Thanksgiving decorations for daycare can be tough to plan when you have a room full of busy toddlers. I created this guide because most setups online require expensive supplies that just do not work for infant room daycare decorations thanksgiving themes.
If you need simple ideas, swapping store-bought items for hands-on crafts makes all the difference. As you scroll, look for practical thanksgiving classroom decorations daycare teachers can easily create with basic supplies already sitting in the craft closet.
1. “Our Tiny Turkeys” Infant Footprint Wall Art
Getting babies involved in holiday prep usually ends in a mess, but this footprint project keeps things completely contained. It gives you a highly personalized decoration that parents absolutely love seeing at pick-up time.
Crafting Supplies
You will need washable, non-toxic tempera paint in fall colors, heavy white cardstock, brown construction paper, and safety scissors. A pack of glue sticks and some baby wipes for quick cleanup are also essential.
How to Make It
Start by painting the bottom of the infant’s foot with a bright orange or yellow color and gently press it onto the white cardstock. Once the paint dries completely, cut out the footprint shape to act as the turkey’s feathered body. Glue a small brown paper circle over the heel area to create the turkey’s head, adding a tiny beak and eyes.
Styling Tip
Group all the finished footprints together on a low bulletin board to create a “flock” that the crawling babies can easily look at.
2. “Sweet as Pie” Classroom Door Display
Blank doors can feel uninviting, so turning the entrance into a giant dessert instantly warms up the hallway. This craft uses everyday paper goods to create a massive, textured pie slice that kids can help assemble.
Crafting Supplies
Gather several large white paper plates, orange craft paint, sponge brushes, and a bag of jumbo cotton balls. You also need strong double-sided tape or sticky tack to attach everything to the wooden door.
How to Make It
Have the toddlers use the sponge brushes to paint the inner circle of the paper plates a rich, pumpkin-orange color. Let them dry, then cut each plate in half so they look like individual slices of pie. Add a dollop of liquid school glue in the center of each slice and let the kids press a jumbo cotton ball right on top for the whipped cream.
Styling Tip
Arrange the slices in a circular pattern right in the middle of your classroom door to mimic a fully sliced pumpkin pie.
3. Paper Plate Turkey Window Hangings
If your classroom lacks natural light, these bright suncatchers will catch whatever sun comes through the glass. They are visually striking and give the kids a great fine motor skill activity during craft time.
Crafting Supplies
Grab clear contact paper, plain paper plates, scissors, and a variety of tissue paper squares in reds, yellows, and oranges. You also need brown paper for the turkey head and a hole punch with some string.
How to Make It
Cut the entire center out of a paper plate, leaving only the outer rim. Stick a piece of clear contact paper across the open circle, sticky side facing you. Let the children stick the colorful tissue paper squares onto the sticky surface until it is fully covered, then attach a brown paper turkey head to the bottom rim.
Styling Tip
Hang these at varying heights directly on the windowpanes using clear suction cups so the light shines directly through the tissue paper.
4. “TREEmendously Thankful” Gratitude Board
Finding a way to include every single child in one large display is easier when you use a community tree. It fills up empty wall space quickly and serves as a daily reminder of the season’s meaning.
Crafting Supplies
You need a large roll of brown butcher paper, pre-cut construction paper leaves in various fall colors, and dark markers. Painter’s tape is best for securing the heavy paper to your painted walls.
How to Make It
Twist and crumple the brown butcher paper to form a large tree trunk and thick branches, then tape it securely against a blank wall. Hand out the paper leaves to the toddlers and ask them what makes them happy, writing their short answers on the leaves. Use rolled tape to attach their customized leaves all over the crumpled paper branches.
Styling Tip
Place the trunk all the way down to the baseboard so the tree looks like it is growing right out of the classroom floor.
5. Pinecone and Felt Turkey Table Centerpieces
Nature walks are a regular part of our daily routine, making this pinecone craft a great way to use what we gather outdoors. They sit perfectly flat on tables and bring a nice rustic texture indoors.
Crafting Supplies
Collect clean, dry pinecones, stiff craft felt in autumn shades, googly eyes, and liquid craft glue. You will also need small orange felt scraps cut into tiny triangles for the beaks.
How to Make It
Cut the colored felt into long, rounded feather shapes. Apply a thick line of liquid glue to the bottom edge of the felt feathers and wedge them firmly into the back scales of the pinecone. Glue two googly eyes and the small orange beak onto the front, slightly narrower end of the pinecone to complete the face.
