Thanksgiving is a time to come together with family and friends to celebrate all that we are thankful for. From the traditional turkey dinner to watching football, there are many ways to enjoy this holiday. If you’re looking for some new and different ways to celebrate Thanksgiving this year, here are 25 fun Thanksgiving activities that you can try with your family.
1. Gratitude Jar for Thanksgiving
The gratitude jar is a fun and easy way to show kids the importance of thankfulness. A few weeks before Thanksgiving, each family member writes down something they are grateful for and puts it in the jar every day. The gratitude jar is a great way to start conversations about all the things we have to be thankful for. It helps kids to think beyond material possessions and appreciate the people and experiences that make life special and can also be a great reminder for adults!
What do you need?
Start by gathering some paper strips, pens, and a jar. Put the strips in the jar and enjoy sharing what everyone is grateful for on Thanksgiving Day.
How to do this?
End your dinner on a fun and sweet note – have the kids read aloud the slips while dessert is being served!
2. Craft a Fall Wreath
One way to show your gratitude for autumn is by crafting a beautiful fall wreath. This project is simple enough for even the most novice crafter, and it’s a great way to add a personal touch to your holiday décor.
What do you need?
The only materials you need for this project are a wreath form and craft leaves. Add berries and gourds if you want more colors!
How to do this?
With just a few simple materials, you can create a beautiful fall wreath that will make your home feel warm and welcoming during Thanksgiving and all throughout autumn.
3. DIY Wool Pumpkin
Wool pumpkins are the perfect way to add a touch of fall coziness to your home, and they’re sure to impress any friends or family who come over for Thanksgiving.
What do you need?
To make this decoration, you will need some leftover fabric, twine, and dried twigs for the stem.
How to do this?
You can use leftover fabric to make no-sew options for your table or porch decor. They’re the cutest way to finish off any crafty project.
4. Write Thank You Cards for Each Other
Giving each other thank you cards are one of the most important, but often overlooked, ways to maintain a happy relationship. All too often, we take our loved ones for granted and forget to show our appreciation for all they do for us.
What do you need?
A stack of thank-you cards, some pens, and your creativity!
How to do this?
Get the whole family together to write thank you cards for each other. You can take turns reading them aloud or exchange them privately.
5. Create “Count Your Blessings” Tree
This activity is a free printable and offers a fun and meaningful way for the whole family to count their blessings.
What do you need?
Some construction paper, scissors, and crayons or markers.
How to do this?
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Cut out the tree trunk and leaves template. Have each family member write or draw something they are thankful for on a leaf. Attach the leaves to the tree trunk with tape or glue. Display your “Count Your Blessings” tree as a reminder of all the things you have to be thankful for.
6. Spin the Pie Game
Add a little friendly competition to your dessert with this fun spin on the classic game of chance.
What do you need?
Paper plates, gold brad, colorful craft paper, hot-glue, and jute rope.
How to do this?
To make it, segment the center of a paper plate into six sections; write prompts in each. Cut a smaller circle from colorful craft paper; remove one “slice” for the category window. Attach the wheel to the plate with a gold braid. Attach jute rope to rim with hot-glue. Add stenciled letters.
7. Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt
Get the family up and moving with a fun Thanksgiving scavenger hunt. The kids will love searching for all the items on the list, and it’s a great way to burn off some energy before the big meal.
What do you need?
You will need a list of Thanksgiving themed items such as a turkey, cranberries and scavenger card etc.
How to do this?
The kids will work up an appetite by searching near and far for turkeys and pumpkins on their list.
8. Pumpkin Tic-Tac-Toe
This simple pumpkin tic-tac-toe game is the perfect activity for kids of all ages. It’s a great way to keep them entertained while you’re getting dinner ready, and it’s also a fun way to decorate for Thanksgiving.
What do you need?
You need a piece of cardboard, a marker, and some mini pumpkins.
How to do this?
First, draw a tic-tac-toe board on the piece of cardboard. Then, use the mini pumpkins to mark the X’s and O’s. To play, simply take turns placing the pumpkins on the board until someone gets three in a row.
9. Thankful Alphabet Game
Take some time to reflect on all the things you’re thankful for with this fun alphabet game.
What do you need?
You will need a piece of paper and a pen for each player.
How to do this?
Each player takes turns writing down one thing they are thankful for beginning with the letter A. The first player to fill up their entire alphabet list wins!
10. Thanksgiving Dinner Version of Heads Up
Add a little fun and laughter to your dinner table with this Thanksgiving-themed twist on the popular game Heads Up.
What do you need?
For this game, you will need a deck of guessing cards and a timer.
How to do this?
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To play, deal out a card to each player face down. On the count of three, everyone flips over their cards. If the card is an animal, the player makes the sound of that animal. If the card is a kind of food, the player takes a bite of that food. The first player to correctly identify all of the cards wins!
11. Thanksgiving Family Feud
It’s an easy Q&A game, simply create a list of questions for your family to answer about Thanksgiving dinner.
What do you need?
You will need a whiteboard or piece of paper, and a marker.
How to do this?
Write down a list of questions about Thanksgiving dinner on the whiteboard or a piece of paper. Examples might include “What is your favorite Thanksgiving food?”
12. Thanksgiving Play Dough
This homemade play dough is the perfect activity for kids of all ages. Not only is this a great way to keep your kid entertained while you are getting dinner ready, but also a fun way to decorate for the Thanksgiving table.
What do you need?
Flour, salt, food coloring and essential oil, and some simple baking tools.
How to do this?
