Thankful Crafts for Kids: 15 Easy Ideas to Show Gratitude
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These 15 thankful crafts for kids are a wonderful ways to enjoy creative activities for expressing gratitude.
Using only a few supplies, these easy crafts are great for Thanksgiving or any time of the year when you want to encourage appreciation and kindness. I've used many of these projects with my boys as part of our homeschool fun.
I'm sharing ideas and tips for using so you can combine creativity with the meaningful practice of gratitude. So, let’s get crafting and spread some thankfulness!
Related: This free printable gratitude scavenger hunt is a great activity to pair with these crafts!
Creative Ways to Express Gratitude
Are you looking for hands-on ways to help children learn about being thankful? Maybe you'd like some cute crafts for kids to enjoy around Thanksgiving? Or perhaps you need some frugal projects for your students that include gratitude themes?
Well, these simple thankful crafts for kids are sensational for all of those things and more!
Gratitude is a practice that can be nurtured and encouraged. As adults, we can model thankfulness in our words and actions. When children experience our appreciation, they learn how to be grateful in their own lives.
Activities, like crafts and games, are powerful ways to reinforce those positive messages. That's why I've used many thankful crafts for kids with my boys over the years. These DIY projects are delightful around Thanksgiving and really any day of the year!
More Ways to Help Kids Learn About Being Thankful
If you really want to boost learning about gratitude, I encourage you to include things like books, games, and accessories (like stickers and stamps). These resources may seem small but when combined can lead to a whole lot of learning and growth.
Taylor the Thankful Turkey: A children's book about being thankful (Thanksgiving book for kids) (Taylor the Turkey)Llama Llama Gives ThanksGratitude is My Superpower: A children’s book about Giving Thanks and Practicing Positivity (My Superpower Books)Being Thankful (Mercer Mayer's Little Critter (Paperback))ThankfulThe Thankful BookThanksgiving Stickers Happy Thanksgiving Stickers 2 Inch Fall Thank You Stickers 60PCS So Very Thankful Stickers for Envelope Seals, Cards, Thanksgiving Party Favor Supplies (Maple Leaf)
Our Favorite Thankful Crafts for Kids
These crafts are clever ways to cultivate gratitude in your children. My boys and I have had a blast with these themes and supplies - and we hope you do, too!
Thankful Turkey Craft: How to Make & Enjoy with Kids
This thankful turkey craft is a creative way to help your kids enjoy a meaningful holiday activity.
With just a few supplies, you'll create a thankful turkey that's made out of hearts. It's a frugal and fun way to incorporate themes of gratitude and appreciation into a hands-on project.
Gratitude Tree Craft
This gratitude craft is a fun, simple idea that kids will love. Print the gratitude tree template, then cut out the tree and leaves. Kids fill in the leaves with things they are grateful for and stick them to the tree.
by Fireflies & Mudpies
Thanksgiving I am Thankful Turkey Headband Craft {Free Printable Template}
Here is another gratitude craft with a template to ensure it isn’t too much setup. Make a turkey headband, and fill in the feathers with things the child is grateful for. Kids can proudly wear it on Thanksgiving.
by Mimosas & Motherhood
Thanksgiving Placemat Craft for Kids
Almost everyone is grateful for family. This placemat template helps kids focus on the people closest to them. They can also help make the searing arrangements by drawing pictures of each person who will be at the table on Thanksgiving Day.
by Mama of Minis
Thankful Turkey Craft
Thanksgiving is all about turkeys and being thankful, so why not combine the two? Use the template to get this turkey ready to go, and kids can fill out his feathers with things they are grateful for before assembling him.
by Nifty Thrifty DIYer
Craft Stick Thankful Bucket Dollar Tree Craft
This is a cute craft and a fun mindfulness activity to help kids focus on what they are thankful for. Make the turkey bucket, then let them take turns pulling a stick out and answering the prompt.
by Creatively Beth
Thanksgiving Handprint Tree
One way to make a fun variant on the thankfulness tree is using handprints for the leaves. This will add a personal touch that kids will love.
by Crafts By Amanda
Gratitude Pumpkin Craft
This multi-purpose craft is a surefire winner. The beautifully stenciled front reminds us we have “Many Thanks” to give. On the back, family members write something they are thankful for each day leading up to Thanksgiving.
by The Country Chic Cottage
Toilet Paper Roll Turkey
Want a craft that reminds kids to be thankful but also gives you something to be thankful for? This toilet paper tube turkey is a great thankfulness project for the littles, and the simple materials and printable mean it won’t add much to your workload, either.
by The Best Ideas for Kids
DIY Be Thankful Jar Printable Cards
These cards are the perfect activity for the whole family to do in the days leading up to Thanksgiving. As days pass, everyone fills out the prompts, and then you gather them all together to read on Thanksgiving Day.
by Oh My! Creative
Thanksgiving Thankful Tree Craft – With Printable
This thankfulness idea is a craft project, a decoration, and a family activity all rolled into one. At dinner every night, the family each fills out a leaf with whatever they are thankful for, which is then taped to a window. As the days pass, the window is increasingly covered with gratitude.
by Fox Farm Home
Sunflower Paper Plate Craft
Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be all fall leaves and turkeys. This thankfulness sunflower paper plate craft is another excellent decoration that lets kids reflect on all the joys in their lives.
by Homeschool Preschool
Thankful Turkey Printable and Craft
Keeping things simple is also a great way to really focus on gratitude. Print up this little thankful turkey, and kids can cut him out, color him, and fill in things they are thankful for. Then, he can live in their room as a reminder.
by Homan at Home
I Am Thankful Turkey Crowns
These thankful crowns are an excellent way for littles to express their gratitude. The template comes in a pre-colored version, or black and white, so kids can color their own.
by Kids Craft Room
DIY Paper Acorn Boxes with Mini Gratitude Books
If kids are expected to journal their thankfulness, it's a good idea to give them a fun way to do it. These handmade acorn boxes are the perfect place to store their journals as they fill them out.
by Barley & Birch
Ideas for Enjoying These Thankful Crafts for Kids
Need some inspiration on how to display all of this amazing thankfulness? No worries - I've got you! Here are some of my ideas for helping your children show all their hard work plus appreciation for their blessings.
First, I suggest that you consider the size and shape of the craft. A hanging craft can be placed in your homeschool area, classroom wall (or hall way), or door. Other great places to display your hanging thankful crafts include windows and refrigerator.
If the grateful craft has a 3D-like effect, I recommend placing the it on a fire place mantle, shelf, desk, or table. Consider transforming some of the flat crafts into magnets full of positivity by placing magnetic squares or tape on the back.
Make Thankfulness a Meaningful Part of Your Day
I love how these thankful projects for kids are practical, affordable, and adorable. Plus, I think it's awesome how you can use these ideas for both creative projects and homemade decorations!
Which of these thankful crafts for kids will you be trying first? And what other gratitude-themed craft ideas for children do you have? Please share in the comments area at the bottom of this post!