7 Fun and Easy Thanksgiving Day Activities for Kids

Oh joy for fall and everything that comes along with it. Changes in the leaves, cooler weather, pumpkins, pumpkin-spiced things and….. Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving is a favorite holiday of all because of the FOOD, special family time, and of course, football. As the year wraps up, it’s also the perfect time to reflect on all of life’s blessings and be in a state of gratitude. 

After the big Thanksgiving feast, with full bellies and hearts, most adults love to lounge around, embracing their food coma. Well, everyone except the kids that is. They seem to have an excess of energy, don’t they? To help, we’ve put together some fun and easy Thanksgiving Day Activities that the kids are sure to love.

1. Thanksgiving Mazes, Word Searches and More!

These printable Thanksgiving placemats serve two purposes: 1. to make your Thanksgiving table look extra cute and festive, and 2. to entertain those little ones for at least 15 minutes while you make the finishing touches to your Thanksgiving spread.

2. Thanksgiving ‘I Am Thankful Worksheets’

The big kids in your bunch will love these. These are just one of the ways you can start to instill innate feelings of gratitude in your children, and maybe even some of the adults in your family too. These also double as coloring sheets, and we love a good two-fer!

3. Thanksgiving Gratitude Tree

This activity is another wonderful way to get the whole family in the habit of practicing gratitude. It’s a tangible reminder of everything there is to be thankful for.

Materials needed: Vase or jar, branches, twine or ribbon, hole puncher, markers or pens, scissors (you might need some rocks or rice in the bottom of your vase if your branches are heavy--this will prevent it from tipping over).

Instructions:

-Start with a vase and some branches. 

-Grab some twine or ribbon, whatever you have on hand. 

-Then, cut out some leaves from construction paper or cardstock. 

-Use a hole puncher to punch a hole in the leaves.

-Together, you all can talk about what you are grateful for, what it means to practice gratitude, etc.

-Write down your answers on the leaves and hang them on the tree. 

-Display near your dining table during Thanksgiving dinner or dessert.

When you are done, you will have something similar to this:

4. Take a Walk in Nature

Fall is such a beautiful time to be outdoors. There are so many colors and textures happening in nature. And everyone in your family will benefit from a walk after the biggest feast of the year. 

5. Share a Thanksgiving Story Time

Gather the family, light some candles, make some pumpkin-spice tea and join together for a special Thanksgiving story. This one has a beautiful sentiment of tradition, and eye-catching illustrations that your whole family will love.

6. Thanksgiving Craft

Kids of all ages love craft time, and Thanksgiving Day will be no exception. After the table has been cleared, put out some craft supplies and let the kids go wild. If you are more of a DIY-er, this “Cheerio Corn on the Cob” craft is easy to prep and takes limited supplies. If you don’t have cheerios on hand, corn kernels or beans will work too! 

If you are more of a “Please send me a kit with everything I need included” kind of person (because it’s thanksgiving and you are already doing A LOT), check out this great Mini Turkey Banner kit from Oriental Trading. It will give you enough supplies for 12 kids!

7. Thanksgiving Coloring Pages

Last but not least, grab some new markers or crayons and spread out some of these Thanksgiving Color by Number Pages. Adults and kids alike will love the therapeutic vibes that come from coloring, especially after a big meal.

Or, if you love your child's art, snap a picture of it and throw it on a custom t-shirt!

Wishing you a season of health, happiness, and gratitude. Happy Thanksgiving!