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  When kids think of Thanksgiving, they might have visions of sitting at the children's table, enjoying food and fun with their families. To help kids feel like a real part of the planning that goes into the festivities of Thanksgiving, they can be given the responsibility of preparing centerpieces for the dinner table. Allowing the kids to get creative and add their own spin on the Thanksgiving decor will make the holiday more meaningful for them each year.
  
  

Thankful Boxes

• Kids can have an immense amount of fun creating thankful boxes that will be placed in the center of each table. Many families like to incorporate the idea of expressing what you are thankful for during this holiday. The kids can work together to write out special messages of all of the things they are thankful for on stationary cards, or Thanksgiving holiday themed post its. The notes are then placed inside of medium sized boxes that can be purchased in advance or decorated by the kids using old shoe boxes. During dinner, each member of the family can take turns reading from the boxes and discussing what they are thankful for.
  
  

Tissue Turkeys

• It wouldn't be Thanksgiving without the turkey. Kids can easily make turkey centerpieces with a few materials. All that is needed is tissue paper, pipe cleaners, tape and paper clips. Secure a variety of fall colored tissue paper in the center with a pipe cleaner. Then, fan out the tissue paper to represent the turkey's body. Design the turkey's head by wrapping several pieces of tissue paper around the pipe cleaner to create the neck and head. Kids will most likely need adult assistance to work with some of the tissue paper. These centerpieces are fun and creative, and the kids will be proud of their creation.
  
  

Thanksgiving Trees

• This Thanksgiving centerpiece requires all of the kids to lend a hand, literally. Have each child or every member of the family trace his hand on fall colored construction paper. Once the hands are traced and cut out, write your name on the hand. Glue the signed hands closely together on the branches of a construction paper tree that can be designed and cut out ahead of time by an adult.