Thanksgiving isn’t just about the feast, it’s about creating memories, sharing laughter, and bringing the whole family together. While the adults are busy cooking, catching up, or watching the big game, kids can enjoy their own share of holiday magic with engaging, hands-on activities. From whimsical crafts to energy-busting games, these ideas are simple to set up, affordable to recreate, and perfect for turning your home into a Thanksgiving wonderland. With just a few everyday materials and a sprinkle of creativity, you can keep little hands and minds happily occupied while making traditions they’ll remember for years.
Discover Creative Thanksgiving Activities Kids Will Love:
Each of these 33 ideas is simple, engaging, and practical, making it easy for homeowners to keep kids entertained and inspired during the holiday.
1. Gratitude Pumpkin
Give each child a small pumpkin and washable markers to write one thing they’re thankful for each day leading up to Thanksgiving. Over time, the pumpkin becomes a colorful centerpiece filled with heartfelt messages. This activity doubles as décor and a meaningful family tradition.
2. Pinecone Turkey Craft
Collect pinecones from the yard and glue on paper feathers, googly eyes, and a small felt beak. Kids can customize feather colors for a bright, festive look. These make adorable table decorations or keepsakes.
3. Thanksgiving Cookie Decorating
Bake sugar cookies in fall shapes like leaves, turkeys, and pumpkins. Set out icing, sprinkles, and candy pieces so kids can decorate them before dessert. It’s a fun and tasty creative project everyone enjoys.
4. Nature Walk Leaf Hunt
Take the kids for a walk to collect leaves in different colors and shapes. Once home, they can sort, press, or use them in crafts. This activity encourages fresh air, exercise, and appreciation for fall’s beauty.
5. Thankful Tablecloth
Cover the dining table with brown butcher paper and leave out markers for kids to doodle or write what they’re grateful for. Guests can join in as they sit down for dinner. By the end, you’ll have a table full of happy memories.
6. Corn Husk Doll Making
Use dried corn husks, twine, and scraps of fabric to make simple dolls. This traditional craft teaches kids about harvest customs. They can personalize the dolls with painted faces and clothing.
7. Pumpkin Ring Toss
Arrange mini pumpkins with long stems in a row and use embroidery hoops for tossing. Kids compete to loop the hoops over the stems from different distances. It’s an easy DIY game for indoor or outdoor fun.
8. Gratitude Jar
Give kids slips of paper to write or draw things they’re thankful for and drop them in a jar. Read the notes together before or after dinner. Over time, the jar becomes a cherished reminder of gratitude.
9. Apple Stamp Art
Cut apples in half, dip the flat sides into paint, and stamp them onto paper. Kids can make patterns or turn the stamps into pumpkin shapes with a few extra brushstrokes. It’s an easy way to combine nature and art.
10. Turkey Hat Headbands
Cut strips of cardstock for the headband base and attach colorful paper feathers. Add a paper turkey face at the front for a festive look. Kids will love wearing them during dinner or for holiday photos.
11. DIY Thanksgiving Puzzles
Glue a holiday-themed picture to cardboard, then cut it into puzzle pieces. Kids can swap puzzles and try solving each other’s creations. This quiet activity is great for keeping little hands busy before dinner.
12. Harvest Sensory Bin
Fill a bin with dried corn kernels, mini pumpkins, and small scoops. Younger children can dig, pour, and explore textures safely. It’s a low-mess sensory play that fits the Thanksgiving theme perfectly.
13. Paper Bag Pilgrim Hats
Fold and shape large paper bags into hats, then let kids decorate them with construction paper buckles. They can wear them for the meal or a playful skit. It’s an affordable, hands-on craft using common materials.
14. Thanksgiving Bingo
Make a bingo board filled with Thanksgiving symbols like pie, leaves, and turkeys. Use candy corn or buttons as markers. Kids can play while waiting for dinner, and small prizes keep the game exciting.
15. Cranberry Spoon Relay
Set up two bowls and a spoon for each player, filling one bowl with cranberries. Kids race to transfer as many cranberries as possible within a set time without dropping them. It’s a simple game that always gets laughs.
