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Ask A Minnesota Expert: Thanksgiving Crafts For Kids

Looking for a way to entertain the kids while livening up your holiday décor? With the help of Kidcreate Studio Founder and CEO Lara Olson, we've come up with some creative solutions. Kids will gobble up these Thanksgiving-themed craft ideas and your home will reap the benefits. Parents everywhere are giving thanks!

Lara Olson
Kidcreate Studio
1785 Radio Drive, Suite F
Woodbury, MN 55125
(651) 735-0880
www.kidcreatestudio.com

Lara's goal of exposing kids to a variety of art concepts and techniques is realized at her two Kidcreate Studio locations in Woodbury and Eden Prairie. Here, children ages 18 months to 12 years can take part in classes, camps and birthday parties that center around creativity and art education. There are a variety of class themes to choose from, but if you're looking for more Thanksgiving-inspired art, check out its Thanksgiving Craft Party. Both locations will be holding sessions on November 24th and 26th. In the meantime, check out Lara's tips for seasonal crafts below.

Turkey-Tail Thankfulness Activity

This fun and easy craft will have all of your Thanksgiving guests thinking about what they are thankful for and will spark great table conversation. To start, have the kids cut out dozens of paper feathers from construction paper. Then, take a paper clip and straighten one end of the clip so it makes a stick-pin and tape it to the base of each feather. Set these feathers out for guests to write down what they are thankful for. Each feather can then be stuck into a small pumpkin that has a turkey face painted on it so it makes a turkey tail and becomes a festive table centerpiece.

The Best Things About Thanksgiving

Fabulous Fall Bouquet

Head out on an autumn hike with the children and collect items for a seasonal bouquet centerpiece for your home. Anything that adds texture and color to the Thanksgiving table and sparks the young ones' interest is perfect. Ideas for your search include feathery grass bottoms, milkweed pods, cattails and bright autumn leaves. This makes for a cost-free decoration and great way to get the kids outdoors.

RelatedBest Cheap Activities To Do With Kids In Minnesota

Fun Feather Head-Dress

Celebrate the spirit of the Native Americans with a simple feather headband. Cut feathers out of construction paper in many colors. Lay out a 24" piece of packing tape with the sticky-side up on the table. Add as many feathers as you like and put another piece of tape with the sticky-side down on the backside. Measure to fit your child's head and attach the ends with tape.

Kids Playing In Leaves

Leafy Lanterns

Let children explore in the backyard or take them on a nature walk to collect colorful leaves. Using Modge Podge, make a collage of these leaves on the outside of a glass jar. An adult can then put a tea candle inside the jar and light. Watch as the lantern brightens up the room with beautiful fall colors.

Thanksgiving Leftovers

Have children make seasonal decorations and help the environment by using recycled materials in this silly project. Gather any items that can be painted, cut or re-used in some way to create a Thanksgiving scene. Kids will ignite their imagination on this craft. Ideas include decorating toilet paper tubes as pilgrims or painting plastic bottles and sticking cardboard scraps out of them to make a field of corn.

Related: Ask A Minnesota Expert: Easy Crafts To Do With Your Kids

Cortney Mohnk is a freelance writer covering all things Minnesota. She is also a public relations and event planning professional. Her most important job is mother to her young daughter, who is her partner-in-crime when checking out the family entertainment scene in the Twin Cities. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.

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