30+ Thanksgiving Activities for Kids

Once we get past the excitement of Halloween, November is both a settling down and a settling into colder weather.

The last of the autumn leaves fall off the trees, the autumn harvest is gathered, and the weather turns brisker.

We still get outside, still gather leaves and acorns and pinecones and listen to the sound of geese honking as they fly south in their V formations, but we also start spending more time indoors around the fire, whether real or metaphorical.

Thanksgiving is our big family celebration and holiday of the month and we like to focus on family and gratitude and, of course, turkeys and the bounty of the autumn harvest.

To continue my monthly activities lists, I’m putting together a list of Thanksgiving activities for kids that includes gratitude projects and exercises, creating with nature’s bounty, turkey arts and crafts, and a list of books about Thanksgiving.

Here goes…

30+ Thanksgiving Activities for Kids

Note: Please feel free to add your own favorite November and Thanksgiving activities in a comment below!

7 Turkey Arts and Crafts Activities

Because, let’s face it, the turkey ends up being the spokesbird for this holiday.

1) Experiment with different ways to draw turkeys

Hand turkeys are one way; but try some other ways, too!

2) How to draw and paint a turkey step-by-step (on Deep Space Sparkle)

3) Make playdough turkeys (on Mama Papa Bubba)

4) Set up an art invitation to create paper turkeys (on Paper and Glue)

5) Make pinecone turkeys (on a Pumpkin and a Prince)

6) Print turkey tracks for a fun Thanksgiving art activity (on Fun-a-Day)

7) Make autumn leaf feather turkeys (on BabyCenter)

7 Gratitude Activities for Families

Being grateful for what we have makes everything better. Here are some ways to begin to instill thankfulness in our kids this month (and a good reminder for us adults who may forget how important this can be!).

8) Make a thankful bunting as a family Thanksgiving art activity

9) Make some gratitude rocks by starting with melted crayon rock art and using permanent markers to add words for what you are grateful for (like these DIY wishing stones)

10) Try these 10 gratitude drawing prompts for kids (on Let’s Lasso the Moon)

11) Do this thankful heart Thanksgiving kids activity (on Let’s Lasso the Moon)

12) Make a thankful table with the kids (on Art Bar)

13) Print out these gratitude conversation starters (on Creative Family Fun)

14) Create a Thanksgiving fall leaf garland

5 More Thanksgiving Activities for Kids

Here are some fun activities for this month and holiday. Some are especially good when you have a houseful of people!

15) Build towers and sculptures with toothpicks and cranberries

16) Try one or more of these 13 November crafts and activities for families

17) If you have family and friends around for Thanksgiving, try one of these 11 simple kids activities for mixed ages

18) Keep the kids engaged with some Thanksgiving Mad Libs

19) Tell some Thanksgiving jokes

4 Thanksgiving Printables for Kids

Some fun free printables for the holiday…

20) Use these printable Thanksgiving placemats + gratitude activity (on Mama Papa Bubba)

21) Find and count the turkeys and squirrels in this free Thanksgiving I Spy printable (on Parenting Chaos)

22) Play a game of Thanksgiving bingo (on Crazy Little Projects)

23) Go on a Thanksgiving scavenger hunt (with printables on The Dating Divas)

4 Nature Arts & Crafts

Use the autumn bounty to create art, crafts, and decorations this month.

24) Make some land art with autumn leaves, sticks, and stones

25) Paint pinecones and acorns

26) Create a simple DIY autumn leaf wreath

27) Make an autumn leaf crown (on Picklebums)

6 Thanksgiving Recipes to Cook Together

These are fun autumnal recipes to cook together as a family.

28) Make a delicious cranberry upside-down cake

29) Bake a tasty apple bundt cake

30) Bake some nutritious bread together

31) Assemble a Thanksgiving turkey veggie tray (on Eating Richly)

32) Bake a turkey crust pumpkin pie (on Kudos Kitchen by Renee)

33) Or whip up these easy pumpkin pie bites (on Sugar Apron)

Thanksgiving Books for Kids

34) Head to the library and check out some books about Thanksgiving and gratitude

Need some suggestions? Ask your children’s librarian or try some of these:

• Pete the Cat: The First Thanksgiving by Kimberly and James Dean
• Thanksgiving is for Giving Thanks by  Margaret Sutherland and Sonja Lamut
• The Night Before Thanksgiving by Natasha Wing and Tammie Lyon
• Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes and Doris Barrette
• The Story of the Pilgrims by Katharine Ross and Carolyn Croll
• 10 Fat Turkeys by Tony Johnston and Rich Deas
• Thanksgiving in the Woods by Phyllis Alsdurf and Jenny Lovlie
• Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman
• Thankful by Eileen Spinelli and Archie Preston

Would you like a printable version of 30 Thanksgiving Activities for Kids to hang on your fridge? You’re in luck! Just click on the image below and get a PDF delivered straight to your inbox!

How about you? What are your favorite Thanksgiving activities for kids? Something from this list or something different? Please share in the comments!

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