Thanksgiving week is busy, and children often have more energy than the grown-ups have patience. A few printable coloring pages and a simple plan can give you calm pockets in the day, whether you are cooking, traveling or teaching a classroom. Here are easy ideas that work with just paper and crayons.

The short version

  1. Print the pages the day before, so they are ready when you need them.
  2. Give little ones simple pages and older kids a detailed scene.
  3. Turn coloring into a small activity: place cards, a thankful list or a table banner.
  4. Keep a "finished early" option nearby.

1. Make a coloring station at the kids' table

Set a tray with crayons and a few pages at the children's end of the table. It gives them something to do while dinner is being finished, and it keeps crayons off the good tablecloth. Washable markers are fine for older kids, but crayons are less messy.

2. Color before the guests arrive

A calm half hour of coloring in the morning can make the afternoon easier. Let each child choose one page, and ask them to pick three or four colors for the whole picture. Small choices keep the activity from turning into a long search through the crayon box.

3. Turn pages into place cards

Fold a colored page in half or cut out a favorite picture and write a guest's name on it. Children are proud to see their own art on the table. For a young child, a simple page such as a pumpkin or a leaf is plenty.

4. Start a "thankful" list while you color

While the children color, ask one easy question at a time: "What is one thing you are happy about today?" You do not need a speech. A short chat while hands are busy often goes more smoothly than a formal conversation.

5. Hang a banner or a gallery

Tape the finished pages along a wall or on a string with clothespins. Let each child say one thing about their picture. It turns a quiet activity into a small sharing moment, and it makes the room look festive.

6. Match the page to the child

For toddlers and preschoolers, choose pages with one big subject, thick outlines and large open areas, such as a turkey, a pumpkin or a squirrel. Kindergarten and early elementary children often enjoy a detailed scene with many small areas. If you are not sure which is right, see our guide on how to choose coloring pages by age.

7. Have a "finished early" option

Some children finish in two minutes. Keep a second page, a blank sheet for free drawing or a picture book ready. A short list in pictures on the fridge helps children who cannot read yet.

Using the pages in a classroom

In a classroom, a short coloring routine fits easily into the week before the holiday. For a ready-made structure with a timer and a tidy-up step, read our quiet-time ideas for preschool classrooms. If you are printing for many children, our guide on how to print coloring pages covers settings that keep the drawing on the page and save ink.

Free Thanksgiving pages to start with

The free Thanksgiving Friends pack has six bold, simple pages for toddlers and preschoolers, including a turkey, a pumpkin, a cornucopia, autumn leaves, a squirrel and a pumpkin pie, plus one detailed harvest scene for older kids. You are welcome to print it for home or the classroom. You can also browse all of our Thanksgiving coloring pages.