10 Fun And Exciting Thanksgiving Games For Kids Of All Ages

Exciting Thanksgiving games can gift your children memories for a lifetime.

Written by MomJunction
Last Updated on

Thanksgiving is a wholesome festival that is celebrated to show our gratitude for all that we have. In this post, we have curated a bunch of incredibly exciting thanksgiving games for kids. Thanksgiving is a day to be spent with the family, and kids love each part of it other than the delicious food items specially prepared for the day. The day is also ideal for introducing your children to something new that will stick with them forever. So here, we have come up with fun activities that kids can engage themselves in. These activities are related to the festival and will help make kids more aware of the facts around it. Read on to learn more about these games and activities.

Fun Filled Thanksgiving Games For Kids

Whatever may be your reason, we have an assortment of Thanksgiving games for kids of all ages that they are sure to love.

1. Tail Feather Tag:

You Will Need:

  • Clothespins
  • Craft foam
  • Glue
  • Marker
  • Googly eyes

How To:

  1. Color the clothespins with a marker. Put a few glue dots to attach the googly eyes to the clothespin. Use the craft foam to make the beak. You have to make a turkey. You can even make the kids decorate the clothespin.
  1. Assemble the kids and pin the decorated clothespin to the back of the ‘it’s’ shirt/T-shirt.
  1. As you call ‘go,’ other players have to try to steal each other clothespin. The person whose clothespin is stolen will be out of the game.
  1. The last person with the clothespin will be the winner.

2. Stool-Ball Game:

Stool ball, games for kids
Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • A soccer ball
  • A large, three-legged stool
  • A thick and strong stick

How To:

  1. Place the stool in the yard. Make one player the stoolie, and give him a stick to defend the stool.
  1. The other kids have to stand in a line around 15 feet away from the stoolie.
  1. Now ask each player to take turns at trying to knock down the stool by throwing the soccer ball. The stoolie can use the stick to hit the ball away. The player who knocks over the stool successfully will be the new stoolie.

Variation:

  1. Instead of a stick, the stoolie can use any part of his body except the hands to knock away the ball.
  1. Or make the players stand in a circle around the stoolie.
  1. You can also allow the players to use two balls to strike down the stool.

3. Fish, Bird Or Beast Game:

Fish, bird, or beast, games for kids
Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • Nothing

How To:

  1. Make one child the leader and make other kids sit facing the leader. The leader will point to one of the participants and say if it is either ‘fish,’ ‘bird’ or ‘beast.’
  1. The chosen member now has to come up with the name of an animal or creature before the leader counts ten. And no child can repeat the name of the animal or creature.
  1. If the player fails to respond in time, then he/she will be out of the game.
  1. The game will continue until just one player is left.

4. Pie Eater Tag Game:

Pie eater, games for kids
Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • Nothing

How To:

  1. Divide the kids into two groups. One will be the apple pie group, and the other group will be the pumpkin pie.
  1. Make one kid be the pie eater and tell him to stand in the center. The pie eater can move just from side to side.
  1. Ask the players to say in unison ‘Pie-eater, pie eater, are you hungry?’ The pie eater can respond with just a ‘yes’ or ‘no.’
  1. If the pie eater says no, then the players have to ask again and if the pie eater says yes, then the kids have to ask, “What type of pie would you like to eat?”
  1. If the pie eater says Apple, then the apple pie has to make it to the other side. Same if he says pumpkin pie. Any player tagged will become the next pie-eater.

Try this fun thanksgiving games for kids. They will enjoy the fun.

5. Cornucopia Game:

Cornucopia, games for kids
Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • Chairs

How To:

  1. Tell the kids to sit on chair forming a circle. There have to be more players than there are chairs. The player who does not have the chair will be the leader.
  1. The leader will give other players a name related to Thanksgiving like ‘corn’, ‘apple’ or ‘turkey’.
  1. After choosing the names, the leader has to call out to two players by taking their assigned names.
  1. As soon as the leader calls out the names, the two players have to switch the seats. The leader has to keep calling the names at a quick pace. It will make the game fun.
  1. Now the leader has to announce to the players “The Cornucopia has tipped over.” Everyone, including the leaders, has to shuffle for a new place. The player who does not gets the seat will be the new leader.

6. Turkey Hunt Game:

Turkey hunt, games for kids
Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • Index cards
  • Crayons
  • Pencils
  • Or turkey pictures

How To:

  1. On 12 index cards, draw or stick the image of turkeys. The number of cards will depend on the number of kids you have or the number of groups you are dividing the kids into. If the group consists of 12 hunters, then make 12 cards.
  1. Make one kid the leader of the group and tell him to hide the cards around the house. Now let the hunting begin.
  1. Whenever the kids find a turkey, he has to bring the card to the leader who will keep them in a separate pile for the hunter.
  1. The hunter who finds the most number of turkeys will become the leader of the other round.

Tip:

Let the kids make the cards before the holiday. They can cut out the pictures from the magazines or can draw and color them.

