Make sure this “Thanksgiving” is much more than the traditional dinner and family get together with these 40+ wonderful, heartwarming Thanksgiving Activities for Kids & Family.
These fun thanksgiving crafts and activities will keep your kids happily engaged while allowing you time to plan out the family holiday.
Perfect for kids of all ages, these thoughtful hands-on thanksgiving activity ideas are perfect for grown ups as well and just right for the Thanksgiving spirit.
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Thanksgiving Activities for Kids
1. Go On a Nature Walk
Thanksgiving is all about family and eating! While you gobble down a hearty big meal with your family, it is a good idea to digest it by taking a relaxing nature walk.
Take a mindful, rejuvenating nature walk with your family to dial into their lives and daily routine. These walks present a great opportunity to connect with your children the fun way and get them talking.
2. Thanksgiving Jokes
Family that laughs together stays together. Be the life of the thanksgiving party with these funny thanksgiving jokes that will crack everyone up.
Clean and kid-friendly, these jokes will make your thanksgiving memorable.
Related: Also check out our all season, evergreen Funny Jokes for hearty laughs!
3. Write Gratitude Notes
Don’t wait for Thanksgiving dinner to express your gratitude. Instead, write heartfelt gratitude notes with our free printable for the whole family to truly immerse in the spirit of thanksgiving.
Download Free Thanksgiving Notes
And don’t limit yourself to your family! Thank everyone – friends, teachers, neighbours or colleagues to instill gratitude in your kids.
4. Start a Thankfulness Jar
This is a lovely gratitude project for families to start ahead of thanksgiving. Create a thankfulness box to inculcate gratitude in your family.
Anytime you feel grateful, write it down on an index card and put it in a thankfulness jar. Younger kids can draw or take help from seniors to help pen their thoughts.
Open the jar on Thanksgiving dinner to reflect on the countless blessings you and your family have received.
5. Make Pumpkin Slime
This is a fun thanksgiving activity that your young kids will absolutely love! To make pumpkin slime, simply add pumpkin seeds, pumpkin spice and orange colour to this easy slime recipe.
6. Make a Grateful Pumpkin
Here is another gratitude project that is simply fun and perfect for the fall season! Take a big pumpkin and have everyone in the house write on it what they are grateful for using a permanent marker.
Related: Also check out these beautiful and easy Pumpkin Crafts for Kids to keep them creatively busy.
7. Read Together
Reading together is one of the most rewarding thanksgiving activities. It allows you to spend quality time with your kids while teaching them the tradition behind thanksgiving.
Quick Tip: Inspire kids with these Biographies For Kids, which present the real life stories of scientist, sportsman, artists and leaders in a kid-friendly way and will motivate your kids to be better versions of themselves.
8. Try Baking
Thanksgiving dinner tastes special when it has muffins and cookies made by kids. Get your kids involved in the kitchen by baking a simple cake or stuffing the turkey.
9. Play Thanksgiving Charades
Thanksgiving is the perfect to indulge in a fun game of charades! This thanksgiving version of charades ideas will keep everyone entertained and bring them closer.
10. Turkey On The Table
This is a thoughtful thanksgiving activity for the entire family. Each member gets a turkey feather to write in about what they are thankful for and count their blessings. The feathers are then attached to the turkey, which makes a perfect centerpiece for thanksgiving.
And that’s not all! Turkey on the Table not only teaches gratitude but is also a partner with Feeding America and provides 10 meals to the needy with each Turkey on the Table sold.
11. Pen An Acrostic Poem
Acrostic poems are a wonderful way to explore poetry without getting too hung up on rhyming. This easy style of writing poetry is a great activity to get kids and adults writing and thinking creatively.
Make it into a fun thanksgiving activity for the family with this free printable and let everyone read out aloud his or her acrostic poems post thanksgiving dinner.
12. Thanksgiving Word Search
This is a perfect activity for the holidays! Let your children dive into Fun Thanksgiving literacy activities with this word search printable.
Download Thanksgiving Word Maze
Make it into a challenge by inviting the whole family to find the words. The person who finds all the words fastest, wins the literacy challenge!
13. Thanksgiving Alphabet Challenge
This is a fun yet thoughtful activity that is perfect for kids of all age groups as well as adults!
The challenge is to think of a holiday related word for each letter of the alphabet and be the first one to finish. If you are playing with older kids, turn it into a Thanksgiving minute-to-win-it game to make it competitive and more exciting.
