30 Fun and Creative Thanksgiving Activities for Kids to Enjoy

Thanksgiving is a cherished time for families to come together, express gratitude, and create lasting memories. Engaging children in festive activities not only keeps them entertained but also helps them understand the significance of the holiday. Here are 30 delightful Thanksgiving activities designed to inspire creativity, foster gratitude, and ensure fun for kids of all ages.

1. Create a Gratitude Tree

Encourage children to reflect on what they’re thankful for by crafting a gratitude tree. Use a small branch placed in a vase as the tree and provide paper leaves for kids to write or draw their blessings. Hang the leaves on the branches to create a meaningful centerpiece.

2. Thanksgiving-Themed Coloring Pages

Provide Thanksgiving-themed coloring pages featuring turkeys, pumpkins, and harvest scenes. This activity allows children to express their creativity while learning about holiday symbols.

3. Handprint Turkey Art

Trace children’s hands on construction paper to create handprint turkeys. Let them decorate their turkeys with feathers, googly eyes, and markers, resulting in personalized holiday keepsakes.

4. Thanksgiving Bingo

Organize a game of Thanksgiving Bingo using cards adorned with holiday images like pies, pilgrims, and cornucopias. This game is enjoyable for all ages and can be played during family gatherings.

5. Bake Pumpkin Muffins Together

Involve kids in baking pumpkin muffins. This hands-on activity teaches basic cooking skills and results in a delicious treat to share with the family.

6. DIY Thanksgiving Placemats

Provide materials for children to create personalized placemats for the Thanksgiving table. They can draw, color, or use collage techniques to design their mats, adding a special touch to the meal.

7. Turkey Trot Obstacle Course

Set up a backyard obstacle course themed around Thanksgiving. Incorporate activities like “waddle like a turkey” or “carry the pumpkin” races to promote physical activity and fun.

8. Watch a Thanksgiving Movie

Host a family movie night featuring Thanksgiving-themed films suitable for children, such as “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.” This provides entertainment and an opportunity to relax together.

9. Create a Thankful Jar

Place a jar in a common area and encourage family members to write down things they’re thankful for on slips of paper throughout the week. Read them aloud during Thanksgiving dinner to share gratitude.

10. Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt

Design a scavenger hunt with Thanksgiving-related items or clues hidden around the house or yard. This activity engages children in problem-solving and exploration.

11. Make Corn Husk Dolls

Teach children to make traditional corn husk dolls, a craft that connects to the harvest season and Native American culture. This activity combines creativity with cultural education.

12. Play Thanksgiving Charades

Write down Thanksgiving-related words or phrases on slips of paper and play a game of charades. This interactive game encourages imagination and laughter.

13. Construct a Leaf Garland

Collect colorful autumn leaves and string them together to create a garland. Hang it as a decoration to bring the beauty of fall indoors.

14. DIY Pilgrim Hats and Bonnets

Provide materials for children to craft their own pilgrim hats and bonnets. This activity can be both educational and fun, especially when combined with a discussion about the history of Thanksgiving.

15. Thanksgiving Story Time

Read Thanksgiving-themed books aloud to children. Stories like “The Thankful Book” by Todd Parr can help convey the holiday’s messages of gratitude and togetherness.

16. Create a Pumpkin Volcano

Turn a small pumpkin into a fun science experiment by creating a baking soda and vinegar volcano inside it. This activity combines holiday themes with educational fun.

17. Host a Mini Thanksgiving Parade

Encourage children to create their own parade floats using wagons or boxes and decorate them with Thanksgiving themes. Parade them around the yard or living room for a festive display.

18. Make Edible Turkey Treats

Use cookies, candy corn, and other sweets to create turkey-shaped treats. This no-bake activity is both creative and delicious.

19. Thanksgiving Pictionary

Play a game of Pictionary using Thanksgiving-related words and phrases. This activity encourages artistic expression and quick thinking.

20. Create a Family Recipe Book

Have children help compile a book of family recipes, including those used during Thanksgiving. They can decorate the pages and learn about family culinary traditions.

21. DIY Thanksgiving Centerpiece

Gather natural materials like pinecones, acorns, and leaves to create a centerpiece for the Thanksgiving table. This craft connects children with nature and adds a personal touch to the decor.

22. Play “Pin the Feather on the Turkey”

A Thanksgiving twist on the classic “Pin the Tail on the Donkey,” this game involves blindfolding players and having them attempt to pin a paper feather onto a turkey poster.

23. Thanksgiving Mad Libs

Create or find Thanksgiving-themed Mad Libs to play with the family. This activity promotes language skills and results in hilarious stories.

24. Craft a Thankful Banner

Have children create a banner with the word “Thankful,” decorating each letter with drawings or words representing things they appreciate. Hang it as a festive decoration.

25. Make a Pumpkin Bird Feeder

Use a hollowed-out pumpkin to create a bird feeder. Fill it with birdseed and place it outside to feed local wildlife, teaching children about giving back to nature.

26. Thanksgiving Memory Game

Create a memory game using pairs of Thanksgiving-themed images. This activity enhances cognitive skills and can be enjoyed by various age groups.

27. DIY Thankful Placemats
Provide kids with large sheets of paper or pre-cut placemats and encourage them to decorate with drawings, stickers, and words expressing what they’re thankful for. Laminate the finished placemats for a reusable and meaningful keepsake.

28. Thanksgiving Puzzle Fun
Purchase or print Thanksgiving-themed puzzles, such as crossword puzzles, word searches, or jigsaw puzzles. These quiet activities can keep kids entertained while the adults prepare the feast.

29. Pumpkin Bowling
Set up a bowling game using small pumpkins as the balls and empty bottles decorated as bowling pins. This activity is a great way to burn off some energy before or after the big meal.

30. Create a Thanksgiving Photo Booth
Set up a DIY photo booth with props like pilgrim hats, turkey masks, and fall-themed backdrops. Let the kids take turns posing for silly or heartfelt photos to capture the holiday spirit.

Tips for Success with Thanksgiving Activities for Kids

1. Keep It Simple: Choose activities that match the age and skill levels of the children to ensure everyone can participate and enjoy.
2. Mix Fun and Learning: Many of these activities, such as the Gratitude Tree or Thankful Banner, can also teach valuable lessons about gratitude and history.
3. Prepare in Advance: Gather supplies and set up activity stations to avoid last-minute stress on Thanksgiving Day.
4. Get the Whole Family Involved: Encourage siblings, parents, and even grandparents to participate in some of the activities for a memorable bonding experience.

Why Thanksgiving Activities Are Important

Thanksgiving is not just about the delicious food and festive decorations—it’s about creating lasting memories and teaching kids the importance of gratitude. Engaging them in these fun, interactive activities helps instill the holiday’s values while ensuring they feel included and entertained.

By incorporating these 30 Thanksgiving activities into your holiday plans, you can ensure that kids stay busy, learn meaningful lessons, and have a blast. Whether you’re crafting, baking, or playing games, these ideas will make this Thanksgiving one to remember.