksgiving Books To Share Together
We love sharing books together as a family and I think it’s a great way to get kids enthused about different times of the year and also to help their understanding of it.
Plus of course it’s always nice just to have a snuggle on the sofa and chill out and reading stories together are a brilliant way to do that!
There are tons of gorgeous Thanksgiving books for toddlers to keep you going throughout November but these are the ones that have caught my eye.
Pete The Cat: The First Thanksgiving – Lift the flap books are perfect for inquisitive toddlers and Pete The Cat is a firm favourite with kids.
Peppa Gives Thanks – I’m going to admit I had no idea there was a Peppa Pig Thanksgiving book! This is one my daughter would love.
Thankful by Eileen Spinelli – The illustrations in this book are simply beautiful and the rhyming story is great for young kids.
Five Silly Turkeys – This fun board book is great for toddlers with it’s shiny fabric and simple counting.
Thanksgiving Crafts for Toddlers
This paper plate turkey from Fantastic Fun and Learning is a fun Thanksgiving activity that’s great for working on scissor skills too.
Make an easy paper plate turkey craft using pom poms. You can click through to read the step by step instructions or check out the video tutorial that I’ve added to this page.
Create a simple paper bag turkey craft that would make a brilliant DIY puppet to play with too.
Handprint crafts can make great keepsakes either for yourself or to give to family members, this Thanksgiving themed handprint turkey from Teach Me Mommy is definitely cute enough to give as a gift!
This pumpkin pie craft from Crafts on Sea is simple enough for toddlers to make but if you’d like to turn it into a gratitude activity as we’ve done then you’ll need a grown up to add a couple of words (of their choice!)
I love the use of colorful painting in this fun paper plate craft from Red Ted Art.
Make a simple tissue paper corn craft using our free template.
My daughter loved creating these feather painted turkeys when she was a toddler and it’s a great excuse to paint without a paintbrush!
Got some bubble wrap at home? Try out this fun paper plate turkey with it.
With a little help toddlers can make this handprint paper plate turkey craft. I loved how my kids fingers made such adorable turkey feathers!
We have a bit of an obsession with anything suncatcher related and this stained glass turkey craft was a great excuse to make something pretty while the decorating was a great excuse to work on fine motor skills.
This cupcake liner turkey is simple to make and cupcake liners are a great store cupboard staple for crafting with.
This toilet paper roll turkey from Meaningful Mama looks really easy to make.
Toddler Approved shares a textured corn craft looks so good and would be great for supporting fine motor skills too.
I love this fun turkey craft made with a butternut squash from Teach Me Mommy.
We love doily crafts and this craft from Meaningful Mama is super sweet.
Puppets are great crafts as kids have something to play with afterwards and this turkey finger puppet from Artsy Momma is adorable.
This paper turkey finger puppet from Red Ted Art looks really achievable for younger kids.
Raid your recycling bin and make this egg carton turkey craft.
Thanksgiving Activities for Toddlers
Use craft feathers to make this fun fine motor activity from Fun Learning for Kids that’s perfect for Thanksgiving.
This free Thanksgiving coloring page for kids from Crafts on Sea is a great way to keep the peace for a bit!
The invitation to create with this turkey play dough activity from Fantastic Fun and Learning looks so good.
This simple turkey handprint from Fun Handprint Art is perfect for younger kids.
Buggy and Buddy’s turkey activity uses golf tees to create great way to work on fine motor skills.
Finger painting has to be one of the most simple activities so that makes it perfect for easy Thanksgiving crafts. Here Artsy Craftsy Mom uses it to make corn kernels with this fingerprint corn on the cob activity.
Print and colour or decorate this free pumpkin template to make some easy Thanksgiving art with your toddler.
My kids adored sensory bins when they were toddlers and I loved them too as they were a great way to keep them occupied for ages. I think this sensory bin with its pumpkins from The Natural Homeschool would make a brilliant thanksgiving sensory bin and you could add some real or fake leaves to it too.
Grab construction paper and dot stickers to make this turkey sticker sort from Busy Toddler. This would be a great activity for a Thanksgiving theme in preschools too as it can help support but fine motor skills and learning to sort.
Got some coffee filters in your kitchen? This coffee filter turkey craft from Little Bins for Little Hands is a great way to try out some process art and if your toddler is able to do a scribble with some markers then they’ll be able to join in. With young kids I would possibly adapt this from gluing on googly eyes to just drawing some on.
These beaded Thanksgiving napkin rings are a great way for kids to practice threading and one of these was made by a two year old – just be sure to supervise as beads obviously are a choking hazard.
This cute coloring page would be great for Thanksgiving too.
Have you tried making puffy paint? This Thanksgiving activity from Natural Beach Living is the perfect excuse to start.
The Natural Homeschool has a Thanksgiving themed coloring book with corn and turkeys amongst others.
Different ways of painting are always good with toddlers and this easy corn cob activity from Natural Beach Living looks great.
The dyed pumpkin seeds in this Indian Corn craft look gorgeous.
This paper plate turkey wreath from The Resourceful Mama would make really sweet decor too.
More Activities for Toddlers
It might be late in the season but it’s never too late to try out some autumn activities for toddlers
Or if you want to get a start on winter this round up of over 50 winter activities for toddlers should be perfect
Finally you can never have too many ideas up your sleeve when it comes to Christmas and with over 60 Christmas activities for toddlers we’ve got you covered!
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