Thanksgiving Alphabet Challenge
Thanksgiving Family Games
List of fun activities for thanksgiving cannot be complete without thanksgiving games. These games are almost a must for the Turkey day celebrations. They not only add cheer to the day but also make memories that last a lifetime.
Perfect to bring everyone closer, these fun ideas will make your thanksgiving truly memorable.
14. Would You Rather Game
Get kids talking and thinking creatively with a fun session of “Would You Rather…?” Questions game. This game is always a hit with families and a wonderful way to bond over silly, fun questions.
Make sure to throw in some thanksgiving inspired questions to make it more exciting and apt for the occasion.
15. Truth Or Dare
This is a classic game to play when everyone gets together. This clean, kid friendly version of truth or dare will add fun and laughs to your thanksgiving holiday and bring everyone closer.
16. Thanksgiving Trivia
Challenge everyone over a fun Thanksgiving Trivia to see who knows the Thanksgiving the best! From Fun Thanksgiving trivia questions to Thanksgiving history, traditions and food, there are Thanksgiving questions for everyone.
Related: Include a few questions of Christmas Trivia as well to make way for the festive season.
17. Family Guessing Game
This is a fun guessing game for the family that is just perfect for Thanksgiving dinner. Each family member writes a few lines about themselves on an index card while on the thanksgiving table and puts it in a bowl.
The bowl is then circulated around the table, with each member picking a card from the bowl and reading it aloud for others to guess who the note is describing.
18. This or That Questions
The classic game of “this or that questions” is always a fun way to get everyone to join in playing a thanksgiving game.
Download Free Thanksgiving This Or That
Discover your family’s favourite and not-so-favourite thanksgiving traditions with this free printable.
And don’t just stop at thanksgiving traditions, we have a lot more This or That Questions to entertain your entire clan and get them bonding.
19. Thanksgiving Bingo
These free printables promise an exciting game on Thanksgiving for everyone. Beautifully designed, these Bingo cards make use of the festive theme to bring joy to this classic game.
Download Free Thanksgiving Bingo
20. Mad Libs
This holiday season, keep kids entertained with this Thanksgiving version of Mad Libs. This game is sure to get everyone laughing and having silly fun.
Related: Host a sleepover this holiday and let children have all the fun with the Best Sleepover Games for Kids.
21. Turkey Leg Ring Toss
This thanksgiving day make sure to play ring toss but thanksgiving style! This fun to play turkey leg ring toss game will not only get kids excited but will have adults joining in too!
22. Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt
Get everyone racing and hunting for the thanksgiving surprise with this scavenger hunt. A great thanksgiving game to get everyone involved – from grown -ups to the youngest little pumpkins.
Each clue leads to another, till you reach the surprise!
23. Turkey Trot
Get kids moving and burn off the calories from eating all that food with this outdoor game. Perfect for big families who have a gang of kids to keep entertained.
24. Thanksgiving Bean Bag Toss
Keep kids busy and happy outdoors while the turkey cooks with this thanksgiving game. Or simply tack it onto your doorframe indoors if the weather outside is not favourable. Either way, it is a lot of fun!
25. Feed The Turkey
One the best quiet time thanksgiving games for young kids that will allow you some down time on the busy holiday. All you need is pom-poms, tweezers, and an empty plastic bottle to set up this easy thanksgiving activity.
Great for hand-eye coordination and motor skills, you will be glad you set-up this easy game for your kiddo.
26. Pin The Tail On The Turkey
Give a twist to the classic party game and make it thanksgiving friendly. This game is perfect to play indoors when kids are bored and adults are too tired to entertain them.
27. Charades
Charades is a great game for mixed age groups and perfect for family reunions. This Thanksgiving day, play holiday inspired charades to test your smarts and get everyone laughing and enjoying.
28. Turkey Race
This is one of those thanksgiving activities that combines craft, science and silly fun together. A great game to keep kids happy and learning, this turkey race is a great way to spend quality time with little ones.
29. Shooting Turkey
How about an exciting shooting game for thanksgiving? All you need is thanksgiving balloons or simple orange balloons and nerf guns to shoot them down.
30. Thanksgiving Scattergories
Get everyone thinking and working their neurons with this enjoyable game of scattergories. Players will need to scratch their heads and think all about thanksgiving to come up with the right words.
