Thanksgiving Activities for Kids: Finding Ways to Fill the Day

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Thanksgiving is interesting because it’s really about one big meal. But that meal takes hours to prepare. So what do the kids do while you’re cooking? Or after everyone eats and before people leave?

I’m always looking for activities to bridge those gaps. Things that keep children entertained without requiring my constant attention. Because honestly, I’m busy basting a turkey or washing dishes.

Also, Thanksgiving can feel less exciting for kids than other holidays. No costumes like Halloween. No presents like Christmas. Just food and family. Which is great, but doesn’t naturally entertain an eight-year-old for hours.

So I’ve collected some ideas that might help. Activities that fit into the rhythm of Thanksgiving Day. And maybe teach kids something about gratitude along the way.

Let me share what I’ve found.

Making Thankful Trees or Gratitude Crafts

This activity combines crafting with the theme of gratitude. Plus, it gives kids something to display. And it’s not too messy, which matters when you’re already cooking all day.

Cut a tree trunk and branches from brown construction paper. Glue it onto a poster board. Then cut out leaf shapes from red, orange, and yellow paper. Give each family member a stack of leaves.

Everyone writes what they’re thankful for on the leaves. One thing per leaf. Kids can write or draw depending on their age. Even toddlers can scribble something while you write the actual words.

Glue the leaves onto the tree branches. By Thanksgiving dinner, your tree is full of gratitude. You can hang it on the wall where everyone can see it during the meal.

For younger kids, hand-tracing works well. Trace their hands on coloured paper, then cut them out. Each finger becomes something they’re grateful for. Write on each finger. These look like turkeys when you’re done.

Gratitude jars are another option. Give everyone small pieces of paper throughout November. Write down thankful thoughts and drop them in a jar. Read them aloud on Thanksgiving Day. This requires planning ahead, though.

Parents.com has various Thanksgiving craft ideas, including gratitude projects. Some are quick, others take more time. Choose based on how busy your day is.

The point isn’t creating perfect art. It’s getting kids thinking about what they appreciate. Sometimes they surprise you with their answers. My son once said he was thankful for rocks. Kids have interesting priorities.

These crafts can become traditions. Make a new thankful tree every year. Save them and look back at what you were grateful for in previous years. It’s actually pretty sweet.

Watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a classic for American families. It starts at nine in the morning. Which is perfect because you’re probably already up cooking anyway.

Giant balloons, marching bands, Broadway performances, celebrity appearances. Kids find it entertaining even if they don’t know who most celebrities are. The balloons are the main attraction, honestly.

We usually have the parade on TV while I’m prepping food in the kitchen. Kids watch from the couch with cereal or breakfast. It keeps them occupied for a solid three hours. That’s valuable cooking time.

For families outside the US, this might seem random. But it’s genuinely part of American Thanksgiving tradition. You can stream it on NBC or Peacock. Check your streaming services for availability.

Some cities have their own local parades on Thanksgiving morning. Smaller scale but still fun. Or you can watch previous years’ Macy’s parades on YouTube if your timing doesn’t work out.

NBCUniversal has information about parade viewing options. Times, streaming details, special guests. Updated each year before Thanksgiving.

Make it cosy. Let kids stay in pyjamas. Give them blankets and pillows. Make hot chocolate or apple cider. The parade becomes a relaxing morning activity before the day gets hectic.

After the parade ends, you’re usually close to when guests arrive. Or when you need more help in the kitchen. The timing works out nicely. Kids feel like they participated in Thanksgiving even though they were just watching TV.

Playing Touch Football or Outdoor Games

This is very American, but happens in backyards across the country. After people eat, everyone needs to move. Playing football helps digest that massive meal.

You don’t need actual football skills. Just toss the ball around. Make up your own rules. Kids versus adults. Boys versus girls. Whatever works for your family.

If football isn’t your thing, any outdoor game works. Tag, frisbee, soccer, and relay races. The goal is to burn energy and get fresh air. Plus, it gets everyone out of the kitchen.

For families in warmer climates, outdoor time on Thanksgiving is easier. In colder places, bundle up. Or skip outdoors entirely ifthe weather is terrible. Indoor games work too, though they’re more chaotic.

Simon Says, hide and seek, charades. Board games, if your family enjoys those. Card games like Uno or Go Fish. Anything that involves multiple people and lasts at least thirty minutes.

The National Park Service offers free admission at some parks on certain days. While not specifically Thanksgiving, fall is beautiful for hiking. Check NPS.gov for parks near you.

Getting kids active helps them sleep better later. Thanksgiving evenings can feel long after dinner is over. Tired kids from running around make bedtime easier. That’s motivation right there.

