12 Fun and Engaging Thanksgiving Activities for Kids in 2024

acozyfuture.com – Thanksgiving is a time for family, but keeping kids entertained while you prepare the feast can certainly be a challenge. With all the excitement and energy in the air, it’s easy for little ones to get bored, restless, or glued to screens. 

Instead of letting holiday stress take over, plan some fun activities to keep your kids engaged this Thanksgiving. Whether you're hosting a family gathering or celebrating in a cozy setting, this blog will showcase 12 Thanksgiving activities for kids to try in 2024 that will keep the festive spirit alive!

 

Top 12 Fun and Engaging Thanksgiving Activities for Kids to Enjoy in 2024

If you're looking for crafts, games, or interactive projects, here are 12 fun and engaging Thanksgiving activities for kids that parents should consider for Thanksgiving 2024!

 

DIY Thanksgiving Gratitude Tree

This meaningful craft involves creating a small tree with paper or branches. Kids can cut out paper leaves and write something they’re thankful for on each leaf. Then, they attach these leaves to the “tree”, which can be displayed as a festive decoration. 

It’s a great way to encourage gratitude while involving the whole family in a reflective activity. This craft can be customized with different colored paper, markers, and glitter to make it more creative and personal.

 

Thanksgiving Story Time and Puppet Show

Another enjoyable Thanksgiving activity for kids is hosting a Thanksgiving story time and puppet show. Choose a Thanksgiving-themed storybook and gather the kids for a reading session. Afterward, let them create their own characters from the story using simple materials like paper bags, socks, or construction paper to make puppets. 

They can then put on their own puppet show, acting out scenes from the story or making up their own Thanksgiving adventure. This activity fosters creativity, imagination, and teamwork, while also promoting a love of storytelling. 

 

Thanksgiving Parade Watching Party

If your family enjoys watching the Thanksgiving parade every year, make it a special event for the kids. Set up a cozy viewing area with blankets and cushions, and prepare parade-themed snacks like popcorn or mini sandwiches. 

To engage the kids even more, have them create paper floats and parade characters using construction paper and craft supplies, then parade their creations during commercial breaks. This activity ties into the larger Thanksgiving celebration and keeps kids involved in a fun and festive way!

 

Pilgrim Hat Cookies to Celebrate Thanksgiving

This no-bake treat involves decorating cookies to look like pilgrim hats. Start with chocolate-covered cookies as the base, then place a marshmallow in the center and top it with melted chocolate or icing. 

Kids can use icing to draw a buckle on the hat or add their own personal touches. These cookies are fun to make and eat, providing kids with a hands-on activity that’s both creative and delicious.

 

Edible Turkey Snack Craft as a Thanksgiving Activity for Kids

Set up a DIY snack station where kids can make their own turkey-shaped snacks using healthy ingredients. For instance, they can use apple slices for the body, peanut butter or cream cheese as glue, pretzel sticks for feathers, and raisins or nuts for the eyes. 

Kids will love creating and eating their edible turkey-themed snacks, and this activity sneaks in some nutrition while keeping them occupied. It’s a great way to mix creativity with healthy snacking!

 

Turkey Handprint Craft to Celebrate Thanksgiving

Another fun and creative Thanksgiving activity for kids is making a turkey handprint craft. This classic Thanksgiving craft never gets old! Have kids trace their hand on a sheet of paper or cardboard. Their thumb becomes the turkey's head, and their fingers represent the feathers. 

Using markers, paint, or colored paper, kids can decorate their handprints to look like colorful turkeys. They can add googly eyes, glitter, and stickers to personalize their turkey even more. 

It’s a fun, low-mess activity that’s great for toddlers and young children!

 

Turkey Trot Obstacle Course as a Thanksgiving Activity for Kids

Create a fun obstacle course in the backyard or a large room, where kids must waddle like turkeys through various challenges. This can include jumping over small hurdles, crawling through tunnels, and balancing on a beam. 

The turkey waddle adds an extra layer of fun to the game, and it’s a fun way to keep kids physically active during the holiday!

 

DIY Thanksgiving Place Cards

Get kids involved in the Thanksgiving dinner by letting them make personalized place cards for each guest. Provide materials like colored paper, markers, stickers, and glue. 