16. DIY Leaf Garland
Press colorful leaves between books, then string them together with twine or ribbon. Kids can hang the garland over a mantel, doorway, or window. It’s an inexpensive way to bring fall beauty indoors.
17. Mini Pumpkin Painting
Hand out small pumpkins and paint in various colors. Kids can paint patterns, faces, or even glitter designs without the mess of carving. These make safe, long-lasting holiday decorations.
18. Thankful Story Stones
Paint small stones with images like hearts, trees, and houses. Kids use them to tell stories about what they’re thankful for. This creative game encourages conversation and imagination.
19. Popcorn Harvest Bags
Provide small paper bags and popcorn for kids to fill and decorate with stamps or stickers. They can hand them out to guests as snacks. It’s a quick, budget-friendly project with a tasty reward.
20. Corn Kernel Art
Glue dried corn kernels onto cardboard to make textured pictures or patterns. Kids can create turkey shapes, leaves, or abstract designs. It’s a hands-on craft that’s easy to set up and clean up.
21. Feathered Bookmark Craft
Cut cardstock into strips, decorate with paper feathers, and laminate if possible. Kids can use them for their favorite books or give them as gifts. This is a fun, flat craft that’s easy to store.
22. Pumpkin Tic-Tac-Toe
Use a wooden board or cloth with a grid and mini pumpkins and gourds as X’s and O’s. Kids can play over and over during the day. It’s an interactive decoration and a game in one.
23. Cranberry Slime
Make homemade slime with clear glue, water, and red glitter to mimic cranberries. Add small plastic leaves for extra fun. This sensory project keeps kids engaged while being easy to store in jars.
24. Thanksgiving Word Search
Create a holiday-themed word search using words like “turkey,” “feast,” and “gratitude.” Print copies for the kids’ table. This quiet activity is perfect for after the meal.
25. Build-a-Turkey Game
Cut paper turkey bodies and feathers in different colors. Kids mix and match parts to create silly turkeys. It’s a fun craft that doubles as a decoration.
26. Pie Tasting Station
Offer small slices of different pies and let kids rate their favorites on scorecards. This makes dessert interactive and encourages trying new flavors. Parents can join in for a family competition.
27. Handprint Leaf Prints
Paint kids’ hands in fall colors and press them onto paper. Cut out the shapes to make leaves for garlands or cards. These keepsakes capture a sweet memory of the holiday.
28. Marshmallow Pilgrim Hats
Dip marshmallows in chocolate, place on cookies, and add a small candy buckle. Kids can help assemble and enjoy these edible crafts. They make a playful addition to the dessert table.
29. Gratitude Bracelet Craft
Give kids beads in fall colors to string onto elastic. Each bead can represent something they’re thankful for. The finished bracelets serve as wearable reminders of gratitude.
30. Autumn Scavenger Hunt
Create a checklist of seasonal items like pinecones, acorns, or red leaves. Kids can search indoors or outside, checking items off as they go. This active game burns energy before the big meal.
31. DIY Turkey Puppets
Glue paper turkeys onto popsicle sticks for puppet shows. Kids can put on a mini performance for family and friends. It’s an easy craft with plenty of imaginative play potential.
32. Thankful Photo Frame
Let kids decorate plain frames with leaves, acorns, and gratitude words. Insert a Thanksgiving family photo for a seasonal keepsake. This makes a thoughtful gift for relatives.
33. Pumpkin Bowling
Arrange small pumpkins as pins and use a larger ball to knock them down. Set it up in the yard or hallway for some active fun. It’s a festive twist on a classic game.
Conclusion:
Thanksgiving is the perfect time to blend fun, creativity, and gratitude into moments your kids will treasure. Whether they’re crafting a turkey hat, painting pumpkins, or racing cranberries across the living room, each activity helps build a sense of togetherness that goes beyond the holiday meal. With these 33 ideas, you’ll have everything you need to keep kids entertained, inspired, and involved in the spirit of the season, no screens required, just laughter, imagination, and a house full of warm holiday cheer.