Mini Monets and Mommies: Thanksgiving Art Activities for Kids

Thanksgiving is almost here. Can you believe it? It seems like I was just getting my son ready for summer camp and now it’s turkey time! While you’re prepping for the holiday feast, keep the kids busy with a few creative crafts.

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If you’re looking for an art activity that takes turkey crafts into sensory play, pattern prints and more, read on. And, if you want to start the Thanksgiving art-making off with a book (which is a great way to introduce the theme at hand), you’ll find a few good reads at the end of the post!

Thanksgiving table napkin rings. Your child can make table décor by reusing a cardboard paper towel tube. Add paint, craft feathers and more to these table-toppers!

Shaving cream art:

I’ve got two different shaving cream turkeys and one cornucopia for the kids to try.

1. Sensory play with shaving cream turkey wings. The textured wings are fluffy and puffy with this DIY paint.

2. Handprint turkey. I’m not a huge fan of the handprint turkey. Sorry, but I have a ridiculous stack of these paint projects that my son has made over the years. And they all look exactly the same. That said, I have seen a few creatively cute ones that inspired me to do something a little different.

3. Cornucopia. A while ago I did a scented shaving cream art post. Your child can use the same sweet smelling stuff to create a cornucopia (or mix paint with the shaving cream instead).

Popcorn Turkey

It’s not exactly as it sounds. Your child isn’t making a turkey out of popcorn – although, now that I think about it that sounds like a fab idea! Instead it’s a textured print-making project.

Egg Carton Bird

The other day I was cutting apart a cardboard egg carton to use for another art activity when it dawned on me, “Hey, this looks like a bird’s eyes and beak.” I took the carton and turned it into a 3-D turkey craft.