Preschool Thanksgiving Crafts

As the holidays approach, you can include kids in the fun with some preschool Thanksgiving crafts. Kids love the feeling of creating a fall masterpiece, and they'll be excited to show off their work to grandparents, aunts, and uncles around the holiday dinner table.

Thanksgiving crafts are fun for preschoolers.

Preschoolers love to get their hands dirty and that's one of the many reasons they make wonderful crafting buddies. Thanksgiving crafts can help kids understand the history of the holiday and the meaning behind many of our traditions.

Crafting together is also a great way to appreciate your relationship with your child. This Thanksgiving, you and your preschooler can create some fun and decorative projects to brighten the dinner table and bring joy to friends and family.

When it's time for dinner, your preschooler will be excited to share his or her artwork in the form of decorative placemats. Making Thanksgiving placemats is a great way for your child to express creativity. Dinner guests love these homemade placemats, and they can even do double duty as party favors.

• Large pieces of construction paper in fall colors
• Clear contact paper
• Non-toxic craft glue, markers, scissors, crayons, and glitter
• Cut-out Thanksgiving shapes or stickers

1. Give your preschooler a large piece of construction paper and lay out the art supplies within easy reach. Have your child choose which guest will receive this placemat, and talk together about why you feel thankful for that person.
2. Now that your child has some great inspiration, help him or her decorate the construction paper to make a personalized placemat for each guest. Write a special message from your child on a corner of the placemat. Don't forget to date the artwork.
3. When the glue is dry, you can laminate the placemat to keep it clean. Simply place it face down on a piece of clear contact paper. Place another piece of contact paper over the back, and then trim the edges to make them even.

Handmade place cards are another fun way to decorate your holiday table with your child. Making a Thanksgiving place card is easy, and it's a great way for your child to learn about some of the traditions of Thanksgiving.

• Brown construction paper
• Markers, non-toxic glue, scissors, and a pencil
• Feathers in fall colors
• Stiff white cardstock

1. Have your child use the pencil to trace his or her hand on the brown construction paper. Your preschooler may need your help to cut out the handprint.
2. Help your child use glue to attach the feathers to the fingers of the hand pint. Leave the thumb feather-free so it can act as the turkey's head. Your child can decorate the turkey's head and body with markers.
3. Use markers to write the name of a Thanksgiving dinner guest on the turkey.
4. Cut the cardstock into a small rectangle and glue part of it to the back of the turkey. Fold it so the turkey will stand up when placed on the dinner table.

Making this craft really helps kids understand the meaning of the holiday. As with any preschool Thanksgiving craft, it's helpful to have the supplies on hand so kids can get started right away.

• Brown construction paper cut in the shape of a turkey's body
• Fall-colored construction paper "feathers"
• Markers and non-toxic glue
• Poster board in a fall color
• Googley eyes and a construction paper beak

1. On each construction paper feather, help your child write something for which he or she is thankful.
2. Glue the brown turkey body onto the poster board. Help your child glue the feathers onto the body.
3. Help your child attach the turkey's eyes and beak.

With a little extra planning, crafting with young children can be easy and enjoyable. The following tips will help avoid meltdowns and make sure everyone has a good time:

• Keep it to one project per crafting session. Preschoolers really want to be involved in projects, but they have shorter attention spans. If you keep things moving quickly and limit yourself to a single project, the kids will be less likely to get frustrated or bored.
• Prepare your supplies and work area before bringing in the kids. Children will be excited to get started on the craft, so they'll have more fun if the supplies are laid out and ready for them.
• Allow creativity. Kids this age are excited to follow directions, but they are also just beginning to discover their own imaginations and creativity. It might be fun for everyone if they take the project in an entirely new direction.
• Review directions for safety hazards. Anything that requires heat or cutting is probably an activity that should be supervised by adults.

Thanksgiving is a great time to craft with your child. With careful planning and a free afternoon, you'll both be enjoying the crafting experience in no time.

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