Kids can design the cards to reflect Thanksgiving themes, such as turkeys or fall leaves. These homemade place cards add a special touch to the dinner table and give kids a sense of pride in contributing to the holiday celebration.

 

Thanksgiving Memory Game

The next recommended Thanksgiving activity for kids is the Thanksgiving memory game. Create a memory-matching game using cards with Thanksgiving-related images, like pies, turkeys, corn, and pilgrims. 

Kids can play in pairs or solo, flipping over cards to find matching pairs. This game not only entertains but also helps improve memory and concentration. You can make it more challenging by adding more cards as the game progresses.

Cranberry Relay Race as a Thanksgiving Activity for Kids

In this relay race, kids carry cranberries on spoons from one side of the room to the other. The goal is to complete the race without dropping the cranberries. If a cranberry drops, the child must start over. 

This fast-paced game encourages teamwork, balance, and coordination. You can make the race more exciting by adding obstacles or time limits.

Pin the Feather on the Turkey for Thanksgiving

A Thanksgiving-themed twist on “Pin the Tail on the Donkey”, this game involves blindfolding kids and having them try to pin a paper feather onto a turkey drawing on the wall. 

The challenge of being blindfolded and finding the right spot adds to the fun. It’s a simple game that’s easy to set up and perfect for young children, making it an ideal activity for family gatherings.

 

Leaf Rubbing Art as a Thanksgiving Activity for Kids

Last but not least, a Thanksgiving activity for kids that we want you to try this year is leaf rubbing art. This nature-based activity involves collecting leaves from outside and placing them under a piece of paper. 

Kids can then use crayons or colored pencils to rub over the leaves, revealing their shapes and textures. You can turn the leaf rubbings into cards, placemats, or decorations for the holiday.

 

There you have it! These Thanksgiving activities will keep kids engaged, active, and involved, all while fostering creativity, learning, and a sense of holiday cheer.

Dealing with kids who easily get distracted or bored during the Thanksgiving season? Look no further! We’ve got some effective tips tailored just for you to keep them engaged and entertained throughout the festivities.

 

How Do You Keep Children Entertained on Thanksgiving?

After Halloween, parents are usually eager to elevate their holiday celebrations and create even more memorable moments with their children. In addition to the 12 Thanksgiving activities for kids, we want to share 4 fantastic tips to keep your little ones entertained and engaged this Thanksgiving!

 

Volunteer Together during Thanksgiving

Engage your children in community service projects during the Thanksgiving season. This could be volunteering at a local shelter, participating in a food drive, or making care packages for those in need. 

Discuss the importance of giving back and how their efforts can make a difference in someone’s life.

 

Music and Dance Parties on Thanksgiving

Create a playlist of holiday songs that everyone loves. Organize spontaneous dance parties where everyone can let loose and enjoy the music. 

This not only brings joy but also helps kids burn off some energy. You can even teach them traditional holiday dances (if any) or make up your own!

 

Festive Movie Nights to Celebrate Thanksgiving

Plan themed movie nights featuring holiday classics like "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" or "Addams Family Values”. Create a cozy atmosphere with blankets and pillows, and prepare popcorn or hot cocoa for a true movie experience. 

You can even make it a themed night by dressing up or creating snacks related to the film!

DIY Advent Calendar to Make Thanksgiving More Exciting

Create a personalized advent calendar filled with daily surprises. Instead of just treats, include activities like "watch a holiday movie", "make a holiday card", or "go Thanksgiving shopping". You can use small boxes, envelopes, or even craft a large poster with pockets. 

This builds excitement and gives your kids something to look forward to each day!

 

Conclusion

The holiday season is a wonderful opportunity to create lasting memories with your children, and these 12 fun and engaging Thanksgiving activities for kids are sure to do just that. By involving your little ones in these engaging experiences, you not only keep them entertained but also foster a deeper connection to the holiday spirit.

As you plan your Thanksgiving 2024 celebrations, consider incorporating these activities to enrich your family traditions. These ideas will surely help you celebrate Thanksgiving in a meaningful and enjoyable way. 

Embrace the joy of the season and make this Thanksgiving a memorable occasion for the whole family!

 

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