Turkey Time Fun: Thanksgiving Activities for Kids That Go Beyond the Dinner Table

Families are gearing up for a festive Thanksgiving celebration. While the traditional feast takes center stage, infusing the holiday with creative and engaging activities for the little ones can make it truly memorable. We are sharing Thanksgiving activities for kids that everyone is sure to enjoy!

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Thanksgiving Activities For Kids

Here are fun activities for kids to celebrate Thanksgiving, whether you choose to engage in them weeks ahead or on the day itself. Everyone is sure to have a fantastic time, and the best part of the holiday is the creation of lasting memories. Coming together and making these memories embody the true essence of Thanksgiving.

Balloon Turkey Shoot

Inflate 5-10 orange balloons with helium. Illustrate a turkey on each balloon, assigning a specific point value to each. Line them up against a wall and invite participants to take aim with a Nerf gun! Tally scores based on the assigned values for each hit turkey.

Turkey Feeding Fun

Engage your toddlers in a delightful Thanksgiving activity: “Feed the Turkey.” This simple yet engaging game requires just a few minutes of preparation and provides valuable learning opportunities for your little ones:

Supplies

• Multi-colored pom-poms
• Tongs or tweezers
• Clear plastic bottle
• Construction paper
• Googly eyes (optional)
• Glue or tape

Instructions:

Decorate the clear plastic bottle to resemble a turkey using construction paper and optional googly eyes. Secure the decorations with glue or tape.
Place the bottle upright, creating the “turkey.”Scatter multi-colored pom-poms around the play area. Equip your toddler with tongs or tweezers.

Instruct them to pick up pom-poms with the tongs and “feed” the turkey by dropping them into the bottle.

Turkey Handprint Craft

It seems like a simple craft, but kids honestly love anything that has to do with painting their hands!

• Trace and cut out your child’s handprint on brown paper as the turkey’s body.
• Add colorful feathers made from construction paper.
• Draw or glue on eyes, a beak, and a snood (the red thing that hangs from a turkey’s beak) to complete the turkey.

Gratitude Tree

• Collect some branches and place them in a vase or container.
• Cut out leaf shapes from colored paper and attach them to the branches using string or clips.
• Encourage kids to write things they are thankful for on the leaves.

Pumpkin Decorating

• Provide small pumpkins and a variety of decorating supplies like paint, markers, stickers, and glitter.
• Let kids get creative with decorating their own pumpkins.

Thanksgiving Bingo

• Create a bingo card with pictures or words related to Thanksgiving (turkey, pumpkin, pie, etc.). FREE PRINTABLE 
• Call out the words or show pictures, and have the kids mark the corresponding spot on their bingo card.

Gratitude Scavenger Hunt

Join the fun with this scavenger hunt made just for kids! There are 14 clues all about being thankful. Your task is to find:

1. Something I like to wear
2. Something that makes me laugh
3. Something I am thankful for
4. My favorite food
5. My favorite toy
6. A smell I love
7. My favorite book
8. Something that makes me feel safe
9. Something that makes me happy
10. Something that tastes good
11. Something I am proud of
12. Something I love
13. Something I use a lot
14. Something that makes me feel strong

When you’re done, finish the sentence at the bottom: Today I am grateful for ________. Happy hunting!

Pass The Turkey Leg

Activate the musical turkey leg, pass it around a circle of friends. When the music stops, the player holding the turkey leg is eliminated.

Thanksgiving Story Stones

Foster creativity by making Thanksgiving Story Stones. Collect smooth stones and have kids paint, draw, or write Thanksgiving-themed images on them. You can also have everyone write what they are thankful and arrange them around the table during dinner!

Thanksgiving Placemats

Enhance your Thanksgiving table with the delightful addition of kids placemats. Our favorites are these fun options from World Market, though you can easily find a variety at most online retailers!

Turkey Sensory Bin

Creating a turkey sensory bin is a fantastic way to engage your little ones in a tactile and imaginative play experience. Follow these simple steps to set up a gobble-worthy sensory adventure:

Items Needed:

• Bin or Container: Choose a shallow plastic bin or container large enough for little hands to explore comfortably.
• Sensory Base: Select a sensory base to fill the bin. Options include dried corn kernels, brown rice, or colored sensory rice. This serves as the “nest” for your turkey-themed sensory play.
• Turkey Figures: Include small turkey figurines or plush toys. These can be found at craft stores or online. Choose a variety of sizes and colors to add visual interest.
• Feathers: Gather an assortment of colorful feathers. These can be real or craft feathers and will be used for decorating the turkeys and enhancing the sensory experience.
• Craft Eyes and Beaks: Purchase or create googly eyes and small orange or yellow beaks. These will be used to add facial features to the turkey figurines.
• Scoops and Tools: Provide small scoops, spoons, or cups for children to scoop and pour the sensory base. This adds an extra layer of fine motor skill development to the activity.
• Fall-themed Items:Enhance the sensory bin with fall-themed elements like acorns, small pumpkins, or leaves. These additions contribute to the autumn atmosphere and provide more opportunities for imaginative play.
• Tongs or Tweezers: Introduce tongs or tweezers to encourage kids to pick up and place small items, promoting hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.

Playtime:

Encourage your little ones to dive into the sensory bin, feeling the different textures, scooping and pouring, and creating their own turkey scenes. This activity not only stimulates the senses but also provides a festive and educational play experience.

Thanksgiving Activities for Kids, Memories for All

As the Thanksgiving season unfolds, these Thanksgiving activities for kids not only bring laughter and creativity into your home but also foster a spirit of gratitude and togetherness!