Thanksgiving isn’t just about the delicious feast—it’s also a time for family, fun, and making memories together. For kids, the holiday can be extra exciting with activities that spark creativity, encourage gratitude, and keep little hands busy while everyone enjoys the celebration.
From festive crafts and easy DIY projects to fun games and outdoor adventures, these 20 Thanksgiving activities for kids are perfect for keeping the holiday cheerful, interactive, and unforgettable.
Whether you’re hosting a big family gathering or enjoying a cozy dinner at home, these ideas will bring joy to your little ones all season long.
1. Gratitude Pumpkin Fun
This creative activity allows kids to decorate a pumpkin while sharing what they are thankful for. It is a wonderful way to reflect on the holiday’s true meaning and bond as a family.
Encourage children to write their own thankful messages on the pumpkin. This simple craft teaches gratitude and creates a beautiful, personal centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table that everyone will appreciate.
Gather your loved ones and make this a new tradition. This pumpkin craft is a perfect example of fun, easy thanksgiving activities for kids that create lasting memories for the entire family to enjoy.
2. Roll the Dice for a Turkey
Get ready for some friendly competition with this fun “Roll a Turkey” drawing game. Kids simply roll the dice and then draw the body part that corresponds to the number they land on.
This simple, engaging concept makes it a perfect way to keep everyone entertained while the adults prepare the holiday feast.
This game is a fantastic option for thanksgiving activities for kids that require little more than paper, pencils, and a pair of dice. It encourages creativity and brings a bit of playful excitement to your holiday gathering, making it a great boredom buster.
3. The Thankful Crown Craft
This charming “I Am Thankful” crown is a great craft for children. They can color and then draw pictures of everything they appreciate. This is a creative and thoughtful way to celebrate the holiday.
Encourage your child to wear their special crown. This craft helps kids focus on the things that bring them joy. It’s an easy and fun project that teaches gratitude in a memorable way.
This simple activity is a perfect example of meaningful thanksgiving activities for kids. It gets little ones thinking about their blessings and creates a beautiful, wearable reminder of what they are thankful for.
4. Autumn Leaf Art
A fun leaf collage is a great way to enjoy the fall season. Kids can collect colorful leaves from outside and then arrange them into creative designs on paper for a simple art project.
This is an easy and free activity that gets children playing outdoors. It inspires creativity and connects them with nature, all while preparing for the holiday.
These simple leaf projects are wonderful thanksgiving activities for kids. The finished artwork can be displayed as a natural decoration, making a cherished memory of the fall season.
5. A Family Blessings Tree
This charming “blessings tree” is a creative centerpiece that invites the whole family to participate in gratitude. Kids can write or draw things they are thankful for on paper leaves before hanging them on the branches.
This activity is a great way to start a new Thanksgiving tradition. It gets everyone to pause and reflect on their blessings, making the day more meaningful. It’s an easy, low-cost craft that provides a beautiful reminder of all your family has.
6. A Wall of Gratitude
This vibrant bulletin board is a beautiful display of gratitude. The colorful leaves each hold a message of thanks, creating a collective piece of art that reminds everyone to appreciate their blessings.
It’s a fun and engaging group activity for all ages. Participants can write down what they are thankful for, making it a wonderful way to foster a sense of community and thankfulness in a group setting.
This is a great example of memorable thanksgiving activities for kids. It provides a simple, hands-on way for everyone to contribute to a beautiful, inspiring display that captures the true spirit of the holiday.
7. Little Hands, Big Tree
This collaborative art project is a fantastic way to engage little ones. Toddlers can work together to create a large tree for your home or classroom, making it a fun and creative group activity.
This craft is a great way to encourage teamwork and sharing. It teaches children to cooperate and express their creativity together, turning a simple project into a rewarding, shared experience.
This festive craft is a wonderful example of thanksgiving activities for kids. The finished artwork makes a heartwarming decoration, reminding everyone of the simple joys and spirit of the holiday season.
8. A Wall of Gratitude
This vibrant bulletin board is a beautiful display of gratitude. The colorful leaves each hold a message of thanks, creating a collective piece of art that reminds everyone to appreciate their blessings.
It’s a fun and engaging group activity for all ages. Participants can write down what they are thankful for, making it a wonderful way to foster a sense of community and thankfulness in a group setting.
This is a great example of memorable thanksgiving activities for kids. It provides a simple, hands-on way for everyone to contribute to a beautiful, inspiring display that captures the true spirit of the holiday.
9. Little Hands, Big Tree
This collaborative art project is a fantastic way to engage little ones. Toddlers can work together to create a large tree for your home or classroom, making it a fun and creative group activity.
This craft is a great way to encourage teamwork and sharing. It teaches children to cooperate and express their creativity together, turning a simple project into a rewarding, shared experience.
This festive craft is a wonderful example of thanksgiving activities for kids. The finished artwork makes a heartwarming decoration, reminding everyone of the simple joys and spirit of the holiday season.
10. A Handprint Leaf Craft
This fun and simple handprint leaf craft is a great way to celebrate autumn indoors. Kids can use their hands to make prints with paint and then add details like veins.
This is a low-mess, high-fun option for thanksgiving activities for kids. You can use them to decorate a window, a bulletin board, or even a fall-themed mobile.