Styling Tip
Line three or four of these up down the center of the snack table to make mealtime feel a bit more festive.
6. Autumn Felt Leaf Window Garland
Bare windows during the fall season practically beg for a pop of color that will not block the view of the playground. Threading garland is surprisingly durable and holds up well even in high-traffic playrooms.
Crafting Supplies
Pick up a pack of thick craft felt, leaf stencils, heavy twine, and a large plastic yarn needle. A good pair of fabric scissors will make cutting out the shapes much faster for the teachers.
How to Make It
Trace the leaf stencils onto the different colors of felt and cut out about twenty leaves. Thread the heavy twine through the plastic needle and show the older toddlers how to push the needle gently through the base of each felt leaf. Slide the leaves down the string, spacing them out evenly across the length of the twine.
Styling Tip
Drape the finished garland in a gentle scalloped pattern across the top of the classroom windows or over the main doorway.
7. Paper Bag Turkey Centerpieces
When you have leftover lunch supplies, turning them into festive table mascots is a smart way to recycle. These have a great 3D shape and stand up completely on their own.
Crafting Supplies
Grab standard brown paper lunch bags, scrap newspaper or packing paper for stuffing, colorful construction paper, and glue sticks.
How to Make It
Have the kids crumble up the scrap paper into tight balls and stuff them into the brown lunch bags until they are halfway full. Fold the top of the bag down and staple or tape it shut to create a plump body. Cut large feather shapes out of the construction paper and glue them in a fan shape onto the flat back of the stuffed bag.
Styling Tip
Sit these on top of the children’s individual cubbies so they each have their own customized turkey greeting them every morning.
8. “Welcome to Our Patch” Scarecrow Door
Greet parents at drop-off with a friendly face that the older toddlers can actually help piece together. It transforms a boring, flat door into a welcoming, character-driven focal point.
Crafting Supplies
You need large sheets of yellow, blue, and tan construction paper, some raffia or yellow yarn for hair, and thick black markers. Sticky tack works best for assembling the pieces on the door without peeling the paint.
How to Make It
Cut a large tan circle for the scarecrow’s face and tape it to the upper half of the door. Use the blue paper to cut out overalls and the yellow for a classic plaid shirt, taping them below the head. Tape strips of raffia or yellow yarn poking out from under a brown paper hat, and let the kids draw a big, stitched smile with the markers.
Styling Tip
Add a few paper pumpkins around the bottom edge of the door frame to make it look like the scarecrow is sitting in a field.
9. Turkey Ribbon Windsocks
Hanging items from the ceiling draws the eye up and makes a small playroom feel much taller and more open. These windsocks flutter beautifully whenever the heating vent clicks on.
Crafting Supplies
Save your empty toilet paper or paper towel tubes, and gather some brown paint, googly eyes, and spools of satin ribbon in fall colors. You also need a hole punch and some fishing line for hanging.
How to Make It
Paint the cardboard tubes completely brown and let them dry on a piece of newspaper. Glue a pair of eyes and a small folded paper beak to the center of the tube. Cut long, flowing strips of the colored ribbon and glue them inside the bottom rim of the tube so they dangle downwards.
Styling Tip
Punch two holes at the top of the tube, tie the fishing line through them, and hang the windsocks at varying heights from the drop ceiling grid.
10. Baby Handprint Corn on the Cob Banners
Sensory projects work incredibly well for younger kids who love getting their hands covered in safe, washable paint. This craft creates a highly textured banner that looks totally unique to your specific class.
Crafting Supplies
You will need yellow and green finger paint, large sheets of white paper, scissors, and a long piece of ribbon.
How to Make It
Paint the children’s palms with yellow paint and press them repeatedly in a long, overlapping oval shape on the paper to mimic corn kernels. Once the yellow paint dries, paint their hands green and press one handprint on each side of the bottom to act as the corn husks. Cut around the finished corn shape and punch holes in the top to string them onto the ribbon.
Styling Tip
String the corn cutouts tightly together so the banner looks abundant and full, hanging it directly above the changing station for visual interest.
11. Shape-Based Turkey Cubby Tags
Helping kids recognize their personal space is essential, and these geometric name plates double as a fun learning tool. They are clean, simple, and teach basic shapes while looking incredibly festive.
Crafting Supplies
Pre-cut colored cardstock into large circles (body), small circles (head), medium triangles (beak), and long rectangles (feathers). You need a permanent marker to write the names and basic glue sticks for assembly.
