25 Thanksgiving Activities For Kids Who Are Grateful And Artsy

Thanksgiving is a time to come together, express gratitude, and enjoy quality time with family and friends. If you're looking for fun and engaging Thanksgiving activities to keep the kids entertained during this holiday season, we've got you covered.

Thanksgiving Activities For Kids

In this blog post, I have compiled a list of 25 Thanksgiving activities for kids that will create lasting memories and enhance the spirit of gratitude. So, let's dive in and explore these exciting activities!

1.  Create a Thankful Turkey Craft

Encourage your kids to express their gratitude by creating a Thankful Turkey craft. Cut out a turkey shape from construction paper and let your kids write down things they are thankful for on each feather. This activity not only allows them to reflect on their blessings but also promotes creativity.

2.  Set Up a Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt

Organize a Thanksgiving-themed scavenger hunt in your backyard or indoors. Hide small toys, treats, or Thanksgiving-related items, and provide your kids with clues to find them. This activity will keep them entertained while fostering problem-solving skills and teamwork.

3.  Make Thanksgiving Place Cards

Get your kids involved in setting the table by making Thanksgiving-themed place cards for each guest. Provide them with colorful paper, markers, and stickers to design unique place cards. This creative activity will add a personal touch to your Thanksgiving dinner.

4.  Decorate Thanksgiving Cookies

Gather your little ones in the kitchen and bake some delicious Thanksgiving-themed cookies. Let them decorate the cookies using colorful icing, sprinkles, and edible decorations. This activity will not only satisfy their sweet tooth but also foster their culinary skills.

5.  Write Letters of Gratitude

Encourage your kids to write letters of gratitude to express their appreciation for someone special in their lives. It could be a family member, a teacher, or even a friend. This heartfelt activity teaches them the importance of expressing gratitude and strengthens their writing skills.

6.  Create a Thankful Tree

Make a Thankful Tree as a beautiful centerpiece for your Thanksgiving gathering. Cut out paper leaves and attach them to branches to represent the things your family is thankful for. This visual reminder of gratitude will create a positive and thankful atmosphere.

7.  Volunteer at a Food Bank

Teach your kids the value of giving back by volunteering at a local food bank or soup kitchen. Get involved in collecting and sorting donations or serving meals to those in need. This hands-on experience will instill empathy and gratitude in your children.

8.  Learn the History of Thanksgiving

Take the opportunity to teach your kids about the history and traditions of Thanksgiving. Read age-appropriate books or watch educational videos together to learn about the Pilgrims, Native Americans, and the importance of gratitude. This activity promotes knowledge and cultural understanding.

9.  Host a Thanksgiving Art Show

Encourage your kids to express their creativity by hosting a Thanksgiving art show. Provide them with art supplies and let them create Thanksgiving-themed artwork, such as paintings, drawings, or collages. Display their masterpieces and invite family and friends to enjoy the exhibit.

10. Take a Nature Walk

Go for a family walk in nature and observe the beautiful fall colors. Encourage your kids to collect leaves, acorns, or pinecones along the way. Back home, you can use these items for crafting or to create a fall-themed centerpiece. This activity promotes outdoor exploration and appreciation of nature.

11. Create a Thankful Journal

Give your kids a notebook or journal and encourage them to write down three things they are thankful for each day leading up to Thanksgiving. This simple practice cultivates a habit of gratitude and helps them focus on the positives in their lives.

12. Make Thanksgiving Playdough

Create Thanksgiving-themed playdough with your kids. Use orange, brown, and yellow food coloring to mix into the dough, and add spices like cinnamon for a festive scent. Your children can shape and mold the dough into turkeys, pumpkins, or cornucopias. This sensory activity is great for imaginative play.

13. Plan a Thanksgiving Movie Night

Set up a cozy movie night at home featuring Thanksgiving-themed movies. Classics like "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" or "Free Birds" will entertain and educate your kids about the holiday's traditions. Don't forget the popcorn and blankets for a cozy viewing experience.

14. Design a Thanksgiving Tablecloth

Cover your Thanksgiving table with a plain white tablecloth and provide fabric markers for everyone to decorate. Your children can draw pictures or write messages of gratitude on the tablecloth. This unique keepsake will add sentimentality to your holiday feast.

15. Host a Thanksgiving Relay Race

Organize a Thanksgiving-themed relay race in your backyard. Set up obstacles and challenges, like carrying a spoon with a cranberry from one end to the other or balancing a pumpkin on their heads. This active and fun activity will keep the kids engaged and entertained.

16. Conduct a Food Tasting

Encourage your kids to explore different flavors and textures by organizing a Thanksgiving food tasting. Prepare small portions of traditional dishes like cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, and green bean casserole. This activity promotes an openness to trying new foods and expands their gastronomic horizons.

17. Create a Thanksgiving Wreath

Gather materials like colored paper, leaves, ribbons, and pinecones to make a Thanksgiving wreath with your kids. Attach the materials to a foam or cardboard base, and let their creativity run wild. Hang the finished wreath on your front door as a welcoming Thanksgiving decoration.

18. Plan a Family Thanksgiving Quiz

Create a Thanksgiving-themed quiz for your family to enjoy. Include questions about the history of the holiday, traditional foods, and fun facts. This activity will entertain and educate everyone, fostering a sense of togetherness and shared knowledge.

19. Make Leaf Rubbing Art

Collect leaves of various sizes and shapes, place them under a blank piece of paper, and use crayons to create leaf rubbings. This simple yet artistic activity celebrates the beauty of autumn while sparking creativity and observational skills.

20. Have a Gratitude Circle

Gather the family together and form a gratitude circle. Each person takes a turn expressing something they are thankful for. This activity encourages meaningful conversation and reinforces the core values of Thanksgiving.

21. Create Thanksgiving Placemats

Provide your kids with construction paper, crayons, and Thanksgiving-themed stickers to make personalized placemats for each guest. They can draw pictures or write messages of gratitude on the placemats. This thoughtful gesture will make your Thanksgiving table extra special.

22. Bake Thanksgiving-themed Treats

Get your kids involved in baking some delicious Thanksgiving treats like pumpkin pie, turkey-shaped cookies, or apple crisp. Let them measure ingredients, mix the dough, and decorate the treats. This activity promotes their culinary skills while indulging in some seasonal delights.

23. Plan a Thankful Jar

Decorate a jar with your kids and label it as the "Thankful Jar." Throughout the month, ask your kids to write down moments they are thankful for on small pieces of paper and place them in the jar. During your Thanksgiving gathering, open the jar and read the notes aloud. This activity is a beautiful reminder of all the blessings in your lives.

24. Create a Thanksgiving Playlist

Curate a special Thanksgiving playlist with your kids. Include songs that celebrate gratitude, family, and the spirit of Thanksgiving. This music-filled activity sets the mood for your holiday celebrations and gets everyone in a festive mood.

25. Volunteer at a Nursing Home

Visit a local nursing home or assisted living community with your kids and spend time talking and engaging with the residents. This intergenerational activity creates meaningful connections and teaches your kids the importance of compassion and care for the elderly.

In conclusion, Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate gratitude and create cherished memories with your loved ones.

By engaging in these 25 Thanksgiving activities for kids, you can foster a sense of gratitude, creativity, and togetherness.