These charming little keepsakes are a creative way to engage children and get them excited for the holiday. It’s an easy, low-cost activity that captures their little hands.
11. Mushroom Craft Project
This mushroom craft is a fun and creative project for children. Using simple supplies like paper and glue, kids can build their own three-dimensional mushrooms. This hands-on activity is a great way to let them express their creativity and develop fine motor skills. It’s a rewarding project that results in a cute, decorative piece.
This is a great craft to include in your thanksgiving activities for kids. You can use the finished mushrooms as a centerpiece on the table or as decorations throughout the house.
This kind of imaginative project is a wonderful way to keep children entertained and engaged during the holiday season.
12. Playful Fall Characters
This fun craft project creates whimsical fall characters using paper. Children can make smiling pumpkins and friendly mushrooms, bringing some festive cheer to your holiday decorations with googly eyes and wide smiles.
It’s a hands-on activity that’s great for developing fine motor skills. This simple craft requires basic supplies like paper, scissors, and glue. Kids will love seeing their creations come to life with this rewarding project.
These charming little crafts are a great example of creative thanksgiving activities for kids. You can use the finished characters to decorate your home or display them as a festive centerpiece on the holiday table.
13. A Tree of Thankful Hands
This collaborative art project is a fantastic way to engage kids in a group setting. They can work together to create a large tree with their handprints as the leaves, each a unique representation of themselves.
This festive craft is a wonderful example of thanksgiving activities for kids. The finished artwork makes a heartwarming decoration, reminding everyone of the simple joys and spirit of the holiday season.
This hands-on craft is a perfect choice for school or home. You can even have each child write something they’re thankful for on their handprint. It encourages teamwork and a sense of shared accomplishment.
14. A Table of Thanksgiving Turkeys
This festive table setting uses personalized placemats and small crafts to welcome guests. Each spot has a unique handprint turkey, creating a playful and colorful scene for all the holiday festivities to come.
These adorable handprint turkeys are a great example of thanksgiving activities for kids. This craft is an easy project to make, and it provides a fun, personal touch for each guest at the holiday meal.
The finished placemats can be laminated and used year after year. They make a cherished keepsake that captures a moment in time and provides a lasting memory of a special holiday.
15. The Hedgehog Leaf Craft
This adorable hedgehog craft is a creative and festive project for children. Using a simple hedgehog shape, kids can attach small paper leaves to create its spiky back. This hands-on activity is a fun way to let them express their creativity and develop fine motor skills.
This is a great craft to include in your thanksgiving activities for kids. You can use the finished hedgehogs as ornaments, party favors, or decorations throughout the house.
This kind of imaginative project is a wonderful way to keep children entertained and engaged during the holiday season. The finished hedgehogs are a fun and memorable keepsake.
16. Woodland Creature Displays
Create a playful autumn scene with these cute woodland creature cutouts. The display features a fox, a squirrel, and an owl, surrounded by trees and colorful leaves for a festive touch.
This simple craft is a fun, hands-on way for kids to help decorate the house. It’s a great project for little ones that encourages creativity and gets them excited about the fall season.
These adorable decorations are a great example of memorable thanksgiving activities for kids. They turn a floor or a wall into a magical autumn forest, bringing warmth and cheer to your home.
17. Pinecone and Acorn Squirrel
This creative squirrel craft uses natural materials for a festive look. Kids can make a squirrel cutout and then use pinecones or acorn tops to form its bushy tail.
This is a fun and simple project that encourages kids to get creative with found objects. It’s a great way to use fall items from your yard for a memorable craft session.
This charming project is a great example of memorable thanksgiving activities for kids. The finished squirrels make a unique and adorable decoration, bringing a touch of nature inside for the holiday.
18. Little Hands, Big Tree
This fun, collaborative art project is a fantastic way to engage little ones. Toddlers can work together to create a large-scale tree for your home or classroom, making it a great group activity.
It’s a great group activity that encourages teamwork and creativity. It teaches children to cooperate and express their ideas together, turning a simple project into a rewarding, shared experience.
This festive craft is a wonderful example of thanksgiving activities for kids. The finished artwork makes a heartwarming decoration, reminding everyone of the simple joys and spirit of the holiday season.
19. Fun with Thanksgiving Crafts
This image captures a wonderful family activity, with children gathered around a table to create. The natural lighting and cozy setting create a warm atmosphere, perfect for a holiday gathering. The kids are actively engaged in various creative projects.
They are making thankful pumpkins, paper turkeys, and leaf crafts. This simple setup is an easy and fun way to keep little ones entertained. These hands-on projects are great for developing creativity and fine motor skills.
These crafts are perfect thanksgiving activities for kids, as they not only provide entertainment but also encourage a sense of gratitude and reflection. The finished products can be used as festive decorations, adding a personal touch to your holiday.
20. A Pinecone Turkey Craft
This adorable pinecone turkey is a classic and simple Thanksgiving craft. Kids can turn a found pinecone into a festive turkey by adding colorful paper feathers, googly eyes, and a small beak.
This hands-on project is a fun way for children to get creative while making a charming holiday decoration.
It’s a low-cost and engaging option for thanksgiving activities for kids that requires only a few basic supplies. The finished craft is a delightful keepsake that can be displayed on a mantel or used as a centerpiece on the holiday table, bringing a personal touch to your celebration.
