Am I the only one in shock that Thanksgiving is coming up so quickly? Whew, it certainly snuck up on me! To be perfectly honest I am looking forward to Thanksgiving more this year than I can remember for any other year.

Our family has been so blessed this past year and even still that I can’t help but have thanksgiving exude from my heart. I want my kids to also realize the blessings in their life and focus on those things during this season, and always.

I have been exploring blogging sites to find fun, simple, thankful crafts, ideas and snacks for our family to enjoy this Thanksgiving and hope that you will find some to do with your kids too. Enjoy!

1. This “Give Thanks Calendar Craft” from Comfy in the Kitchen is a perfect addition to your home this season. Katina offers in-depth instructions with easy to follow pictures. Even though we are already into our 30 days you could always make a 10 day countdown. Anything to get your family thinking about thankfulness is worth doing.

2. I can’t get enough of this CUTE Thanksgiving banner over at Lovely, Lovely Things! So simple, yet makes me teary just thinking of hanging it up every year with my children’s handprints stuck in time even as they grow. I;m sure you could also get them laminated to keep them going for years and years.

3. A cute and low supply craft is this “Thankful Pumpkin” from Playful Crafts. The directions are easy to follow and the pictures are really helpful. I love that we write what we are thankful for on the pumpkin for all to see.

4. As a fan of anything vintage this “Thankful Tree” from Simply Vintage Girl is right up my alley. It’s beautiful, very low overhead, and a perfect decoration for any home. We are having a big group over for thanksgiving and I hope that everyone will add to our tree…and keep it going every year!

5. My kids and I have made salvation bracelets before and this “Thanksgiving Bracelet” from The Ramblings of a Crazy Woman is just as wonderful, and a sure hit. As you make the bracelet you tell the story of Thanksgiving so that the kids will be able to retell it later as well. My kids are planning on making these for themselves and their friends.

6. Anything with toes or fingers makes my heart glad! Check out this cute “Thanksgiving Tree” from Little Page Turners with finger prints all over it. So simple and yet what kid doesn’t love finger painting? This would be a cute one to frame and hang up during the Thanksgiving season or even laminate and use as a placemat.

7. Every year the kids and their friends have used this turkey printable to make a “Thankful Turkey”. I cut out the body of the turkey, discarded the feathers, and cut out feathers from different colors of construction paper. We then write one thing we are thankful for on each feather and tape (or glue) them to the back of the turkey in a “fan turkey” look. It’s simple, easy, non-messy,and super cute. We laminated ours from last year (I’m looking for it to post a pic) and they are so sweet to see what they’re thankful for each year.

8. For the past few years we have gone over to a friend’s house to make our “Thanksgiving Shirts”. I am tentatively planning on doing them again this year (we just moved) on our own. The kids love making them and I love seeing them wear them. I am still looking in the boxes for ours so for now, check out this t-shirt tutorial from It’s Gravy, Baby. Our’s have never even looked this good but however they turn out, your kid made them and they’re gorgeous. Take a risk with me and make some shirts!

9. Of course, Thanksgiving is 50% about the food. I don’t know about you guys but we don’t end up eating lunch until late afternoon so snacks are very much needed to keep the kids happy. Check out this cute “Fruit Gobbler” from Spoonful that even the kids can help you to make which helps them to pass the time even more. Score!

Don’t want a large one, try mini gobblers from Super Healthy Kids!

10. Our Thanksgiving meal is always a tiny bit short of greens so adding in “Veggie Dip in a Turkey Cup” from Cute Food For Kids is the perfect addition and believe me, if the kids are starving they will eat it!

Have fun making memories with your family and enjoy this sweet Thanksgiving time.

Happy Thanksgiving from our Whole Family to yours!