31. Thanksgiving Gratitude Game
This thanksgiving game requires a teeny-tiny bit of preparation beforehand. All you have to do is write gratitude questions on index cards and keep them in a bowl. Players take turns picking the card and answering the questions.
Some thoughtful questions to include are:
What are you grateful for?
Skill you are thankful for?
A person you are grateful for?
A life blessing you are grateful for?
This is a great game for thanksgiving that will help everyone immerse in the festive spirit and count their blessings.
32. Thanksgiving Pictionary
Your kids will love this turkey day version of Pictionary and have a blast playing it with everyone. Perfect for family get-togethers, this game will get everyone thinking creatively.
Print out the Pictionary word cards, place them in a bowl and let teams take turns guessing the word.
33. Turkey Tag
If you are looking for easy ideas to keep kids off the kitchen or bothering you, try this exciting game of turkey tag. This game requires a little cute craft as well, but you can certainly omit it and use coloured clothespin if pressed on time.
Either way, it is a super fun game that even grown ups would not mind playing.
Thanksgiving Crafts For Kids
Crafts are one of the most enjoyable thanksgiving activities for kids. They are a wonderful way to keep kids creatively occupied while building their motor skills and imagination.
Also these Thanksgiving crafts make cute fall decorations for the thanksgiving table. Here are few to get you started. But if you are looking for a whole range of crafts, check out 70 Easy Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids & Adults.
34. Paper Turkey
Paper crafts are always a big hit with kids. This standing paper turkey looks just so pretty on the thanksgiving table!
Easy and quick to make, this turkey craft requires common supplies like construction paper, glue, and goggly eyes to get kids started.
35. Paper Pumpkins
These cute paper pumpkins are super cute and just the perfect craft to celebrate the harvest and thanksgiving. You can even hide treats in them or gratitude notes to make them stand apart from the usual pumpkin crafts
All you need is orange construction paper, scissors and glue to make this eye-catching craft.
36. Toilet Roll Pilgrims
Keep your kids busy with these Toilet roll pilgrims craft for thanksgiving. Easy enough for a preschooler, this Thanksgiving Indians craft brings the spirit of thanksgiving home.
37. Thankful Wreath
Make a Thankful Leaf wreath to count your blessings and express gratitude to simple things in life. This craft will help kids think of their everyday blessings and acknowledge them.
38. Pine Cone Turkeys
Pine Cone Turkeys make for the perfect fall craft and look great as a centrepiece to a small table. They are quick to make and need simple supplies like googly eyes, hot glue and feathers besides pinecones.
39. Paper Plate Scarecrow
Kids love paper plate crafts and our paper plate scarecrow is mischievous just like them! Easy and so much fun to make, this thanksgiving craft for kindergarten welcomes the harvest season.
40. Gratitude Leaf Garland
This nature craft will not only keep your kids busy hunting for fallen leaves in your backyard but also help them count their blessings. A simple piece of twine, sharpies, clothespins are all you need to make this thoughtful gratitude craft.
Clean the collected leaves and let your children write down what they are grateful for on the leaves using a sharpie. Attach the leaves onto the twine using clothespins and your gratitude leaf garland is ready to brighten your thanksgiving celebrations.
41. Thanksgiving Table Cover
We absolutely love this idea from Art Bar. What a creative way to dress up your Thanksgiving table and keep kids happily busy.
42. Turkey Bookmark
Make Thanksgiving reading more enjoyable with this cute turkey bookmark. This adorable craft will certainly entice your book lovers into making one and maybe even get a not-so-keen reader trying out some books just to enjoy this DIY bookmark.
43. Make a Family Tree
Dig into your family ancestry with your kids and make a family tree. Thanksgiving is a perfect time to learn about family ties and revisit old forgotten memories.
Related: Also try Thanksgiving Tree Craft Activity for Kids to promote gratitude and mindfulness.
44. Play Card Games
Card games are a big hit at gamily gatherings and Thanksgiving is definitely one of best time to indulge in a game of cards. With so many options and variations, card games promise that everyone has a gala time together!
With these 44 activities for thanksgiving, you are all set for a wonderful, fun filled thanksgiving.
Have a hearty time and Happy Thanksgiving!
FAQ
1. Write gratitude notes
2. Make pumpkin slime
3. Play Would You Rather game
4. Have a Thanksgiving trivia session
5. Play Guessing game
6. Play Thanksgiving Bingo
7. Make Thanksgiving crafts like a Turkey or Pilgrim craft
8. Make a Family Tree
