Children impatiently awaiting their Thanksgiving dinner will love these games and activities that’ll have them playing, crafting, and writing what they’re thankful for until everyone is ready to eat
Thanksgiving is all about family, friends, and serious food prep, but sometimes it can be a handful keeping tabs on all the kids. To help you keep your focus on that turkey that needs basting, we’ve rounded up easy and fun Thanksgiving activities, crafts, and games your crew can play during the big day. From pumpkin tic-tac-toe to arts and crafts to outdoor Thanksgiving games for kids, we’ve got something for everyone.
Thanksgiving Games They’ll Gobble Up
Pin the Feather on the Turkey
Related: 15 Free Activity Pages to Keep ‘Em Busy on Thanksgiving
Turkey Cornhole
A fun way to set up a mini version of cornhole inside the house. Save a big box from a recent delivery and you’ve got what you need for this Thanksgiving game.
Creative Thanksgiving Crafts That Put a Feather in Their Cap
Related: How to Have an Unplugged Thanksgiving with Your Family—and Why You Should
Make Suncatchers
Contact paper suncatchers are easy to make (aka minimal supervision), plus they add to your Thanksgiving décor. To get started, leave out small pieces of tissue paper in fall colors. Next, have your kidlet place the paper pieces onto to sticky side of clear contact paper. When she’s done, seal it shut with another piece of contact paper. Then, use cookie cutters or other templates to trace and cut fall shapes like leaves, pumpkins, turkeys, or apples to hang in your dining room window.
Make Potato Stamps
Set up a stamp station where your mini-me can use spare dinner fixings to create fantastic works of art. Carve simple shapes into extra potatoes during pre-dinner prep. Then set up a station with plenty of paper and paints to keep your aspiring artist busy while you transform the rest of your potato stash into a delish holiday side.
Thanksgiving Sensory Fun
Set Up a Fall Sensory Bin
Give your sweet tot something to do with a sensory bin full of popcorn kernels. Keep with the fall theme by adding plastic pumpkins and fabric leaves, or go full farm by including Old Mac Donald and his barnyard faves among the kernels. Finish it off with measuring cups and funnels to keep those little hands busy, so you can mix and mingle with your guests.
Send Them on a Feather Hunt
Hide colorful craft feathers around the house ahead of time. Then when your sidekick comes looking for something to do, let her know the game is already afoot. Challenge her to Sherlock her way to a win by tracking them all down.
Other Thanksgiving Activities
Related: The New Thanksgiving Tradition Every Family Should Try