Paper plate turkey crafts for toddlers are one of those activities that feel made for the festive period. They’re colourful, forgiving, and don’t require much planning — which is exactly what you want when attention spans are short and patience is limited.
This paper plate turkey craft for toddlers is simple, a little bit messy, and ideal for kids that don’t care whether things look “right” —It actually looks even better if it is a bit funny. It works brilliantly as a Thanksgiving craft, but it’s just as useful in the run-up to Christmas or any time you want an easy, seasonal activity at home or in the classroom.
All you need is a paper plate, some paint or paper, and whatever craft bits you already have lying around. No templates, no stress, and absolutely no need for it to look perfect — because toddler crafts rarely do.
We’ve made a lot of paper plate crafts over the years, and this one always gets a good reaction. It’s quick to set up, easy to adapt, and gives kids plenty of freedom to do their own thing… even if that thing involves sticking feathers absolutely everywhere.
If your turkey ends up looking more like a confused blob with eyes, that’s fine.
Our first one did too.
What you’ll need
You don’t need anything fancy for this one. We just used what we already had at home.
- Paper plate
- Brown paint (or crayons / felt tips for less mess)
- Coloured paper or paint for feathers
- Googly eyes (optional, but always a hit)
- Glue
- Scissors (adult use only)
That’s it. No special tools. No last-minute shop runs.
How to make a paper plate turkey
This is not a precision craft. Think “turkey-inspired” rather than anatomically correct.
1. Paint the paper plate
Paint the paper plate brown and leave it to dry.
If your child wants to mix in other colours, let them. Turkeys don’t complain.
For toddlers, one thick layer of paint is more than enough — perfection is not the goal here.
If you’re avoiding paint altogether, colouring the plate works just as well.
2. Make the feathers
While the plate is drying (or before, or after — timing is flexible), cut feather shapes from coloured paper.
You can:
- Use red, orange, yellow and brown
- Cut simple oval or teardrop shapes
- Let older kids help with cutting if appropriate
For younger toddlers, this is definitely an adult job.
3. Stick the feathers on
Once the plate is mostly dry, glue the feathers around the edge of the plate to make the turkey’s tail.
They don’t need to be evenly spaced.
They don’t need to match.
They just need to stick (mostly).
At this point, ours decided the back of the plate also needed decorating. I didn’t argue.
4. Add the face
Stick on googly eyes or draw them on with a pen.
You can also:
- Cut a small triangle beak from orange paper
- Add a red wattle if you’re feeling ambitious
- Let your child decide where everything goes
If the eyes are wonky, you’re doing it right.
5. Leave it to dry
Put the turkey somewhere safe and try to stop it being picked up every 20 seconds.
This step may or may not succeed.
Is this paper plate turkey craft suitable for toddlers?
Yes — with a bit of supervision, this craft works really well for toddlers.
Age guide:
- 2–3 years: Toddler does the decorating only, adult does the cutting.
- 4+ years: Kids are more independent at this age, but still need to be supervised. There’s always a good chance they’ll simply paint your walls instead. Always make sure to use child friendly scissors.
It’s short, flexible, and easy to abandon and come back to — which is ideal when moods change quickly.
Simple variations to try
If you want to change things up or make more than one turkey, here are a few easy ideas:
- Handprint feathers: trace and cut handprints from paper
- Painted feathers: let kids paint directly onto the plate edge
- Sticker turkey: minimal mess, maximum enthusiasm
- Name turkey: write your child’s name on the body
These small changes also make it easier if you’re crafting with more than one child.
Why we like this craft at home
This is one of those crafts that works because there’s no pressure to finish it.
It doesn’t matter if it’s neat.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a bit wonky.
It doesn’t matter if they wander off halfway through and leave you to tidy up a turkey with half a face.
Sometimes it’s just about sitting at the table together and doing something, even if that something ends up covered in glue.
It reminds me of when we used to make things like little paper plate cars and spend quality time together racing them. He always won.
More paper plate craft ideas
If your child enjoyed this one, you might also like:
- Paper Plate Heart Craft
- Paper Plate Butterfly Craft
- Paper Plate Earth Day Craft
- Paper Plate Fire Engine Craft
I’ll be adding more paper plate craft ideas over time, all with the same aim: simple, low-pressure activities you can actually manage at home. These are all suitable for toddler and pre-k kids.
Paper plate turkey craft FAQs
Can I make this without paint?
Yes — crayons, markers or coloured paper work perfectly and are much easier to clean up.
How long does it take?
About 10–15 minutes of actual interest, which is usually the limit for toddlers.
Is this a good Thanksgiving craft for toddlers?
Definitely. It’s simple, recognisable, and easy to adapt for different ages.
Final thought
If your turkey looks surprised, lopsided, or slightly confused — you’ve done it right.
That’s real crafting at home.
More great crafts on The Diary of Dad blog:
