13 Kids’ Thanksgiving Activities (with Printables!)

Like so much of 2020, there are parts of Thanksgiving this year that are a bit sad. We’ve canceled our family trip for reasons you can probably guess (thank you, COVID).

But this year continues to fling doors wide open in raising resilient kids.

As a Hail Mary for yet another rerouted holiday, I sent my kids off on a scavenger hunt for a gift basket (formerly blanket basket) stuffed with some new games and snacks.

As expected, there were varying degrees of enthusiasm during the photography.

All that to say, I get the need for kids’ Thanksgiving activities. I know your kids may already be bored on break, or may well be while waiting on Thanksgiving dinner.

You game?

The Printables

First, grab this free printable Thanksgiving BINGO board pictured above. Some small acts of service and gratitude are thrown in there…as well as other ideas to make the time before dinner fly. You might have a small incentive for the winners!

For older elementary/middle schoolers, here’s a printable crossword for them to look up gratitude-related Scripture verses. (…Same recommendation for the incentive. I’m all about ’em.)

Need more kids’ Thanksgiving activities? Onward.

Kids can

1. String a leaf garland from the most colorful leaves outside. (They’ll need string and a blunt needle.)
2. Interview family members for what they’re thankful for–and put each item on a paper chain, on the person’s placemat or placecard (leaves work!), etc.
3. Color a Happy Thanksgiving banner, allowing every family member to write what they’re thankful for this year.
4. Act as sous-chefs arranging crudités, stirring gravy, spreading whipped cream, kneading their own piece of dough, loading mashed potatoes into a bowl.
5. Put together their own Thanksgiving skit or play.
6. Indulge a bit with the pre-recorded parade, or A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.
7. Engage in a friendly tournament of board games.
8. Enjoy a table of kid-friendly nibbles: crackers and cheese, veggies, marshmallows. If you’re feeling it, add a few toothpicks for them to create food-creatures.
9. Serve as waiters: folding napkins, wiping down surfaces, putting together a centerpiece of pomegranates and red grapes, or mini-gourds and multi-color corn; setting the table; taking drink orders.
10. Read Thanksgiving books borrowed from the library or your own collection. Kids can form a “reading nest” in an out-of-the-way corner…that may or may not morph into a fort.
11. Author and illustrate their own books on the Thanksgiving story from stapled sheets of paper.

Got ideas? Share them with all of us in the comment section!

Want more where this came from? You might like

FREE Thanksgiving Printables/Crafts for Kids!

FREE Thanksgiving Scripture Art

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Spring Break Kids’ Activity: The Newlywed Game (FREE PRINTABLE)

Forms of these ideas originally occurred in this post of mine.