7. Turkey Leftovers Game:

Turkey leftovers, games for kids
Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • Nothing

How To:

  1. Make the kids stand in pairs holding their hands and facing each other.
  1. A third child, the ‘turkey’ will stand between each pair. The ‘turkey’ in the middle is actually in the barnyard. But one kid will not stay in the ‘barnyard’. He will be the ‘free turkey’.
  1. As you call out ‘gobble gobble,’ the turkeys have to leave their barnyard and run to another barnyard for safety. And the turkey who will not get any barnyard will be the ‘it’. Make the ‘it’ do any activity you or the kids want.
  1. Continue the game until all the players get the chance to be the ‘leftover’ turkey.

8. Turkey Shoot Game:

Turkey shoot, games for kids
Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • Pom pom shooter
  • Marshmallows or pom poms

How To:

  1. Assemble the kids in the garden and make one kid the ‘turkey’.
  1. Now tell the kids to try hitting the ‘turkey’ by putting marshmallows or pom pom in their shooters.
  1. The ‘turkey’ can stand still or can move to make it more challenging. We would recommend the ‘turkey’ to move while the other players shoot him.
  1. Give each player twenty chances to shoot the turkey.
  1. The player who manages to shoot the turkey, the most number of times, will be the winner.

Isn’t this a fun thanksgiving games for kids?

9. Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt:

Thanksgiving scavenger hunt games for kids
Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • 10 to 20 fall or Thanksgiving related items
  • Pen
  • Paper

How To:

  1. Write down the list of the items on a sheet of paper.
  1. Hide the fall related items in the backyard and give a copy to each player.
  1. At ‘go’, the kids have to find the hidden items in a specific time. The kids who find the most number of items in the specific time will be the winner.

10. Gratitude Mobile:

Gratitude mobile, games for kids
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.

Fun Thanksgiving Party Activities For Kids

Are you looking for some fun Thanksgiving day activities for your children? Or are you organizing a Thanksgiving day get together and want some activity ideas to entertain the little guests? Here are some interesting Thanksgiving activities that will make a bit more fun for you and your little one.

1. What Is Missing?

What is missing, games for kids
Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • 15 to 20 Thanksgiving related items like a small boat, turkey stickers, candy corn, tiny pilgrim hat, etc.
  • A tray

How To:

  1. Place all the Thanksgiving related items on the tray and ask the players to take a close look at them.
  1. Now sneakily take one item away and check if kids can guess what is missing.

Variation:

  1. Tell the kids to write down the names of all the items they can remember being in the tray.
  1. The person who writes the maximum items will be the winner.

2. Turkey Feather Toss:

Turkey feather toss, games for kids
Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • Baskets or containers
  • Turkey feather (Real or fake)
  • Coins of different value

How To:

  1. Place the baskets at 5 to 6 feet distance from the kids. Check and see if the kids can toss the feather to the container. If the container or basket is too far for the kids to throw, then bring them closer.
  1. Place a different value coin in each basket or container.
  1. Tell the kids to take turns for tossing the feather into the basket. Make sure you keep a track of the score.
  1. Award the winner with chocolate or candies.

You should definitely try this thanksgiving game for kids.

3. Cranberry And Popcorn Stringing:

Cranberry and popcorn stringing, games for kids
Image: Shutterstock

You Will Need:

  • Needle with thread
  • Cranberries

How To:

  1. Give each player a needle threaded with an 18-inch log thread. Make a large knot at the end of the thread.
  1. Make all the kids sit around a large bowl of cranberries and popcorn.
  1. As you say ‘go,’ every player has to start stringing the cranberries and popcorn onto the threads. The first to finish filling the cranberry and popcorn will be the winner.
  1. Hand the cranberry and popcorn strings outside as a Thanksgiving treat to the birds.

4. Toilet Paper Pilgrims:

Tilet paper pilgrims, games for kids
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.

5. Coffee Can Pilgrim Hat:

Coffee can pilgrim hat, games for kids
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.

6. Paper Pumpkins:

Paper pumpkin, games for kids
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.

7. Make A Scarecrow:

Make a scarecrow, games for kids
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. Pumpkin Photo Display:

Pumpkin photo display, games for kids
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?

9. Native Necklace:

Native necklace, games for kids
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:

Coloring pages, games for kids
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.

11. Pine Cone Turkey:

Pine cone turkey, games for kids
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.

12. MOD Mayflower:

MOD mayflower, games for kids
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.

The most important part of Thanksgiving is a gala lunch or dinner with friends and family. It is about introducing your traditions to your kids. Adding a few of these games to your Thanksgiving gatherings can help them have fun. You can add some favorite games as a Thanksgiving tradition for your family. These games will help your family come closer to each other. Some of these craft ideas can be used as festive decors or favors for your guests.


Community Experiences

Join the conversation and become a part of our vibrant community! Share your stories, experiences, and insights to connect with like-minded individuals.

Latest Articles