Fun Thanksgiving Activities to Delight Kids This Season

fun thanksgiving activities to delight kids this season

Thanksgiving is a time for family, gratitude, and delicious feasts. While the adults are busy preparing meals or catching up, keeping kids entertained and involved can bring an extra layer of joy to the day. At The Kids Point, we believe every moment with children is an opportunity for creativity, learning, and connection. This Thanksgiving, why not make the holiday even more memorable with engaging activities designed to captivate young minds? From crafts to games, the following ideas promise fun and festive moments for the whole family.

Thanksgiving-Themed Arts and Crafts

Handprint Turkeys
A Thanksgiving classic, handprint turkeys are simple yet creative. Provide kids with colorful paper, markers, and glitter, and have them trace their hands to form the turkey’s body. They can decorate it with vibrant feathers and even write something they’re thankful for on each finger.

DIY Thankfulness Trees
Set up a craft station to make a “Thankfulness Tree.” Give kids paper leaves to write what they’re grateful for, then attach these to branches in a vase. This activity doubles as a meaningful table centerpiece.

Pilgrim Hats and Bonnet Crafts
Encourage kids to learn about Thanksgiving history by creating Pilgrim hats and bonnets from construction paper. It’s an educational activity with a touch of fun, as children can wear their creations during dinner.

Thanksgiving Games and Challenges

Thanksgiving Bingo
Bring a festive twist to the traditional game with themed bingo cards featuring turkeys, pumpkins, and pies. Use candy pieces as markers and offer small prizes for the winners to keep kids excited.

Turkey Bowling
Transform plastic bowling pins or water bottles into turkeys by attaching paper feathers and googly eyes. Use a small ball as the “pumpkin” to bowl over the “turkeys.” This game is easy to set up and provides endless laughter.

Scavenger Hunt
Create a Thanksgiving-themed scavenger hunt inside your home or in the yard. Prepare clues or lists that involve finding items like acorns, miniature pumpkins, or something orange. This is a great way to keep kids active before or after the meal.

Cooking Together: Kid-Friendly Recipes

Mini Pumpkin Pies
Invite children to help create mini pumpkin pies. Pre-made crusts and simple filling recipes make this activity easy for little hands to participate in. They’ll feel proud contributing to the dessert table.

Turkey-Shaped Snacks
Use fruits, cheese, and crackers to design turkey-shaped snacks. For example, arrange slices of apple or melon as feathers and use pretzel sticks for legs. It’s a healthy and fun pre-dinner activity.

Make-Your-Own Pizza
Let kids top individual mini pizzas with their choice of toppings. Encourage them to shape their pizzas into turkey or leaf patterns for a festive touch.

Outdoor Thanksgiving Adventures

Nature Walk
Go on a post-meal family walk and turn it into an adventure. Create a “gratitude nature checklist” where kids can spot fall leaves, pinecones, or animals like squirrels. The fresh air and movement will recharge everyone.

Turkey Trot or Fun Run
Participate in a local turkey trot or host a family fun run in your neighborhood. Dress up as turkeys or Pilgrims to make it even more festive. Award small prizes to the participants for added motivation.

Leaf Pile Fun
Rake a pile of autumn leaves and let kids jump and play in them. You can also turn this into a leaf-catching competition to see who can catch the most leaves falling from the trees.

Gratitude and Giving Back

Write Thank-You Notes
Set up a station where kids can write or draw thank-you notes to relatives, friends, or even their teachers. It’s a meaningful way to emphasize gratitude during the holiday.

Volunteering Together
Many shelters and community centers welcome volunteers on Thanksgiving. Involve your kids by helping deliver meals to those in need or by preparing care packages. Explain the importance of kindness and giving back.

Gratitude Jar
Prepare a jar where kids (and adults) can add notes about what they’re thankful for. Open the jar at dinner to share the heartwarming messages aloud.

Entertainment and Relaxation

Thanksgiving Movie Marathon
After a busy day of fun and food, wind down with a family-friendly movie marathon. Classics like A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving or Free Birds are great options.

Storytime Corner
Create a cozy corner where kids can listen to Thanksgiving-themed stories. You can either read to them or play audiobooks like The Night Before Thanksgiving. Include comfy blankets and pillows for ultimate relaxation.

Board Games for All Ages
Break out family board games with a Thanksgiving twist. Games like “Turkey Trivia” or “Harvest Monopoly” can keep kids engaged while fostering family bonding.

Science and STEM Fun

Build a Pumpkin Volcano
Combine science and excitement with this activity. Cut the top off a small pumpkin and fill it with baking soda, dish soap, and vinegar for an erupting pumpkin volcano. It’s an unforgettable experience for curious minds.

Floating Turkey Experiment
Test the buoyancy of different Thanksgiving-related items, such as mini pumpkins or cranberries, by placing them in water. Let kids guess which will float or sink before trying it out.

Candy Corn Catapult
Challenge kids to build a simple catapult using craft sticks, rubber bands, and spoons. They can launch candy corn and see whose catapult works best.

Festive Performances and Music

Thanksgiving Skit or Play
Let kids put on a Thanksgiving-themed skit, complete with Pilgrims, turkeys, and creative storytelling. Provide costumes and props to encourage imaginative play.

Musical Turkey Chairs
Play “Musical Chairs” but with a turkey-themed twist. Use fall-inspired songs and have kids dance like turkeys as they move around the chairs.

Sing-Along Time
Gather everyone for a Thanksgiving sing-along. Songs like “Over the River and Through the Woods” are festive and easy for all ages to enjoy.

Creative Keepsakes

Family Handprint Art
Paint each family member’s hand and create a unique handprint art piece. Arrange the handprints to form a tree, turkey, or wreath. It’s a meaningful keepsake for years to come.

Thanksgiving Photo Booth
Set up a DIY photo booth with props like Pilgrim hats, turkey beaks, and funny signs. Take goofy photos and share them as mementos of the day.

Memory Scrapbook
Provide materials to design a Thanksgiving scrapbook. Kids can draw, write, or paste photos from the day to document their favorite memories.

Thanksgiving is a perfect opportunity to connect, celebrate, and create lasting memories with your children. By incorporating these fun and meaningful activities, you’re ensuring a holiday filled with laughter and joy. At The Kids Point, we aim to inspire families to explore, create, and cherish moments together—this Thanksgiving, and every day after.