While the turkey and other yummy food is cooking on Thanksgiving Day, keep the kids busy with these 7 Thanksgiving Day Activities for Kids.    

Thanksgiving Activities for Kids

Happy Thanksgiving week everyone! I am both excited and overwhelmed for the week to get started! Today I am headed out to the grocery stores, so here’s to hoping the stores aren’t too CRAZY!  I wanted to hop on here today and share a few Thanksgiving day activities for kids. If you are hosting and having kids at your festivities, these are some ideas to keep the kids occupied while the turkey is cooking.

Does anyone else have memories of the meal preparations feeling like forever as a kid?! Hopefully these activities will help to pass the time more quickly for the little ones in the house!

Family Workout on Thanksgiving

Every year we run a Thanksgiving Day morning race! For the last few years our big kids have joined us. It is a great way to start Thanksgiving day and to get moving! Most major cities have races on and around Thanksgiving Day. What can be a better excuse to eat all the food you want on Thanksgiving, then to start the day with some exercise!

Whether we run or it ends up being more of a light trot, it is still a lot of fun! Most big cities have a Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving day so take a look for one in your area!

It is a great activity if you have family and friends in town too–the more the merrier!

Create Place Cards

After a morning workout, it is nice to work on a crafty project! Whether you have a fancy Thanksgiving dinner or a very casual gathering, it is a sweet gesture for the kids to make homemade place cards.  Your guests will appreciate these cards made with love.

I have the kids create a place card for each guest. This can be as elaborate as you want but we usually stick to basic.

Just seeing the kids handwriting is a sweet touch to the Thanksgiving table.

Make a Kid Friendly Dessert or Appetizer

You will not get any complaints on Thanksgiving when you ask the kids to make a Thanksgiving dessert! My kids love this one!

Each year I look for easy, Thanksgiving themed desserts that the kids can create with minimal help from grown ups. Here are some of our past creations. We’ve made these and these every year! The younger kids can unwrap the candies while the big kids assemble the treats!

Most years we make these pilgrim hat cookies and Hershey Kiss acorns.

We’ve also attempted some “turkey” appetizer platters. I show the kids a picture and let them get creative!

Thanksgiving Turkey Veggie Platter

 

Thanksgiving Turkey Cheese Platter

Have the Kids Serve Others

As the kids have gotten older, I have encouraged them to serve others when we are hosting parties. Bigger kids can carry appetizer plates around and the little ones can pass out appetizer napkins. Kids can also take guests’ coats and put them away!

Before meal time, I have the kids take drink orders. They love walking around with a notepad taking orders! Older children can help fulfill those drink orders! There is a helpful task for kids of all ages –you just have to be creative sometimes.

Get Crafty

This year I found this festive and fun tablecloth at Target for the kids section of our table! You could also print out some coloring pages like these, and set them up in a kid friendly area. Or perhaps, have the kids make fun pilgrim hats…do you remember making these as a kid?!


Send The Kids Outside

When the kids start to get stir crazy, send them outside for a game of basketball or football! It’s a great way for the whole family to burn off some of that turkey…so encourage the adults to join in the fun!

Play Games

Some years I’ve picked up a new board game that I bring out for the kids on Thanksgiving. This year, I found this game at Target that I hope will be a hit! After dinner, we often play games as a family including Apples to Apples and card games. It’s fun to find games that multiple generations can participate.

Be sure to check out this Thanksgiving Pinterest Board for more ideas and activities!

https://www.pinterest.com/coffeepancakesdreams/thanksgiving-recipes-decorations-and-kids-activiti/

Are you looking for more Thanksgiving Activities and Decor Inspiration?

Check out these posts:

Thanksgiving Home Tour

Thankful Chalkboard Idea

Simple and Rustic Thanksgiving Tablescape

Thanksgiving activities for kids and family #thankful #kidfriendly #kidsactivities

12 Comments

  1. Holly Breton @ Pink Lady on November 20, 2017 at 10:47 am

    LOVE these ideas! We participate in our town’s Turkey Trot every year- best way to start the day with fresh air and exercise! Happy Thanksgiving!!

  2. Stephanie on November 20, 2017 at 6:23 pm

    We’ve stocked up on Dollar Spot crafts, and I think letting littles help in the kitchen is always a good idea…messy, but fun!

    • Jaclyn on November 20, 2017 at 7:40 pm

      Dollar Spot crafts are a great idea! Love the idea of kids helping out in the kitchen too!!

  3. Emily on November 20, 2017 at 7:35 pm

    I love the turkey shaped cheese tray! So simple and festive!

  4. Britney on November 21, 2017 at 11:03 am

    What a Great list! My little one created place cards last year!

  5. Nicole Banuelos on November 21, 2017 at 12:29 pm

    The family turkey trot sounds like so much fun! What a great family activity!

  6. Jaclyn on November 21, 2017 at 3:04 pm

    I love all the ideas! We love doing crafts and sending the kids outside LOL

  7. Kate on November 22, 2017 at 8:25 am

    You’ve got some great ideas here! We always start Thanksgiving with a hike at the park, and then after brunch, we love sending the kids back outside again!

  8. Marie on November 22, 2017 at 1:22 pm

    Great job with the turkey makin’! I have got to try that, but I lucked out this year. I’m not cooking for Thanksgiving, but I am for Christmas. WOO HOO! Time for this girl to relax! Thanks for stopping by and for sharing your wonderful ideas! hugs & Happy Thanksgiving to you & yours.

  9. Jesh StG on November 22, 2017 at 2:39 pm

    The turkey trot is so aptly named, because when I see them (quite often here in the forest where I live) they’re always running off to “somewhere!” All great activities for Thanksgiving! Welcome to All Seasons and sharing this fun! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! Hope to see you back next week (All Seasons is for any type of experience in your Season).

  10. Angela Amores on November 30, 2017 at 11:20 pm

    I can’t wait to do the Turkey Trot with my kiddos when they are a little bit older. This is such great list!!
    Angela

  11. 바카라 on November 15, 2019 at 12:21 pm

    Best game i have seen LOL !

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