Because your turkey timer is already going off and someone just asked "what can I do?"
Let's be honest, mama.
You've got a turkey to baste, relatives arriving in 2 hours, and your kids are bouncing off the walls asking "Is it time to eat yet?" for the 47th time today.
The last thing you need? A craft that requires 17 supplies, a hot glue gun, and your constant supervision.
Here's what you actually need: Quick wins that keep little hands busy while you handle the actual Thanksgiving prep.
5 Easy Thanksgiving Crafts For Kids
1. Gratitude Thankful Turkeys (5 minutes, zero mess)
Full tutorial at happyhooligans.ca!
What you need: Paper plate, crayons or paint, pen.
2. Turkey Hand Prints (7 minutes, minimal cleanup)
What you need: Paper, markers (NOT paint—we're being realistic here)What you do: Trace hands, color like turkey feathers, add googly eyes if you have them Why it works: Classic, quick, and they can make one for every guest
3. Leaf Turkey (10 minutes if you collected leaves yesterday)
Full tutorial and FREE printable at onelittleproject.com!
What you need: Leaves from the yard, markers, glue stick What you do:Glue leaves to paper, draw faces and limbs Why it works: Uses what you already have, gets them creating stories
4. Paper Bag Turkey Puppets (8 minutes)
Full tutorial at madetobeamomma.com!
What you need: Lunch bags, construction paper scraps, glue What you do: Glue paper feathers to bag, draw a face Why it works: Instant entertainment for after dinner too
5. Thankful Tree Centerpiece (15 minutes, but worth it)
Full tutorial at toplifestylenews.com!
What you need: Branches from outside, paper, scissors, string What you do: Kids cut leaf shapes, write what they're thankful for, hang on branches Why it works: Meaningful, beautiful, and keeps them busy while you cook
The Secret Weapon You Didn't Know You Needed
Here's the thing about Thanksgiving with kids: You need activities that work with your chaos, not against it.
That's why smart moms are keeping Cupkin Sticker Activity Books in their back pocket this year.
Picture this:
- The cousins arrive early? Pull out the Fall Adventures sticker book
- Need 30 minutes to finish the pie? Holiday scenes keep them creating
- Restaurant wait getting long? Portable, mess-free, instant engagement
No setup. No cleanup. No "Mom, I need help!" every 3 minutes.
Just 500+ stickers, beautiful scenes to complete, and the kind of focused quiet that makes you wonder if you should check they're still breathing.