Thanksgiving is a time for families to gather together, share a meal, and reflect on the things they are thankful for. For kids, it’s a special holiday filled with the excitement of food, family, and fun. At The Kids Point, we understand that making memories during the holiday season is important, which is why we’ve put together a list of creative and entertaining activities that will keep the kids busy and engaged. From fun crafts to interactive games and outdoor adventures, these Thanksgiving activities will make the holiday even more memorable for the little ones.
Thanksgiving Craft Ideas
Crafts are a great way to keep kids entertained and encourage their creativity. Whether they are creating something to decorate the house or making gifts for family members, Thanksgiving crafts offer plenty of opportunities for hands-on fun.
Turkey Handprint Craft
One of the most popular Thanksgiving crafts for kids is the handprint turkey. This craft is simple and personal, and it makes for a wonderful keepsake for the parents or grandparents to cherish. To make a turkey handprint:
- Have the child dip their hand in brown paint and place it on a sheet of white paper with their palm facing down.
- The fingers will become the turkey feathers, and the palm will be the body.
- Once the paint dries, kids can decorate the feathers with bright colors and add eyes, a beak, and a wattle (the fleshy part under the turkey’s beak). This craft is fun for all ages and can easily be turned into a card, a wall decoration, or a little gift for relatives.
Paper Plate Turkeys
Using paper plates, kids can make adorable and colorful turkey faces. This project involves a little bit of cutting and gluing, which is great for developing fine motor skills. Here’s how to make it:
- Start with a paper plate as the turkey’s face.
- Kids can color or paint the plate in different shades of brown.
- Use construction paper to cut out feathers, which can be attached around the top of the plate.
- Add googly eyes, a triangle-shaped beak, and a wattle for the finishing touch.
Thanksgiving Greeting Cards
Making Thanksgiving cards for family and friends is a heartwarming activity that encourages kids to express gratitude and love. Provide kids with colored markers, stamps, and stickers to design their cards. You can even help them write a simple message inside, such as “Happy Thanksgiving” or “I’m thankful for you!”
Pumpkin Decorating
Instead of carving pumpkins, which can be a bit tricky for young children, try decorating small pumpkins using markers, paint, glitter, stickers, or even fabric scraps. These pumpkins can be used to decorate the table or home, and they’re a safe alternative for kids of all ages.
Interactive Thanksgiving Games
Games are a great way to keep the kids engaged during Thanksgiving, especially while waiting for the meal to be ready. Here are a few Thanksgiving-themed games that everyone can enjoy:
Thanksgiving Bingo
Thanksgiving Bingo is an easy game that kids can play while waiting for the meal. You can create bingo cards filled with Thanksgiving-related images, such as pumpkins, turkeys, cornucopias, pies, and more. As you call out the images, the kids mark them off on their cards. The first player to get five in a row wins a prize!
Turkey Bowling
This game is a fun, active way to get the kids moving after a big Thanksgiving meal. Set up a bowling game using empty cans or bottles as the pins and a small pumpkin as the bowling ball. You can decorate the cans or bottles with turkey faces or Thanksgiving-themed stickers to make it extra festive. Kids take turns rolling the pumpkin to try to knock over the pins.
Pin the Wattle on the Turkey
A Thanksgiving twist on the classic “Pin the Tail on the Donkey” game! Blindfold the kids and have them try to pin a paper wattle (the red fleshy part of a turkey’s neck) onto a large turkey poster. This game is great for a little bit of fun and laughter, and the kids will love taking turns.
Thanksgiving Pictionary
Pictionary is a fantastic game for families to enjoy together. Prepare some Thanksgiving-themed words or phrases (like “pilgrim hat,” “cornucopia,” or “turkey drumsticks”) and have the kids draw them for the group to guess. The game can be adapted for all ages, with older kids and adults taking on more challenging prompts while younger ones draw easier things.
Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt
Organize a Thanksgiving-themed scavenger hunt inside or outside the house. Write a list of Thanksgiving-related items for the kids to find. These might include a mini pumpkin, a turkey figurine, an acorn, or even a colorful autumn leaf. You can hide the items around the house or yard, or you can write clues leading to the next item. The hunt can be done individually or in teams, and the first one to find everything wins a prize.