Mix together flour, salt, and water in a bowl. Then, add food coloring and essential oil according to your desired colors and scent. Knead the dough until it’s smooth, and then let the kids play!
13. Make Mini Cookie Wreaths
Making mini cookie wreaths is a great activity for children of all ages. After all, Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and of course, food. While you’re busy preparing the feast, keep the little ones entertained with these cute and easy crafts. They’ll have so much fun that they won’t even realize they’re actually helping out to prepare for Thanksgiving dinner!
What do you need?
You will need sugar cookies, green frosting, red frost
How to do this?
Kids can help cut out leaf shapes from colored sugar cookie dough to make these delicious, tiny wreaths. Once the leaves are cut out, use green frosting to pipe a stem onto each leaf, and then use red frosting to pipe a bow around the wreath. Finally, top with a festive edible decoration like candy corn or a holly berry.
14. Escape Room – Thanksgiving Version
Make a Thanksgiving version of Escape Room and challenge your family and friends to see who can escape the room first!
What do you need?
You will need a timer and Escape Room In A Box The Werewolf Experiment and a few objects that are associated with Thanksgiving (e.g. a turkey, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie).
How to do this?
Hide the Thanksgiving-themed objects around the room. Players must then find and collect all of the objects before the timer runs out. The first player to escape the room wins!
15. Host a Thanksgiving Movie Marathon
Get together with family and friends to watch some of your favorite Thanksgiving movies!
What do you need?
You will need a few Thanksgiving-themed movies, popcorn, and snacks.
How to do this?
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This one is simple. Simply choose a Thanksgiving-themed movie, sit back and relax to enjoy it with your family and friends!
16. Look Through Family Photo Albums
Looking through family photos is a great way to reminisce about the happy family moments in the past.
What do you need?
Just dig out your family photo albums.
How to do this?
Simply sit down with your family and look through all the photo albums and talk about your favorite memories from the past Thanksgivings.
17. Thanksgiving Charades Game
This activity is perfect for families and friends who want to look for some light-hearted fun. Players take turns to act out different Thanksgiving-themed words or phrases.
What do you need?
You will need the Outset Media Family Charades game.
How to do this?
Each player takes turns to draw a charade from the game. The first player to correctly guess the other players’ charades wins!
18. Wear Thanksgiving Costume And Take Silly Pictures
How fun it is to put on festive Thanksgiving-themed costumes and take silly pictures together!
What do you need?
You will need some Thanksgiving-themed costumes, props, and a camera.
How to do this?
Dress up in Thanksgiving-themed costumes and take silly pictures with your family and friends. You can even put on a funny play in these costumes and video tape it!
19. Go For a Fall Hike
This is a great activity for anyone who enjoys being outdoors. You’ll get to experience the stunning view of nature during a fall hike.
What do you need?
Comfortable clothing, shoes, water, and snacks. A handy journal to have your family hiking journey written is great too.
How to do this?
Pick a scenic hiking destination or just anywhere near your home to experience the beautiful nature!
20. “Who’s Most Likely to…” Thanksgiving Game
The goal of this game is to get people to think about all the things they are thankful for.
What do you need?
The Kinda Clean Family Edition of “Who’s Most Likely to…,”
How to do this?
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The game is simple: take turns to draw a card, read what it says out loud, and have the group vote on who they think is most likely to do the things listed. The first person to 10 points wins.
21. Pin the Tail on the Turkey
Thanksgiving Party Games for Kids is a great activity to get kids to just laugh and have funn. “Pin the tail on the turkey” is a simple game for kids to just play and compete with each other.
What do you need?
Try to get a Thanksgiving Party Games Kit of “pinning the tail on the turkey.”
How to do this?
Stick the removable adhesive tape on the poster. Paste it on a suitable wall surface.
22. Pin the Hat on the Turkey
Besides pinning the tail on the turkey, you can also try pining the hat on a turkey with your kids. This is a great game for kids to liven up any holiday party!
What do you need?
You will need the Pin the Hat on the Turkey Game Kit.
How to do this?
Stick the removable tape on the poster. Paste it on a suitable well surface. Choose the hat sticker you like. Then stick the hat on the turkey.
23. Thanksgiving Bean Bag Toss
It’s a simple game with the objective to toss the bean bags and hit the turkey.
What do you need?
Consider getting a Thanksgiving Games Kit for Bean Bag Toss. It comes with three bean bags, a turkey hanging target, and a banner.
How to do this?
Player stands some distance in front of the hanging game beginner and with bean bags in hand. Toss the bean bag through the open holes in the banner each player gets three chancesThe scores correspond to holes of different sizes. Player with the most points wins.
24. Make a Turkey Sticker
In this game, every kid gets to DIY their own turkey!
What do you need?
A DIY Turkey Sticker Craft Kit is a nice kit to consider.
How to do this?
Just help your kids out as they’re trying to make their own stickers!
25. Pictionary – Thanksgiving Version
This Thanksgiving Pictionary game is a great way to have fun with family and friends during the holiday season.
What do you need?
You will need a piece of paper and a pen for each player; or you can try the “air version” of Pictionary.
How to do this?
Each player takes turns to draw a picture of something that is related to Thanksgiving. The first player to correctly guess the other players’ pictures wins!
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Final Thoughts
Thanksgiving is a time to gather with family and friends and be thankful for all that we have in life. From showing appreciation to each other, to fun games, and delicious recipes, there are so many ways to make the holiday meaningful and memorable.
Featured photo credit: Olivie Strauss via unsplash.com
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