Top 10 Thanksgiving Activities For Kids

Written by MomJunction
Last Updated on

Are you looking for some fun Thanksgiving activities for your little ones? Or are you organizing a Thanksgiving get together and want some activity ideas to entertain the little guests? Whatever may be your reason, we have an assortment of Thanksgiving activities for kids of all ages that they are sure to love.

Thanksgiving does not always need to have same old (boring) turkey and pilgrim lessons. You should take the holiday as an opportunity to spend quality and amusing time with your kids. Below are ten fun-filled activities that you can indulge with your little ones this Thanksgiving. Kids can do most of these activities themselves, but a few may need your assistance.

Fun Thanksgiving Activities For Kids:

1. Toilet Paper Pilgrims:

Thanksgiving Activities For Kids - Toilet Paper Pilgrims
Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • Toilet paper rolls
  • White paper
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Marker
  • Acrylic paint or crayons

How To:

  1. Cover the toilet paper rolls with a white sheet.
  1. Now either draw the pilgrim on the paper or print out the template of your choice.
  1. If you are using the template, then cut it out and glue it on the roll.

[ Read: Thanksgiving Day Games For Kids ]

2. Coffee Can Pilgrim Hat:

Thanksgiving Activities For Kids - Coffee Can Pilgrim Hat
Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • Black and yellow construction paper
  • Clean coffee can with a lid
  • Paintbrush
  • Black and orange paint
  • Scissors
  • Glue

How To:

  1. Paint the bottom of the can orange and leave it to dry.
  1. Put the lid on the coffee can paint it black. Make sure to leave a ring at the bottom orange.
  1. Cut a circle from the construction paper and glue to the bottom of the can. It will make the hat brim.
  1. Cut out a square with rounded corners from the yellow construction paper. Now cut out a smaller square from the black construction paper. Cut a small notch to give a C shape.
  1. Glue the black square on the yellow square and place in the middle of the hat to make it look like a buckle.

3. Pine Cone Turkey:

Thanksgiving Activities For Kids - Pine Cone Turkey
Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • 1 pinecone
  • 2 googly eyes
  • Brown felt
  • Orange or red foam or construction paper
  • A pair of scissors
  • A hot glue gun

How To:

  1. Cut out 1-inch feet and beak of the turkey from the orange foam.
  1. Put a drop of glue on the beak and feet and insert into the pine cone.
  1. Apply glue to the back of the googly eyes and place on the pine cone.
  1. Draw and cut out different sized feathers from the brown felt.
  1. Fold the feathers in half and apply glue on the top of each feather. Insert it into different layers of the pine cone.

You should definitely try this thanksgiving activity for kids.

4. Paper Pumpkins:

Thanksgiving Activities For Kids - Paper Pumpkins
Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • 2 sheets of orange scrapbook paper
  • Ribbon
  • A paper cutter
  • A hole punch

How To:

  1. Cut 1-inch wide and 12-inch long 12 strips from the scrapbook paper.
  1. Punch a hole at the end of each strip.
  1. Thread a ribbon through the strips and tie a knot at one end. Put the same ribbon through other 11 pieces.
  1. Tie a knot and fan out the strips to make a ‘pumpkin’. Adjust the knot to make a bow or step on top of the pumpkin.

[ Read: Thanksgiving Day Crafts For Kids ]

5. Gratitude Mobile:

Thanksgiving Activities For Kids - Gratitude Mobile
Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • Black pen
  • Bright colored craft papers or translucent report covers
  • 2 ½-inch circle punch
  • Embroidery threads
  • Embroidery hoop
  • Fishing line

How To:

  1. Cut out the circle from the craft papers or translucent report covers.
  1. Tell the kids to write what they are thankful for on the circles with a black pen.

For Assembling:

  1. Assembling can be a difficult task for kids. So either you do the assembling or assist them.
  1. Knot the embroidery thread and extend it to the opposite side. Make a knot at the other end too. Repeat the same procedure with three more threads to make eight spokes.
  1. Now gather the threads at the center and knot a loop of the fishing line for hanging.
  1. Punch the holes in the circle and hang from the loop with the thread.

6. Pumpkin Photo Display:

Thanksgiving Activities For Kids - Pumpkin Photo Display
Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • Small sized pumpkins
  • Snapshots of family members
  • Hammer and nail
  • Primer
  • Floral wire
  • Acrylic paint

How To:

  1. Brush the mini pumpkins with a primer. With a hammer and nail, make a hole on top of each pumpkin. Kids will not be able to do it, so you take the charge.
  1. Now paint the pumpkins with acrylic paint.
  1. Now loop a 12-inch long floral wire around a marker and make a coil at one end. Insert the other end of the wire into the pumpkin.
  1. Now tell the kids to attach the photo to the coil.

Isn’t this a great thanksgiving day activities for kids?

7. Make A Scarecrow:

Thanksgiving Activities For Kids - Make A Scarecrow
Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • One shirt
  • One pair of pants
  • Hat
  • White fabric for face
  • Plastic shopping bags
  • Felt
  • Safety Pins
  • String or narrow rope
  • Straw, dried grass or raffia
  • Permanent markers

How To:

  1. Close, button or zip the shirt and pants. Tie the ends of the pant legs and shirt arms with a rope or string. Stuff it with plastic bags or newspaper. Now use safety pins to attach the shirt to the pant.
  1. Stuff a pillowcase to give the shape of the face. Use marker to make the facial features of the scarecrow.
  1. Cut out the felt pieces for the eyes and mouth and stick to the face. Tuck the ‘face’ of the neck opening of the shirt. Secure the face with the pins.
  1. Stuff straw or raffia into the opening edges of the neck and leg and arm openings. Your scarecrow is ready.

8. MOD Mayflower:

Thanksgiving Activities For Kids - MOD Mayflower
Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

• Paper cup
• Cup holder
• A white sheet craft paper
• Stirrers
• Popsicle sticks

How To:

  1. Cut off the bottom of the cup and make two slits at the center edge of the cup.
  1. Now place the cup, bottom side up into the center of the cup holder.
  1. Now cut 2 paper triangles to make the sail. Make two tiny slits at the top and bottom of the sail, just at the center. Now push the stirrers through the slits.
  1. Affix the paper flag to the top of the mast. Push the sticks into the slits in the cup.

[ Read: Thanksgiving Day Stories For Kids ]

9. Native Necklace:

Thanksgiving Activities For Kids - Native Necklace
Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • Paper cup
  • Cord
  • Acrylic paint
  • Wooden beads feather

How To:

  1. Remove the top ring of the paper cup. Punch row holes at the top of the ring and one at the bottom center. Now paint the ring in brown or whatever color your kid likes.
  1. Cut a 20-inch piece of cord. Thread a bead on each end.
  1. Make a loop and thread one end through the two holes at the top.
  1. String a few beads onto the cord to create a ‘Y’ shape.
  1. Now push the two cords through the center hold and add one bead to keep in place.
  1. Attach a bead and a feather to the end of the cords. Finished!

10. Coloring pages:

Thanksgiving Activities For Kids - Coloring pages
Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • Coloring Pages
  • Watercolors or crayons

How To:

  1. Download and print a few Thanksgiving-themed coloring pages.
  1. Distribute the coloring pages amongst the kids and let them decorate any way they like.

These Thanksgiving activities for kids will not only make a fun-filled holiday activity, but will also bring your family closer in the spirit of the holiday. Besides, the crafts will also serve as seasonal décor. How are you planning to keep the children busy at the Thanksgiving? Do you have any Thanksgiving-themed activities to share with us? Tell us here.

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