These Thanksgiving Coloring Pages Will Keep Kids Busy ‘Til Turkey Time

Thanksgiving may look totally different this year, but it’s still a holiday about gratitude, family (albeit on Zoom) and most delightfully food. But in order to prepare for all that pants-expanding deliciousness, you need some kid-free time in the kitchen (because frankly, kids tend to add ingredients that don’t exist in the recipes — or, you know, that aren’t edible at all). To the rescue: printable Thanksgiving coloring pages.

Plenty of us want to be that parent who always cooks with their kids and who isn’t bothered by a toddler sacrificing an entire bottle of vanilla in the lasagna in favor of a beautiful bonding experience in the kitchen. But Thanksgiving is not that time, people. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

And although the chances of you having even five minutes alone in the kitchen without hearing nary a “When is it going to be ready?” or “Can I taste that?” or “But I want to put gummy bears in the stuffing!” are slim to none, don’t panic. Because we’ve rounded up 21 of the cutest and most busy-making Thanksgiving coloring pages for all your little turkey day fiends. These will keep kids occupied for hours so you can cook in peace. (And if you need more ideas? Check out these easy Thanksgiving crafts for kids.)

No promises about that gummy-bear-stuffing infiltration, though. Keep a bottle of wine handy just in case.

A version of this article was originally published in March 2014.