8 Fun & Safe Thanksgiving Activities for Kids

Thanksgiving is a special holiday! It helps bring families closer with the message of gratitude and appreciation. This day also provides an all-important opportunity to pause and reflect on what we are thankful for while spending quality time with our loved ones! 

So, to foster kids’ participation in this long-running tradition, you can consider hosting some Thanksgiving activities for kids! Such activities help children to engage with and learn about the Thanksgiving tradition, while also having a great time. Further, Thanksgiving-themed activities can foster imagination and creativity, while also providing valuable learning opportunities!

Top Thanksgiving Activities for Kids

Thanksgiving activities are an essential consideration for any celebration! Here’s a collection of some super-fun Thanksgiving activities for your kids to enjoy!

1. Thanksgiving Bingo: A really fun and one of the best Thanksgiving activities for kids is Thanksgiving Bingo! This combines a classic game with holiday-themed images or words like turkeys, pumpkins, and pilgrims. This activity is a great idea as it keeps kids engaged while also helping them to learn about Thanksgiving traditions. Since bingo is a non-physical, seated activity, it’s quite suitable and safe for kids of all ages! 

2. Thanksgiving Colouring Pages: Colouring is one of the best Thanksgiving activities kids can enjoy! They allow kids to express their creativity with Thanksgiving-themed designs like turkeys, cornucopias, and autumn leaves. Colouring is quite a calming experience and encourages focus. Additionally, this activity requires only crayons and some pages, which makes it a fully safe activity! 

3. Kids Nail Painting: Nail painting is among the most fun kids Thanksgiving activities! Kids enjoy having their nails painted in the colours of the occasion! Consider classic fall colours like orange, yellow, and brown for an added festive twist. However, not all nail paints are safe! It’s important to purchase kid-friendly peel-off nail paints for maximum health and safety. 

4. Kids Fun Makeup: Here’s one of the most fun Thanksgiving activities for your consideration - Makeup! Fun makeup allows kids to play with colours and styles that fit the Thanksgiving theme, like warm autumn colours or glitter. It’s both festive and exciting! For added safety, it’s best to consider make-up that is specifically formulated for kids. This ensures an allergy and toxin-free makeup experience for kids!

5. Handprint turkey: Considering fun Thanksgiving activity ideas? Opt for a Handprint Turkey activity! Here, kids use their hands as a template to create a turkey, which can be decorated with feathers, markers, or googly eyes. This activity is safe, hands-on, and creative, and gives kids a Thanksgiving keepsake to bring home.

6. Thanksgiving I-Spy: A round of Thanksgiving I-Spy can be one part of many activities for kids on Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving “I Spy” sheets feature festive objects for kids to find, count, and mark off, offering a fun, quiet game that challenges their observational skills. It’s engaging and can be done alone or in a group.

7. Playdough Turkey: Kids use coloured playdough to mould and shape their turkeys, adding details like feathers and beaks. It’s a sensory activity that lets them express their creativity, with each turkey being unique. Make sure to use non-toxic playdough to ensure safe and healthy fun!

8. Stuff the Turkey Game: In this game, kids “stuff” a turkey by throwing soft “stuffing” items (like bean bags or balled-up paper) into a target that resembles a turkey. It’s an active game that gets kids moving and laughing as they aim and toss.

Conclusion

All-in-all, conducting Thanksgiving-themed activities is a great way to foster creativity and imagination in your child! Most importantly, it helps develop an appreciation in kids for Thanksgiving as a long-standing tradition. Remember, when hosting these activities, it’s a good idea to opt only for safe experiences. This avoids any unexpected surprises, and generally keeps the festive vibe joyous!

FAQs

1. What are some Thanksgiving questions for kids?

Engaging children with questions about Thanksgiving helps spark curiosity and connection with the holiday. One of the most thoughtful questions you can ask is “What are you most thankful for this year?” This encourages gratitude and selflessness. 

2. What can children learn from Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving centres on expressing gratitude, helping children recognize and appreciate what they have and the people in their lives. This is quite an important quality to foster in children. 

3. Why do we celebrate Thanksgiving with kids?

Celebrating Thanksgiving with kids allows families to share meaningful traditions and pass down values that foster family bonds, kindness, and gratitude. Including kids in Thanksgiving helps them understand the importance of being thankful, sharing, and being part of a larger community.

4. What are 4 facts about Thanksgiving?