This also creates space for adults to chat while kids play. Or for cooks to clean the kitchen without little helpers underfoot. Everyone benefits from some separation during the day.

Creating Place Cards and Table Decorations

Give kids a job helping with the table. They feel included, and you get decorations. Plu,s it keeps them busy for a chunk of time.

Place cards are simple. Fold cardstock in half to make tent cards. Write each guest’s name on one. Kids can decorate them with drawings, stickers, or fall-themed stamps.

Younger children might not write legibly. That’s fine. They can draw pictures while you write names. Or use pre-printed place card templates, they just colour in.

For centrepieces, kids can arrange pinecones, acorns, and colourful leaves in a basket. Go on a nature walk beforehand to collect materials. Free decorations that look seasonal.

Mini pumpkins or gourds make easy decorations. Kids can arrange them down the centre of the table. Add some candles between them if you’re supervising closely. Or battery-operated candles for safety.

Paper turkeys are classic. Cut out turkey shapes from construction paper. Or make them three-dimensional by folding and glueing. These can stand up next to each place setting.

Better Homes & Gardens has tons of Thanksgiving decorating ideas. Many are kid-friendly. Some require supplies you’d need to buy. Others use things you probably have.

Let kids set the table too. Show them where everything goes. Forks on the left, knives and spoons on the right. They might not get it perfect, but they’re learning. And it’s one less thing you have to do.

The table becomes their project. They take pride in it when guests arrive. Someone always compliments the decoration,s which makes kids feel accomplished. Small wins matter on busy days.

Baking Pies Together

Pie is essential for Thanksgiving. And making it can be an activity. Obviously, this requires kitchen access while you’re cooking other things. So timing matters.

Store-bought pie crust makes this easier. Nobody needs to stress about making crust from scratch while preparing an entire Thanksgiving meal. Use the refrigerated kind that rolls out. Or pre-made shells.

Pumpkin pie is traditional and relatively simple. Apple pie works to,o though peeling apples takes time. Pecan pie is easy but involves corn syru,p which some kids find gross to touch.

Kids can help measure ingredients, crack eggs, and stir filling. Rolling out dough is fun for th,em even if it gets re-rolled multiple times. Use cookie cutters to make leaf shapes from dough scraps for decoration.

My children love brushing egg wash on the crust. It makes them feel professional. Then, watching the pie bake and smelling it throughout the house. That’s part of the experience.

Sally’s Baking Addiction has reliable pie recipes with helpful tips. Her instructions are clear and detailed. Good for people who don’t bake pies often.

Baking together creates memories. Years later, kids remember making pies on Thanksgiving. They probably won’t remember the specific meal or who attended. But they’ll remember rolling dough with flour everywhere.

Plus, you get pie at the end. Win-win situation. Even if the pie looks messy, homemade always tastes better than store-bought. That’s what I tell myself anyway.

Making Handprint Turkey Crafts

This is maybe the most classic Thanksgiving craft. A bit cliché, but kids genuinely enjoy it. And it’s easy enough for people of all ages.

Trace your child’s hand on construction paper. The palm becomes the turkey’s body. Each finger becomes a tail feather. Colour the feathers in fall colours like red, orange, yellow, and brown.

Add googly eyes and a beak to the palm area. Draw legs coming down from the bottom. Cut it out and display it. Done.

You can make these more elaborate. Use real feathers glued to the fingers. Add glitter. Make three-dimensional turkeys by layering paper. But simple versions work fine too.

Handprint turkeys make good gifts for grandparents. Especially if you write the date and the child’s age on the back. Looking at handprints from years ago shows how much kids have grown.

For babies and toddlers, use paint. Press their hand in brown paint and stamp it on paper. You add the details later. They just enjoy the messy sensory experience of paint.

These crafts don’t take long. Maybe twenty minutes, including cleanup. Good for filling time before guests arrive or during those weird hours between lunch and dinner prep.

The Best Ideas for Kids has variations of handprint turkeys for inspiration. Some are creative. Others are standard. All are doable.

Save these crafts in a box. Pull them out years later. You’ll be amazed at how tiny those hands were. And your kids will laugh at their childhood artwork.

Setting Up a Kids’ Table Activity Station

If you’re hosting Thanksgiving, the kids’ table needs planning. Kids eat faster than adults. Then they’re bored while grown-ups talk for ages.

Set up activity stations at or near the kids’ table. Colouring pages with Thanksgiving themes. Crayons and markers. Maybe some simple puzzles or activity books.

