Fun Thanksgiving drawing activities for kids include tracing and coloring a cartoon turkey, drawing what they’re thankful for, making place cards for the table and setting up a kids’ table drawing station. They keep kids busy while dinner cooks, add a personal touch to the table and give kids an easy way to think about gratitude.
Start with a free turkey
Our free trace then color turkey page is a quick win for kids aged 3 and up: trace the dotted outline, then color it in. Older kids can draw a turkey from shapes: a circle body, a smaller circle head and a fan of feathers. See drawing with shapes.
Gratitude drawings
Ask kids to draw three things they’re thankful for: a person, a place and a thing. Younger kids can dictate a sentence for you to write. Older kids can make a full “thankful page” with labels. It turns a big idea into something kids can show. See draw then write prompts.
Place cards
Fold small cards in half. Kids write a guest’s name and draw a little turkey, leaf, pie or the guest’s favorite animal. It gives kids an important job and makes the table special.
A kids’ table drawing station
- Cover the kids’ table with kraft paper and leave crayons out.
- Add a few prompts: “Draw a turkey in disguise,” “Draw your plate,” “Draw everyone at the table.”
- Put out a drawing book or printable pages for kids who want guidance.
Grown-ups get to talk; kids stay at the table longer.
Silly Thanksgiving ideas
- Turkey in disguise: draw a turkey disguised as something else so it won’t be eaten (a pirate, a robot, an astronaut).
- Food monsters: turn a pumpkin pie or a pile of mashed potatoes into a monster. See food monsters and picky eaters.
- The parade: design your own giant parade balloon.
- Pilgrim pets: draw the family pet in a buckled hat.
In the classroom
Directed drawing of a turkey is a classic November lesson for kindergarten and first grade. Follow it with a writing prompt: “I am thankful for...” See directed drawing and back to school art activities for classroom routines.
Long weekend
Thanksgiving weekend often means travel and quiet afternoons. A drawing book and some crayons are easy to pack. See road trip activities for kids and rainy day activities.
Tip: Save the kraft paper tablecloth after dinner. Cut out the best drawings and date them. It’s a family record of every Thanksgiving.
The book that helps
Cute Cartoon Animals has the barnyard friends for a Thanksgiving table, and Food Monsters is perfect for drawing what’s on the plate.
Trace Then Color: Cute Cartoon Animals
How to Draw: Cute Cartoon Animals
How to Draw: Food MonstersAs an Amazon Associate, FirstArtBooks earns from qualifying purchases.
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Questions
What are easy Thanksgiving drawings for kids?
A turkey made from a circle and a fan of feathers, pumpkins, pies, leaves and a cornucopia are all simple and fun.
What can kids do at Thanksgiving while dinner cooks?
Set up a drawing station at the kids’ table with paper, crayons, prompts and printable pages, and have them make place cards for guests.
What is a turkey in disguise?
A popular activity where kids draw a turkey disguised as something else, like a pirate or a robot, so it won’t be eaten for dinner.