How to Make It
Give each child one large circle and one small circle, showing them how to glue the small head onto the larger body. Let them arrange and glue the long colored rectangles behind the body to fan out like a tail. Write the child’s name clearly across the center of the large circle in bold permanent marker.
Styling Tip
Laminate these tags once they are dry so they can withstand sticky fingers being pressed against them all month long.
12. Coffee Can Scarecrow Planters
Before you toss out empty tin containers from the kitchen, wash them out for this heavy-duty desk accent. They are heavy enough that toddlers cannot easily tip them over if they bump the table.
Crafting Supplies
Clean, empty coffee cans, a roll of burlap ribbon or fabric, hot glue (for teacher use only), large buttons, and some faux autumn foliage or fake sunflowers.
How to Make It
Wrap the burlap tightly around the outside of the coffee can, securing it at the seam with a line of hot glue. Glue two large buttons onto the burlap for eyes and draw a stitched mouth with a thick marker. Fill the inside of the can with the faux autumn leaves and bright fake sunflowers so it looks like a seasonal planter.
Styling Tip
Keep this display on the main teacher’s desk or near the sign-in clipboard to give the adult areas a touch of the season.
13. “We Are Thankful For You” Photo Wreath
Infants love looking at faces, making a photo-based project a fantastic visual stimulant for the baby room. It is incredibly sweet and helps build a sense of community among the families.
Crafting Supplies
Print out small wallet-sized photos of every child in the class. You will also need a sturdy cardboard ring (cut from a heavy box), plenty of paper autumn leaves, and standard school glue.
How to Make It
Spread glue generously all over the flat cardboard ring. Have the kids help stick the paper autumn leaves all over the surface, overlapping them so none of the cardboard shows through. Once the leaves are set, glue the printed photos of the babies evenly spaced around the wreath directly on top of the leaves.
Styling Tip
Hang the photo wreath at the children’s eye level near the reading nook so they can crawl over and point at their friends.
14. Pumpkin Turkey Table Toppers
Real gourds rot far too quickly indoors, so using craft foam alternatives saves you from a smelly cleanup later. These little guys are highly durable and can even be used as toys during free play.
Crafting Supplies
Buy a pack of small foam craft pumpkins, colorful craft feathers, googly eyes, and some non-toxic craft glue.
How to Make It
Give each child a small foam pumpkin to act as the base body of the turkey. Have them dip the tips of the craft feathers into the glue and poke them directly into the softer foam on the back of the pumpkin. Glue the eyes onto the front, using a small piece of red paper for the wattle.
Styling Tip
Group these foam pumpkins together in a small basket or wooden crate in the center of the room as a tactile display.
15. Wrapped Wheat Stalk Bouquets
Adding a touch of rustic charm to high shelves keeps the seasonal vibe alive without tempting tiny grabbing hands. This is mostly a teacher-led craft, but it elevates the look of the room tremendously.
Crafting Supplies
You need a bundle of natural dried wheat stalks, neon and metallic embroidery thread, and some clear tape. A heavy mason jar or sturdy vase is needed for displaying them.
How to Make It
Take a small bunch of three or four wheat stalks and tape them tightly together near the middle of the stems. Tie the end of the embroidery thread around the tape, then tightly wrap the bright thread around the stems until the tape is completely covered. Tie off the thread securely and place the wrapped bundles standing up inside the vase.
Styling Tip
Place this vase high up on a tall bookshelf or storage cabinet entirely out of reach, ensuring the space looks festive without posing a hazard.
FAQs
What type of paint is safest for infant handprints?
Always use non-toxic, washable tempera paint or dedicated finger paints designed specifically for babies. These wash off easily with baby wipes and are safe even if a little bit accidentally gets near their mouths during the craft.
How can I make these decorations last the whole month?
For any paper-based crafts like the cubby tags or the footprint art, running them through a laminator is your best bet. It seals the paper, making it highly durable against tearing and easy to wipe down with a sanitizing cloth.
Where is the best place to hang crafts in a daycare?
To keep things looking nice while preventing damage, hang delicate pieces from the ceiling grid, above the window lines, or flat against the walls behind the main play zones. Keep tactile, durable crafts down at eye level where the kids can safely interact with them.
Crafting with toddlers does not have to be stressful when you focus on simple setups and inexpensive materials. These easy projects help you fill the classroom with warm colors and personalized touches without taking time away from actual teaching and play.
If you loved these low-stress classroom ideas, be sure to save this post to your Pinterest board so you have quick access to the supply lists right before your next trip to the craft store!