Thanksgiving Games for Kids
Thanksgiving is one of those holidays that brings everyone together around the table. But let’s be honest, if you have little ones running around, waiting for the turkey to cook can feel like forever. That’s where some fun Thanksgiving games for kids come in! Whether you’re hosting a big family feast or having a dinner with close friends, a few giggle-worthy games can make the day extra special (and save your sanity!).
I’ve put together a mix of fresh ideas and classic favorites that are easy to set up, fun to play, and perfect for all ages. These games will keep the kids entertained while you finish up the mashed potatoes.
Kids Thanksgiving Game Ideas
1. Turkey Feather Hunt
Hide colorful feathers around the house or yard and send the kids on a gobble-worthy treasure hunt. Give each kid a small basket or paper bag to collect them.
Mom Tip: Add numbers or letters to the feathers and make them spell out a Thanksgiving word like “Gratitude” or “Pumpkin Pie” when they find them all!
2. Pumpkin Bowling
Use mini pumpkins as bowling balls and empty soda bottles as pins. Line ’em up in the driveway or hallway.
Pro Tip: Put a little sand or rice in the bottles to help them stay upright!
3. Pin the Feather on the Turkey
A Thanksgiving twist on the classic party game. Draw or print a big turkey and cut out colorful feathers. Use tape or sticky tack and a blindfold, then watch the fun begin!
4. Thanksgiving Charades
Write down Thanksgiving-themed actions or items (like “eating pie,” “cooking a turkey,” or “football”) on slips of paper and take turns acting them out.
Little Kid Version: Let them draw pictures instead of words and act them out.
5. Gratitude Scavenger Hunt
Give each child a list of things to find or notice that they’re thankful for. It could be something soft, something that smells good, something someone made, or something that makes them laugh.
6. Turkey Tag
Perfect for backyard play! Pick one child to be the turkey, and everyone else are the farmers. Once a farmer tags the turkey, they become the new turkey!
7. Stuff the Turkey (Relay Race)
Grab a few pillowcases and fill them with crumpled newspaper or fabric scraps. Kids race to stuff their “turkey” as fast as they can. Add a timer or make it a team challenge!
8. Pumpkin Pie Tic-Tac-Toe
Draw a tic-tac-toe grid on a big piece of paper or cardboard. Use mini pumpkins and mini pies (or cutouts) as the X’s and O’s.
9. Thanksgiving Bingo
Make your own bingo cards with pictures of turkeys, leaves, cornucopias, pilgrims, and pie. Use candy corn or buttons as markers.
Fun Twist: Winner gets to choose dessert first!
10. Musical Cornucopia
Think musical chairs, but with a Thanksgiving spin. Set up chairs in a circle with Thanksgiving images on each. When the music stops, call out one of the images. The kid sitting in that spot gets a small prize or treat.
11. Turkey Waddle Race
Place a small ball or balloon between each child’s knees and have them race like waddling turkeys. It’s hilarious and great for getting the wiggles out before dinner.
12. Pumpkin Ring Toss
Use small pumpkins with long stems and toss rings onto them. You can make rings out of pipe cleaners or buy glow stick rings for a nighttime glow-up version.
13. Leaf Pile Treasure Hunt
Hide small toys or wrapped candies in a pile of leaves and let the kids go wild. You can also do this indoors with shredded paper or even fake leaves from the dollar store.
14. Grateful Garland Craft & Game
Have each child write something they’re thankful for on a paper leaf. Once you have several, string them together into a garland to hang up. Bonus game: try to guess who wrote each leaf before revealing the answers!
15. Cranberry Spoon Race
Like an egg-and-spoon race, but with cranberries. Watch those little berries bounce all over the place!
Tried and True Favorites (Still Totally Fun!)
Sometimes the oldies are still the goodies. These classic games never get old and work great every single year:
16. Thanksgiving Coloring Station
Set up a table with coloring pages, crayons, and stickers. Great for little ones who need a calmer moment.
17. Guess the Food
Blindfold the kids and have them taste small bites of Thanksgiving food (mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, stuffing) and guess what it is. Hilarious reactions guaranteed!
18. Hot Potato – Turkey Style
Play hot potato using a small plush turkey or stuffed animal. When the music stops, whoever’s holding the turkey has to say something they’re thankful for.
19. Balloon Turkey Bop
Draw turkey faces on balloons and have the kids keep them in the air using only their heads.
20. Thanksgiving Pictionary
Another artsy twist! One person draws something Thanksgiving-y while the others try to guess. You can even use a whiteboard or chalkboard for easy cleanup.
Quick Tips to Make It All Run Smoothly:
- Keep prizes simple: stickers, small toys, or extra pie work just fine!
- Use teams if you have a lot of kids to keep things fair (and less chaotic!)
- Try rotating stations if your space allows, so kids can try a little bit of everything.
- Make sure there’s a mix of active and quiet games so kids don’t get too wild before dinner.
Thanksgiving is all about being grateful, making memories, and, let’s be real, trying not to burn the rolls. These games help keep the little ones busy and smiling while you soak in all the holiday joy (and maybe sneak a few bites of stuffing before dinner!).
From silly turkey races to heartfelt gratitude crafts, there’s something on this list for every kid and every kind of celebration. So grab a pumpkin spice something, round up the kiddos, and let the fun begin. Happy Thanksgiving!