Mad Libs are great for older kids who can read. Thanksgiving-themed ones exist. Kids take turns filling in words and reading the silly results. This keeps them entertained without supervision.

Small building toys like LEGOs or blocks work well. Bring out the sets you usually limit. Thanksgiving is special so they get access to the good toys.

Card games are perfect for kids who can follow rules. Go Fish, Crazy Eights, Spoons. Games that don’t require too much concentration, but keep them busy.

For younger children, provide Play-Doh and cookie cutters. Turkey shapes, leaf shapes, anything fall-related. They can create at the table while the adults finish eating.

Activity Village has printable Thanksgiving activities. Colouring pages, word searches, mazes. Free downloads that you can print at home.

The key is having supplies ready before dinner. Don’t wait until kids are restless to figure out activities. That’s when chaos happens.

Check on them periodically, but let them play independently. They don’t need constant adult interaction. Cousins playing together is actually the point of family gatherings.

Creating a Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt

Kids love scavenger hunts. You can theme one around Thanksgiving. Make it indoor or outdoor, depending on the weather and the space available.

Create a list of items to find. Turkey decoration, something orange, a pinecone, a leaf, something you’re thankful for, someone wearing stripes. Mix specific items with creative challenges.

For younger kids, use pictures instead of written lists. Draw or print images of what they’re searching for. That way, non-readers can participate too.

Hide items around your house or yard beforehand. Or make it a finding game where things aren’t hidden, but kids have to spot them. Both versions work.

Teams make it more interesting if you have multiple kids. Siblings working together. Or cousins versus cousins. Friendly competition keeps them engaged longer.

Include some Thanksgiving trivia questions in the hunt. Answer correctly to get the next clue. This works for older children who enjoy more complex challenges.

The prize can be simple. First choice of dessert. Extra whipped cream on the pie. A small toy from the dollar store. Kids are motivated by surprisingly little.

This activity gets kids moving through the house. Burns energy. Keeps them away from the kitchen during final dinner prep. Timing it right makes your life easier.

Let’s Do Something Crafty has seasonal scavenger hunt ideas, including Thanksgiving versions. Printable lists are available. Or use them as inspiration to create your own.

Reading Thanksgiving Books

Books work for every holiday, apparently. Thanksgiving has some good ones, though they’re less well-known than Christmas books.

“The Thankful Book” by Todd Parr is simple and colourful. Good for younger kids. “Thanksgiving Is for Giving Thanks” teaches gratitude. “Balloons Over Broadway” tells the story of the Macy’s parade balloons.

For older kids, “The First Thanksgiving” gives historical context. Just be aware that different books present the history of Thanksgiving differently. Some are more accurate in their portrayal of Native American perspectives than others.

“Thanksgiving on Thursday” from the Magic Tree House series combines fiction with history. Kids who like that series will enjoy this one. It makes learning about Thanksgiving feel like an adventure.

Reading before dinner, while the food is cooking, creates a calm moment. Everything about Thanksgiving Day feels rushed. Sitting down with books provides a break from the chaos.

After dinner, when everyone is too full to move, reading together works well too. Younger cousins can listen while older ones take turns reading aloud.

Scholastic has recommended Thanksgiving book lists. They’re organised by age group. Reading levels are included so you can find appropriate options.

Libraries have Thanksgiving displays in November. Borrow several books to read throughout the month. Return them after Thanksgiving so they don’t clutter your shelves permanently.

Books about gratitude work for any family, whether or not you celebrate Thanksgiving traditionally. The themes of thankfulness and togetherness are universal. Different cultures express these values in different ways, but the core idea remains the same.

Wrapping Up

Thanksgiving is shorter than Christmas. Just one day, really, unless you count the whole weekend. That makes it more manageable. You don’t need weeks of activities planned out.

But that one day is long. Especially if you’re hosting. Having a few activities ready helps the day go more smoothly. Keeps kids occupied while adults cook and clean.

The meal itself matters most. That’s what Thanksgiving is actually about. But the hours surrounding the meal need planning, too. Otherwise, kids get bored and cranky.

Don’t pressure yourself to do everything on this list. Pick two or three activities that sound realistic. Some years you’ll have energy for crafts and games. Other years, the parade and some colouring pages are enough.

Kids mostly just want to feel included. Let them help where they can. Give them small jobs. The activities don’t have to be elaborate. Simple things work fine.

And honestly, sometimes the best activity is just letting cousins play together. They entertain each other while the adults talk. That’s the beauty of family gatherings. When it works, everyone benefits.

So do what you can manage. Keep it simple. Focus on being together. That’s what they’ll remember anyway.