Candy Hand Turkey Craft for Kids | Easy Thanksgiving Craft

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This post was updated on November 20, 2025 with streamlined directions and improved readability for a smoother crafting experience.

Looking for an easy Thanksgiving craft for kids? This Candy Hand Turkey is a fun twist on the classic handprint turkey, using colorful candy to create the feathers, face, and feet.

It’s simple enough for preschool and elementary-aged kids and works well for Thanksgiving classroom activities, homeschool crafts, playdates, or a fun afternoon at home.

It’s also a cute way to use up a little leftover Halloween candy before Thanksgiving.

Why Kids Will Love This Candy Turkey Craft

This Thanksgiving craft is:

Easy to make
Colorful and fun
Great for practicing fine motor skills
Easy to customize
Perfect for preschool and elementary-aged kids
A fun way to use leftover Halloween candy

Fun Turkey Facts for Kids

Add a little learning to your craft time with these fun turkey facts:

Wild turkeys can fly at speeds of up to about 55 mph.
Wild turkeys often sleep in trees to help stay safe from predators.
A turkey’s head can change shades of red, blue, or white depending on its mood.
Turkeys have excellent eyesight and a very wide field of vision.

Want to keep learning? You can read more turkey facts from World Animal Protection.

How to Make a Candy Hand Turkey

Supplies

Step 1: Trace Your Child’s Hand

Place your child’s hand flat on a piece of cardstock and trace around it with a marker.

The palm will become the turkey’s body, the thumb will become its head, and the fingers will become the feathers.

Step 2: Decorate the Turkey’s Body

Brush glue over the palm and thumb areas.

Cover the glue with sprinkles, then gently shake off any excess.

Step 3: Add the Candy Feathers

Glue pieces of candy corn onto each finger to create the turkey’s colorful feathers.

Let your child choose the colors and arrangement to make their turkey unique.

Step 4: Make the Turkey’s Face

Create the face by adding:

One candy eyeball
A small piece of candy corn for the beak
A red Sixlet for the wattle

Step 5: Add the Feet

Glue brown Sixlets near the bottom of the turkey to create two little feet.

Let everything dry completely before displaying the finished craft.

And that’s it! Your child now has a silly, colorful Candy Hand Turkey to display for Thanksgiving.

Tips for Making This Thanksgiving Craft

If you’re doing this craft with younger children, pour the candy and sprinkles into small bowls first so everything is easy to reach.

You may also want to use a tray or sheet of parchment paper underneath the craft to catch extra sprinkles.

If you’re making these with a group of kids, write each child’s name and the year on the back. These make adorable Thanksgiving keepsakes.

More Thanksgiving Crafts & Activities for Kids

Try these other kid-friendly Thanksgiving ideas:

Candy Hand Turkey – Fun Thanksgiving Kids Craft

Why Kids Will Love This Candy Turkey Craft

Fun Turkey Facts for Kids