Outdoor Adventures
If the weather is nice, consider taking the kids outside for some fresh air and outdoor fun. Thanksgiving is a great time to explore nature, especially if you’re surrounded by the fall beauty of colorful leaves and crisp air.
Fall Leaf Collecting
Take a walk outside to collect colorful fall leaves. Once the leaves are collected, you can press them between sheets of wax paper or turn them into a beautiful autumn wreath. This activity is a great way to connect with nature and create a lasting memory with the kids.
Turkey Trot
Start a new family tradition with a Thanksgiving Day turkey trot. Whether it’s a short race around the block or a fun walk in the park, encourage the kids to dress up as turkeys (or in their Thanksgiving best) and participate. Not only is this a great way to get some exercise after eating a big meal, but it’s also a fun activity to look forward to each year.
Nature Walk
Take a leisurely nature walk around the neighborhood or local park to enjoy the sights of autumn. Point out the different types of trees, animals, and fall flowers you encounter along the way. Bring along a notebook and ask the kids to sketch or write about what they see on the walk. It’s an educational and relaxing way to spend time together.
Thanksgiving Story Time and Movie Night
Thanksgiving Storytelling
Gather the kids around to share Thanksgiving stories. You can read Thanksgiving-themed books or tell fun stories from your own family history. There are many children’s books that highlight the true meaning of Thanksgiving, from stories about the Pilgrims and Native Americans to books that focus on gratitude and family. Some beloved titles include The Very First Thanksgiving Day by Rhonda Gowler Greene and Thanksgiving is for Giving Thanks by Margaret Sutherland.
Watch Thanksgiving Movies
There’s nothing better than curling up on the couch and watching Thanksgiving-themed movies after a busy day. Some classic favorites include A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, and The Blind Side. For kids, Free Birds and The Mouse on the Mayflower are entertaining choices that teach about the history of Thanksgiving in a fun way.
Baking and Cooking with Kids
Cooking together is a wonderful way to bond with kids, and Thanksgiving provides plenty of opportunities to get them involved in the kitchen.
Make Thanksgiving Cookies
Kids love to bake, and Thanksgiving cookies are the perfect way to bring some festive fun into the kitchen. Help the kids roll out dough and use cookie cutters to make turkey, pumpkin, or leaf-shaped cookies. Once baked, they can decorate the cookies with frosting, sprinkles, and candy to add a personal touch.
DIY Thanksgiving Place Cards
Let the kids help with the table setting by creating DIY Thanksgiving place cards for each guest. Provide them with construction paper, markers, and stickers to design a unique card for every person at the table. You can even incorporate a fun activity, like drawing a picture of what they’re thankful for or writing a little message.
Pumpkin Pie Baking
If your kids are a bit older, get them involved in making a pumpkin pie from scratch. They can help mix the ingredients, pour the filling into the pie crust, and even sprinkle the cinnamon and nutmeg on top. The best part is that they get to enjoy the sweet rewards after the pie is finished!
Gratitude Activities
Thanksgiving is all about expressing gratitude, and there are a number of fun ways kids can reflect on the things they’re thankful for.
Thankfulness Tree
Create a thankfulness tree by cutting out a tree trunk and branches from construction paper and attaching it to a wall. Each day leading up to Thanksgiving, have the kids write one thing they are thankful for on a leaf cutout and attach it to the tree. By Thanksgiving Day, the tree will be covered in colorful leaves filled with gratitude.
Gratitude Jar
Create a gratitude jar where each family member writes down something they are thankful for on a piece of paper. Read the papers aloud on Thanksgiving Day, and see if everyone can guess who wrote what. It’s a fun way to share positive thoughts and reflect on the things that matter most.
Thanksgiving is a time for fun, family, and creating lasting memories. With these engaging activities for kids, you can make this year’s celebration extra special. Whether you’re crafting, playing games, baking, or spending time outdoors, these ideas will help ensure that everyone has a wonderful time. So, gather your loved ones, try out some of these activities, and enjoy the holiday to the fullest! At The Kids Point, we believe that Thanksgiving is an opportunity to nurture family bonds and create joyful moments that will be remembered for years to come.